Meri tasweer lekar kyaa karogey tum
Posted on: September 26, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The mention the word ‘qawwaali’ to a Hindi film buff, and 95 out of 100, the response will be the humming sounds of ‘Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq. . .’. As a poetry form, qawwali originated in Persia and traveled to the subcontinent, during the emergence of the Sufi philosophers in the 12th and 13th centuries. In its original form, its intent is to sing the praises of Allaah, the Almighty, Prophet Muhammad, and other saints. The art was exclusively performed at places of religious worship and at dragaahs (mausoleums) of revered saints and teachers. The poetry is implicitly intended to be spiritual in its context, and its central themes are love, devotion and longing (of man for the Divine).
In the 20th century, as music for easy listening reached out to more and more people, the themes connected with this art form were somewhat diluted, and the words and verses started to appear in qawwaalis with more mundane and worldly references. Nonetheless, the poets still tried to maintain a soft link with the spiritual plane, as they went on to create more and more qawwaalis that were made popular through medium of cinema. In the iconic qawwaali from Barsaat Ki Raat (1960), the climax of the poetry comes with the rendering of the lines
‘jis se aagaah nahin, sheikh-o-brahman dono,
us haqeeqat ka garajtaa huaa elaan hai ishq’,
and ends up with the towering refrain to say
‘khaaq ko but, aur but ko devtaa kartaa hai ishq,
intehaa ye hai bande to khudaa karta hai ishq’
Qawwaalis have been a staple fare of Hindi films, especially in the 50s and 60s. In many flavors and many styles, qawwaalis are a part of the formula that the producers (more likely financiers) use to pull together various components of a story, betting for a success at the box office. The qawwaali in this post is a gem of a poetical creation, accompanied by a superb score and rendering by the singers. One of the forms of qawwaali is a contest of ideas, wherein two groups will attempt to outdo each other, in terms of the ideas presented and the queries posed to the rival team. The winner is assumed to be the one who has the last say, and the rival group after a stage, cannot add any more or any better ideas or answers, and hence gives in.
The exchange in this qawwaali is between two lovers. The beloved has initiated the exchange by requesting for an image of her lover, as he is probably going away someplace far, for an unspecified period of time. The request is simply to have something to keep her company while he is gone. And the lover has a number of reasons why he does not want to leave his image with her. The exchange is very interesting and is sure to warm the cockles of a romantically inclined heart.
The film is Kala Samunder from 1962. A production under the banner of Deepak Chitra, it is directed by Ram Prakash ‘Ashq’. The leading star cast is Jairaj, Chitra, Radhika, Maruti, TunTun, Beer Sakhuja, Hiralal, Harooon, Shafi, Raja Gaurang etc. This film has lyrics written by Anand Bakshi, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Ram Prakash ‘Ashq’. This qawwaali is from the pen of Anand Bakshi. The music is by N Datta (also known Dattaa Naaik). The singing voices are those of Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, and S Balbir.
The pace and the flow of both the rhythm as well as the ideas is just superb, and you will find yourself straining to keep track of the progress of the song. Enjoy this lovely piece of poetry.
Song-Meri tasweer leke kyaa karoge tum (Kaala Samundar) (1962) Singers-Rafi, Asha Bhonsle, S Balbir, Lyrics-Anand Bakshi, MD-N Datta
Rafi + S Balbir = Fuchsia
Lyrics
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar
dil e dilgeer lekar
luti jageer lekar
jali taqdeer lekar kya karoge,
kya karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
chale ho ab na jaane kab miloge
sabab koi banega tab miloge
na jeene ka na marne ka bahaanaa
katega kaise furqat kaa zamaana
hamen de jaao ye apni nishaani
badi hogi tumhari meharbaani
sukoon ki koi to tadbeer hogi
hamaare paas ye tasveer hogi
meri tasveer bhi mujh si kahaan hai
ke ye bejaan hai ye bezubaan hai
tumhare kaam ye na aa sakegi
tumhaara dil na ye behlaa sakegi
junoon mein to girebaan chaak hoga
ke parwaana to jal ke khaaq hoga
tumhaare saamne jab hum na honge
ye gham tasveer se to kam na honge
yoon hi tadpoge tum
aahen bharoge
kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
