Song: Palkon pe chalte chalte
Movie: Daayra (1997)
Singer: K J Yesudas
Composers: Anand-Milind
This song is like a forgotten sibling of the more famous “Surmayee ankhiyon mein” lullaby from Sadma. Both are sung by Yesudas and both carry a similar elements – sleep, eyes, night, and dreams. While the Sadma track was composed by the great Ilaiya Raja, this one is composed by Anand-Milind. I do not know of another album where Gulzar and Anand Milind have worked together, but then it was the 90s, and how can Gulzar escape working with one of the most prolific composer duo of the 90s.
Although, it is still quite unusual that for a film directed by Amol Palekar, on a very unusual subject (a story of a trans person and a rape victim), would have Anand-Milind as composers. They were among the top composers of the mid 80s through the 90s. They are sons of the composer Chitragupt who made his name in the 1940s and 50s. Anand-Milind churned out a number of chartbusting albums (Qayamat se Qayamat Tak, Dil, Love, Bol Radha Bol, Prem Qaidi, etc.) in the earlier half of the decade. While they were quite prolific, they weren’t known to compose songs for serious movies. Most of their compositions are forgettable, and even plagiarized from the composers of South Indian cinema. But, I do cherish some of their albums even today – such as QSQT, Jagriti, Mrityudand, Vansh, Baaghi, etc. These albums do have some melodious tracks that have stood the test of time. Their output dwindled in the second half of the 90s and they eventually faded away with the turn of the century.
So, it did come as a surprise when I listened to the album of Daayra for the first time in 1997 and saw Anand-Milind’s name alongside Amol Palekar and Gulzar. The album did not get much recognition like other Gulzar albums that came around the same time – Maachis, Hu tu tu, Dil Se, etc. Regardless, it remains as the only collaboration of Anand-Milind and Gulzar (that I know of).
This particular song has a version sung by Asha Bhosale, but I prefer the Yesudas version. Is there another voice that is best suited for a lullaby? – buttery soft, yet deep, mellifluous, and seductive at the same time. His voice weaves a tranquil atmosphere which Asha’s voice fails to.
Gulzar’s lyrics bring the imagery of sleeping eyes as birds who have taken flight to pick dreams (paakhi jaisee aankhein sapne chugane lagti hai) that are scattered in a perfumed sky (sondhe se aakash pe) full of blue barges (neele bajre). Dreamy flights of fancy!