Aainaism

“Halka Halka Sa Hai Ye Sama,” sings Gaurav, a nowadays-popular song from Chocolate.
“Halka Halka Sa Ye Nasha!” I yell at Gaurav.
“Whatever!” says Gaurav, “I don’t care about lyrics, I care about the music.”
“I know, but I care about the lyrics so, when you are around me, please try to sing the right lyrics,” I say to him.

I am so particular about lyrics of any song that I even go to the extent of playing the song right then when Gaurav Bhaiya makes a mistake in the lyrics and make him memorize them. I know that’s a bit extreme but I can’t stand wrong or bad lyrics. And I really admire and appreciate good lyrics.

In my opinion, writing good lyrics is not a piece of cake. I consider “good” lyrics as those that:
^ Are relevant to the situation in the film.
^ Don’t necessarily rhyme but are pleasing to the ears.
^ Are logical and connect to the lines before and after.

The Indian Film Industry has/has had some of the finest lyricists ever. Right from romance to comedy to sadness and to anger, these lyricist have written songs just about everything. Here are some of the greatest lyricist of the industry (in no particular order):

1. Sahir Ludhianvi - Wrote lyrics for over half a century for more than 70 films. He penned down amazing lyrics for Devdas (1955), Taj Mahal (1963), Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976) and many more.

2. Kaifi Azmi - Father of Shabana Azmi, another great lyricist who wrote for five decades and impressed the audience with his lyrics in Bawarchi (1972), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993) to name a few.

3. Majrooh Sultanpuri - His talent of writing lyrics for Hindi films overshadowed the fact that he was an equally good poet. He has contributed to the industry for over 70 years! Wow, that’s exceptional. Some his well-known works as a lyricist consist of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Khamoshi (1996). I am not listing some of his earlier work because I am not aquainted with it.

4. Sampooran Singh Gulzar - Has been a lyricist par excellence for over 65 years and has written lyrics for more than 80 films. Some of my favo(u)rite projects of Gulzar as a lyricist are Golmaal (1979), Khalnayak (1993), Maachis (1996), Dil Se… (1998), Fiza (2000), Asoka (2001), Saathiya (2002), Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and Paheli (2005). I would rate him a 9/10. I love his lyrics!

5. Sameer - I consider him the Shahrukh Khan of lyrics writing. He came, he saw and he conquered, that too in a very short period of time Sameer has worked on 252 films. :O And most of them are awesome as far as the lyrics go. Here comes a list of my favorites (this one’s gonna be long): Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Aaina (ahem :D) (1993), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Josh (2000), Mission Kashmir (2000), Ajnabee (2001), Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Devdas (2002), Dum (2003), Khakee (2004), Dhoom (2004), Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya? (2005) and No Entry (2005). I hope he keeps making us hum his words for many decades to come.

6. Javed Akhtar - What can I say about Mr. Javed Akhtar. I can easily say that his talemt surpasses any kind of other talent in any other field. He is phenomenon. The best thing about his lyrics is the quality. His lyrics would get a 10/10 from me anytime. He has penned down lyrics for about 80 films. I salute you for your extraordinary work, Javed saab. Let me now list my favo(u)rites: Silsila (1981), Mr India (1987), 1942: A Love Story (1993), Border (1997), Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997), Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), Pukar (2000), Zubeidaa (2001), Lagaan (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Tehzeeb (2003), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Lakshya (2004), Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), Swades (2004) and Kisna (2005). Way to go!

I also want to give an example of good and bad lyrics (according to me):

GOOD lyrics:

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye wo bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi
Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami
Yun toh saare sukh hai barse
Par door tu hai apne gharse
Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane
Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane
Awaaz de tujhe bulaane, wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi
Koyi ek sadi, saari zindagi
Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
Aaye hain is tarha do raahein
Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye
Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye
Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

BAD lyrics:

aati hai woh aise chal ke
jaise jannat mein raheti hai
dekhti hai sabko aaise
jaise sabko woh saheti hai
par gusse main jab aaye
aur aankhein woh dikhlaye
ladte ladte galti se muskaaye
my dil goes mmmm - 4

karti hoon jab usse baatein
lagta hai sone waala hai
soke jab jab bhi woh jaage
lagta hai rone waala hai
par chupke se woh aaye
meri neend se mujhe jayage
le baahon mein aur khudh hi gir jaaye
my dil goes mmmm - 4

haan, woh na na karti hai
haan, bada akarti hai
haan, thodi si ziddi hai
haan, akal se piddi hai
jaate hain sab woh aaye
na aaye woh jaati hai
tedhi in baaton se mujhko satati hai
har waqt se pehle aana
sunna na koi bahana
par dekhna mera rasta rozana
my dil goes mmmm - 4