bajaa hai baat ye hum maante hain
na behlegee tabeeyat jaante hain
karengi hasraten fariyaad aksar
ke tum aayaa karoge yaad aksar
gham-e-furqat na hoga yoon gawaaraa
magar thoda sa to hoga sahaaraa
judaai mein mulaaqaaten karenge
ke hum tasveer se baaten karenge
khayaalon mein basaa lo meri surat
meri tasveer ki hai kyaa zaroorat
meri yaadon ko samjho yaadgaaren
khizaa mein bhi rahengi phir bahaaren
samaa khwaabon ka hota hai suhaanaa
kabhi aanaa kabhi mujh ko bulaanaa
hamen ik doosre ki deed hogi
nigaahon ki dilon ki eid hogi
na maanoge to ro ro ke maroge
kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
bahaane par banaate ho bahaanaa
deewaane ho banaate ho deewaanaa
khudaa jaane tumhen inkaar kyun hai
hamen phir bhi tumhin se pyaar kyun hai
sitam ke teer ham pe chhod’te ho
bade dil-geer ho dil tod’te ho
na aisi bewafaa be-peer hogi
bhali tumse to ye tasveer hogi
guzaarish aap ke dildaar ki hai
wajaah ek aur bhi inkaar ki hai
zamaane ki nigaahon se bachaa ke
isey tum laakh rakhoge chhupaa ke
kisi din dekh hi legaa zamaanaa
o badaa mash’hoor hogaa ye fasaanaa
jo logon ki zubaan tak baat pahunche
to phir jaane kahaan tak baat pahunche
kaho kyaa pyaar ko rusvaa karoge
kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
hamen manzoor ye rusvaai’aan hain
ke in se bhi buree tanhaai’aan hain
mohabbat ke nahin dastoor aise
hamen charche nahin manzoor aise
wafaa mein log lutaate hain jaanen
tumhen aashiq bhalaa hum kaise maanen
shub’aa ho ishq mein to imtihaan lo
meri tasveer na lo meri jaan lo
kaho jaane wafaa ab kyaa kahoge
kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
zubaan kyun ruk gayee hai
ho nigaah kyun jhuk gayee hai
aji ghabraa gaye kyaa
kaho sharmaa gaye kyaa
abhi hai raat baaki
abhi hai baat baaki
abhi se haar baithhe
dil-o-jaan waar baithhe
nayaa andaaz koi
nayi parwaaz koi
labon ko see liyaa kyaa
guroor sa pee liyaa kyaa
chale taqraar aagey
chalo sarkaar aagey
bane tasveer kyaa baithhe rahoge
kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
meri tasveer lekar
dil e dilgeer lekar
luti jageer lekar
jali taqdeer lekar kya karoge,
kya karoge tum
meri tasveer lekar
9 Responses to "Meri tasweer lekar kyaa karogey tum"
September 26, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Ah, this is a song I know from my qawaali cassettes of yesteryear. 🙂
I had a few qawwali cassettes with absolutely lovely qawwalis.
I knew most of the qawwalis before I’d got the cassettes but this qawwali was one that was new to me till I’d got the cassette.
It is great to see qawwalis on this blog. Considering how popular they were at one point in time, I think there must be many more qawwalis out there that are yet to make their way to this blog.
Thank you Sudhirji. As usual, enjoyed reading your post.
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September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Raja ji
Thanks for your note. 🙂
And yes, more on the way. 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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September 26, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Sir,
It was good to read the history of qawwali. And the adaptation to film music is also the amalgamation of sufi peotry into film music, in most cases. That is what i have felt.
This is the first time i have heard this qawwali. There is spiritual meaning to this qawwali too. In the clash of differing philosophies the line that prevails is ” meri tasveer lekar kyaa karoge tum ” .
The following line is :
‘ shub’aa ‘ ho ishq mein to imtihaan lo
meri tasveer na lo meri jaan lo
Shub’aa – When in doubt….. , as in Shak-o-shub’aa
Regards.
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September 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
Nahm ji,
Thanks for the spelling correction.
And yes, most of the songs, like this one, are so full of profound meanings, that go beyond the apparent exchange that is heard at the superficial level. A piece of poetry like this one, merits a more detailed interpretation.
Rgds
Sudhir
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December 17, 2011 at 5:56 am
I was just thinking of this qawwali, and while searching in this blog, had no doubt that it would be there and the only one person could give justice to this qawwali by writing the right words would be only Sudhirji. I had seen this song on Chhayageet (Bombay Doordarshan) almost 35 years back. Now because of Atulji and his Wagon, I can enjoy these old gems whenever I want.
Thank You Sudhirji.
