Directed by	B. R. Chopra
Produced by	B. R. Chopra
Starring	Raj Babbar Deepak Parashar Salma Agha
Music by	Ravi & Ghulam Ali (Chupke Chupke)

Lyrics by	Hasan Kamal
Release date	24 September 1982

My thoughts turn to music director Ravi Sharma, his score for Nikaah (1982), and his influence on Bollywood music.

I had a musical feast on the Music of Ravi tonight. In popularity terms, Ravi was mostly on the lower end, but that did nothing to stop Ravi from churning out many melodious hits. I could also say that some of his songs have created history with their popularity even if the public doesn’t know who he was, they still hum his songs.

I had an intense listening to the Soundtrack of Nikaah and without a doubt, i can say melody is king. The soundtrack released in 1982 and i am sure at the time created ripples across the music world. The only track in the soundtrack not composed by Ravi was the Ghulam Ali ghazal: Chupke Chupke; and kudos to the producers for not reproducing a ‘Bollywood’ version but instead used the Ghulam Ali version and gave him full credit.

The tracks:

No.	Title	Playback	Length
1.	“Beete Hue Lamhon Ki Kasak Sath Toh Hogi -“	Mahendra Kapoor	5.56
2.	“Chehra Chhupa Liya Hai Kisine Hijab Me”	Mahendra Kapoor, Salma Agha, Asha Bhosle	6.32
3.	“Chupke Chupke Raat Din”	Ghulam Ali	7.48
4.	“Dil Ke Armaan Aansuo Me Bah Gaye”	Salma Agha	4.25
5.	“Dil Ki Ye Aarzoo Thi Koi Dilruba Mile”	Mahendra Kapoor, Salma Agha	5.42
6.	“Faza Bhi Hai Jawaan Jawaan” (1)	Salma Agha	5.50
7.	“Faza Bhi Hai Jawaan Jawaan” (2)	Salma Agha	4.02

The soundtrack consisted mainly of the Ghazal genre, and Ravi’s creativity flowed beautifully through. He also didn’t succumb to using the more popular singers, and this proved to help the album. Salma Agha, who also acted in the movie, gave a fresh performance doing playback. Her voice, though not classically trained, gave these ghazals an Old world charm.

If one has to anaylse the track ‘Dil Ke Armaan Ansuon Mein Beh Gaye’, Salma’s unrestrained voice puts you through pathos the character is going through, lamenting her misfortune. The composition itself is nothing short of spectacular; Ravi uses the sitar to complement Salma’s pathos effectively.

Another gem is the track Dil Ki Yeh Arzoo Thi; Mahendra Kapoor does playback for Raj Babbar and Salma for herself. The song is a dialogue between two people, beautifully written by Hassan Kamal. Semi classical in its structure, the retorts the two forlorn lovers give each other lend to the shayari and ghazal structure. The sitar strikes like lightining and the singers mellow out to this sweet and wonderous Ghazal.

Salma’s Faza Bhi Hain is also created with rousing melody and has the ability to leave you in a trance-like state reminiscing about many good things. What really gives the track its energy is the lovely flow of the strong composition by Raviji. The violins and tabla render the song completely graceful.

On the Qawalli Chehra Chupa Liya we have Mahendra and Asha singing the main track sensationally, but wait for Salma’s piece in the song, you will be rewinding that piece just to hear her again and again. She adds that feel of a bride ecstatic with happiness. Traditional in its core, this qawalli largely remained unnoticed, but it does deserve a listen, just for the instrument arrangement.

The lone track not composed by Ravi is the legendary Ghazal Chupke Chupke Raat Din, composed by Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali. This track is based on Raag Kaafi and with all its nuances, gives the feel of a saddened lover, remembering his beloved. Here Ghulam uses his voice to excel in that emotion stressing on words that reminds him of mehbooba. The Sarangi and tabla create a duet that lilts you to your inner feelings which eventually will well your eyes up with tears, and your memories will flow in your tears.

Tujhase milate hi vo kuch Bebaak ho jaanaa meraa Aur teraa daaton mein vo Ungalii dabaanaa yaad hai

Chori Chori ham se tum aa kar mile the jis Jagah Muddatein Guzarin par ab tak wo Thikaanaa yaad hai

Khench lenaa vo meraa parde kaa konaa daffaatan Aur Dupatte se teraa, vo Moonh Chhupaanaa yaad hai

Do-pahar ki dhoop mein, mere bulaane ke liye Vo teraa kothe pe nange paaon aanaa yaad hai

Baahazaaraan iztiraab-o-sadd-hazaaraan ishtiyaaq Tujh se vo pehale pehal dil kaa lagaanaa yaad hai

Jaan kar sotaa tujhe vo qasa-e-paabosii meraa Aur teraa Thukaraa ke sar vo muskuraanaa yaad hai

Tujh ko jab tanhaa kabhii paanaa to az_raahe-lihaaz Hal-e-dil baatoon hii baatoon mein jataanaa yaad hai

Jab sivaa mere tumhaaraa koii diivaanaa na thaa Sach kaho kyaa tum ko bhii vo kaarKhaanaa yaad hai

Gair kii nazaroon se bachakar sab kii marzii ke Khilaaf Vo teraa chorii chhipe raatoon ko aanaa yaad hai

Aa gaya gar vasl ki shab bhii kahiin zikr-e-firaaq Vo teraa ro ro ke bhi mujhko rulaanaa yaad hai

Dekhanaa mujhako jo bargashtaa to sau sau naaz se Jab manaa lenaa to phir Khud ruuTh jaanaa yaad hai

Berukhii ke Saath sunna Dard-e-Dil kii dastaan Vo, Kalai mein tera, kangan ghumaanaa yaad hai

Vaqt-e-Rukhsat Alvidaa kaa Lafz Kehene ke liye Vo, Tere Sukhe Labon kaa, thar-tharaanaa yaad hai

Baavajuud-e-iddaa-e-ittaqaa ‘Hasrat’ mujhe Aaj tak ahad-e-havas kaa ye fasaanaa yaad hai

Ravi was one of those composers who didn’t bother too much about fame, his work spoke volumes, just hear his soundtracks and these songs in particular:

• Tumhin Mere Mandir – Khandan
• Babul Ki Dua – Neel Kamal
• Tujhko Pukare Mera Pyar – Neel Kamal
• Choo Lene Do Nazuk – Kaajal
• Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir – Do Badan
• Lo Aa Gayi – Do Badan
• Raha Gardishon Mein Hardam – Do Badan
• Amma Ek Roti De – Samajh Ko Badal Dalo
• Yeh Preet Na Hogi Kam – Yeh Preet Na Hogi Kam
• Gairon Pe Karam – Aankhen
• O Nanhe Se Farishte – Ek Phool Do Mali
• Tujhe Suraj Kahoon Ya Chanda – Ek Phool Do Mali
• Tujhko Mera Pyar Pukare – Gumrah
• Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se – Gumrah
• Aa Bhi Jaa – Gumrah
• Ae Khuda – Tawaif
• Tere Pyar Ki Tamanna – Tawaif

They lay testament to this man’s passionate work; these songs are still very popular today and when played on the radio arouse the hearts of many.

Rating
★★★★★★★★☆☆