haan, picture mein rota hai
haan, khulle mooh sota hai
haan, zara nalayak hai
haan, pitne ke layak hai
jaane kya kehta hai
jaane kya karta hai
sofe pe chadhta hai
pardo se ladta hai
jab karne lage safaai
samjho ke shaamat aayi
phir thak ke jab leta hai angdai
my dil goz mmmm - 4

haan, thodi alag si hai
haan, thodi galat si hai

haan, thoda alag sa hai
haan, thoda galat sa hai

aisi bhi hogi woh aisa na socha tha
aisa hi hoga woh aisa hi socha tha
kyun lagta hai yeh apna
yeh sach hai yaan sapna
dar lagta hai kahin ho na jaaye jhooth

Pardon me for any mistakes in this post. I didn’t proof read it since it’s long and I am very sleepy.

- Aaina.

I can’t take it anymore! Ever since Kareena Kareena (starring Kulraj Kaur Randhawa) started, the show looked very different and promising. Away from all the emotional drama like in Piya Ka Ghar (starring Narayani Shastri) and the ties of relationships in Astitva (starring Nikki Aneja Walia). It was refreshing to watch the funny expressions of PKji and the sticky situations of poor Kareena and her, trying to get out of them. Everything used to be, and I repeat, used to be hilarious about Kareena Kareena.

That was then and this is now. The show has completely changed. There’s nothing funny about it anymore. The show is following tracks of the “regular” shows such as Tumhari Disha (starring Chhavi Mittal), Sindoor - Tere Naam Ka (starring Gurdeep Kohli) to name a few. The only reason that I started watching Kareena Kareena on a regular basis was because I found it to be witty, full of life and most of all tension-free.

Right now, in US, they are showing that Kareena has joined hands with Ranveer Raichand to help him out with managing Chamatkar and Mr. Raichand hired Tribhuvan Das Pandey for a petty job, which is not very well-paid. The tears, humiliation, tension and various other negative emotions have started to come out of the show, which makes me want to totally give up watching Kareena Kareena.

Now, just criticising something isn’t right. If I am saying that I don’t like watching what’s going on, I should suggest an alternate situation. So here it is: Instead of not telling anyone that she is joining hands with Mr. Raichand, she should have told everyone why she is in Chamatkar. This way, the scenes and situations would be funny. For example, the employees in chamatkar could talk about Ranvir Raichand, make fun of him behind his back or something like that and when he entered the room, they could change the topic. Or, the employees and Kareena could play pranks on Ranvir Raichand, making the show funny. But the show got a different turn…a not-so-funny turn!

But yes, there is one show on Zee that I like (so far), which is Sarkar. It’s intelligent and logical. Way to go, Ms. Shobha De!

I am tired of watching over-emotional shows that lack logic of any kind. It’s high time Zee TV started airing some different kinds of shows, especially funny ones.

- Aaina.

I am so excited! I got my driving permit yesterday. The test was really easy, I just missed one question. My appointment was at 9:45 AM and I planned on catching the bus to the DMV office. I waited for the bus until 9:30 but it didn’t come. So, I asked my mom to drop me off at the office. And being the nice person that she is, my mom dropped me off at the DMV office at 9:42. I got through the registration but there was one problem. The guy said that even if I pass the test they can’t give me my permit until I bring in my glasses and pass the eye test. Yup, I forgot my glasses at home!

I passed the written test and after that I called my mom to bring my glasses there. And she did that. I passed my eye test and got my permit.

I have a year till the permit expires and in this time, I have to take the behind-the-wheel test and pass it. I am starting my driving training on Saturday (Tomorrow) with, none other than, Gaurav.

I am also going to open my first bank account tomorrow with Bank Of America. Is that exciting or what? I can’t wait for tomorrow.

- Aaina.

It’s strange how JAIL and BAIL rhyme.

Yup, that’s a thought.

I have a lot of things on my mind that I want to write about but I am making this post short because I am tired. I’ll write to my heart’s content tomorrow. *yawn* excuse me!

- Aaina.

I keep talking about things and people that I don’t like. I talk about it about everyday. So, Gaurav got this funky idea that we should start a website related to that. And so, we planned to start www.idislike.com.

The concept is a very simple one. You go on the website and you blog about “something or someone in the universe” that you dislike. Get it? Got it? Good. Go blog…but wait, not yet. Gaurav said that the website will be “fully functional” in a couple of days and then, you can blog about what you dislike. Don’t pop your brains out, there’s gotta be something.

“You will also be able to syndicate your dislikings on your site/blog via RSS (also JS, if there’s demand),” said Gaurav Sharma (I didn’t write that technical part, just so you know, you know!)

Alright…tata.
- Aaina.