-Khyati Bhatt
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November 22, 2014 at 3:23 pm
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर दिले दिल जीर लेकर
लुटी जागीर लेकर जाली तक़दीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
चले हो अब ना जाने कब मिलोगे सबब कोई बनेगा तब मिलोगे
ना जीने का ना मरने का बहन कटेगा कैसे फुर्सत का ज़माना
हमे दे जाओ एक अपनी निशानी बड़ी होगी तुम्हारी मेहरबानी
सुकून की तो कोई तदबीर होगी हमारे पास यह तस्वीर होगी
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
मेरी तस्वीर भी मुझसी कहाँ है के यह बेजान है यह बेज़ुबाँ है
तुम्हारे काम यह ना आ सकेगी तुम्हारा दिल ना यह बहला सकेगी
जूनून में तो गिरहबान चाक होगा के परवाना तो जल के ख़ाक होगा
तुम्हारे सामने जब हम ना होगे यह गम तस्वीर से तो काम ना होगे
युही तड़पोगे तुम आहे भरोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
बजा है बात यह हम मानते है ना बहलेगी तबियत जानते है
करेगी हसरते फ़रियाद अक्सर के तुम आया करोगे याद अक्सर
ग़मे फ़ुर्क़त ना होगा यूँ गवारा मगर थोड़ा सा तो होगा सहारा
जुदाई में मुलाकाते करेंगे के हम तस्वीर से बाते करेंगे
खयालो में बसा लो मेरी सूरत मेरी तस्वीर की है क्या ज़रूरत
मेरी यादो को समझो यादगारे खिज़ा में भी रहेगी फिर बहारे
समां ख्वाबो का होता है सुहाना कभी आना कभी मुझको बुलाना
हमे एक दूसरे की दीद होगी निग़ाहों की दिलो की ईद होगी
ना मानोगे तो रो रो के मरोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
बहाने पर बनाते हो बहन दीवाने हो बनाते हो दीवाना
खुदा जाने तुम्हे इंकार क्यों है हमे फिर भी तुम्ही से प्यार क्यों है
बड़े बेदर्द हो दिल तोड़ते हो सितम के तीर हम पे छोड़ते हो
ना ऐसी बेवफा बेतीर होगी भली तुम से तो यह तस्वीर होगी
गुज़ारिश आप के दिलदार की है वजह एक और भी इंकार की है
ज़माने की निग़ाहों से बचाके इसे तुम लाख रखोगे छुपके
किसी दिन देख ही लेगा ज़माना ओ बड़ा मशहूर होगा यह फ़साना
जो लोगो की ज़ुबा तक बात पहुंचे तो फिर जाने कहा तक बात पहुंचे
कहो क्या प्यार को रुसवा करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
हमे मंज़ूर यह रूसवाइयां है के इनसे भी बुरी तनहइया है
मोहब्बत के नहीं दस्तूर ऐसे हमे चर्चे नहीं मंज़ूर ऐसे
वफ़ा में लोग लुटाते है जाने तुम्हे आशिक़ भला हम कैसे माने
शुबहा हो इश्क़ में तो इम्तेहान लो मेरी तस्वीर ना लो मेरी जान लो
कहो जाने वफ़ा अब क्या कहोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
ज़ुबा क्यों रुक गयी है हो निगाह क्यों झुक गयी है
अजी घबरा गए क्या कहो शर्मा गए क्या
अभी है रात बाक़ी अभी है बात बाक़ी
अभी से हार बैठे दिलो जान वार बैठे
नया अंदाज़ कोई नयी परवाज़ कोई
लबो को सी लिया क्या ज़हर पी लिया क्या
चले तक़रार आगे चलो सरकार आगे
बने तस्वीर क्या बैठे रहोगे
क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर
मेरी तस्वीर लेकर क्या करोगे क्या करोगे तुम मेरी तस्वीर लेकर…………………….
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 26, 2011 at 5:07 pm
These lyrics are quite interesting. Most of the qawallis, the duets one hears, are a tussle between the male and the female. Here, the roles are reversed, the female wooing, the male asking her to be more discreet. 🙂
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September 26, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Yes, that is an interesting observation. It is to be noted that the lyrics of this song are written by Anand Bakshi, who was then a newcomer struggling to find his feet. Writing a qawwali with a difference may have been an attempt by him to catch the eyes (ears ?) of the music lovers. And indeed he may have caught the attention of music lovers with this qawwali.
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