Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai...

Going by the title, this post would have published on first of this month, but for me the 'Pehli Tareekh' comes on fourth day of month. This is the day when the figures in my bank account arise a bit i.e. something known as salary in the corporate world, gets credited to my account. So on this important day, it has become a ritual for me to listen and sing the most appropriate song for the situation that is 'Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai'. Everybody must have watched the current advertisement of a chocolate with the song 'Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai'. And I am sure all those must have liked and enjoyed it too because of the simplicity and retroness in it.

But very few people will be aware of the fact that this is actually a song from an extremely little rather rarely known bollywood movie named 'Paheli Tarikh'(pronounced as 'Pehli Tareekh'). The movie was released on January 1, 1954 and was directed by Raja Nene, who was also in the lead role opposite Nirupa Roy. Yes you read it right! Nirupa Roy, the 'Queen of Misery' and our very own stereotype bollywood mother, was the female lead of this movie. The other starcast included Agha, Ramesh Kapoor and some others. The music was of renowed music director Sudhir Phadke aka 'Babuji' and lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi. The song was sung by none other than Kishore Kumar.

An interesting fact about the song is that this song is used to play on Radio Ceylon(now Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) on first day of every month in a program of old hindi songs between 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. Its also amazing to know that it is played on the same program till date. The song is not just what used to telecast in the ad but is much lengthier than that. Infact this is one of the lengthiest bollywood song. Usually on first of every month the mukhda and first antara of the song is played but on the first of January, complete full song is played.

The song beautifully captures the feeling of common people, at that time, on the first day of every month, when people get their salary after working for a complete month. Here are the complete lyrics of the song:

Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Biwi Boli Ghar Zaraa, Jaldi Se Aana,

Jaldi Se Aana...

Shaam Ko Piyaaji Hamein, Cinema Dikhaana

Hamein Cinema Dikhaana...

Karo Naa Bahaana, Haan Bahaana Bahaana

Karo Naa Bahaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Kisne Pukaara, Ruk Gaya Babu

Lalaji Ki Jaan Aaj, Aaya Hai Kaabu

Aaya Hai Kaabu...

O Paisa Zaraa Laana...

O Paisa Zaraa Laana, Laana Laana Laana

O Paisa Zaraa Laana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Banda Bekaar Hai, Kismat Ki Maar Hai

Sab Din Ek Hain, Roz Aitbaar Hai

Mujhe Na Sunaana, Haan Sunaana Sunaana

Mujhe Naa Sunaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Dar Ke Saamne, Aaye Mehmaan Hain

Bade Hi Shareef Hain, Puraane Meherbaan Hain

Bade Hi Shareef Hain, Puraane Meherbaan Hain

Arrey Jeb Ko Bachaana, Bachaana Bachaana

Jeb Ko Bachaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Dil Beqaraar Hai, Soye Nahi Raat Se

Sethji Ko Gham Hai Ki, Paiso Chalo Haath Se

Arrey Lootega Khazaana, Khazaana Khazaana

Lootega Khazaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Ae Cinema Waalon Aao Aao, Khel Mazedaar Hai

Ho Khel Mazedaar Hai Ji, Khel Mazedaar Hai

Agha Hai, Bhagwaan Hai, Kishore Kumar Hai

Nimmi, Geeta Baali Hai, Ashok Kumar Hai

Nargis, Raj Kapoor Hai, Dilip Kumar Hai

Geeton Ka Toofaan Hai, Naach Ki Bahaar Hai

Naach Ki Bahaar Hai...

Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana...

Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana...

Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana...

Arrey Waapas Nahi Jaana, Jaana Jaana

Waapas Nahi Jaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Mil-jul Ke Bachchon Ne, Baapu Ko Gheraa

Baapu Ko Gheraa...

Kehte Hain Saare Ki, Baapu Hai Mera

Baapu Hai Mera...

Khilaune Zaraa Laana...

Khilaune Zalaa Laana, Aaj Peli Taleekh Hai (the spellings in this line are intentional, no typing error)

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai

Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai

PS: I tried a lot but could not find a video of this song :( If anybody happens to find one, please share it with me too. However this is an audio version of the song. Enjoy!!!

Escape from Death

As stated in the previous one, this post is regarding my encounter with THE death during Khandala excursion, which was eventually postponed, so that I can write about it now :P We were not as lucky as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan to know about the appointment with 'IT' in advance and could proudly say, "Subah aath baje maut ke saath apna appantment hai" :P:P:P

Well when we started off our journey, we didn't have any freaking idea that while we were on our way to whet our appetite, the destiny might have some other plans for us. My maiden extravaganza could have been my final journey to the ultimate truth.

When we get down at Khandala station, we decided to follow our plan. The plan was to go along the railway tracks on foot and explore some nature in its raw, untouched and original form. The first happening thing that we find, once we are off the platform, was this tunnel of 890 meters.

We did some clicking near the entrance and then there was a short discussion whether to cross this, nearly one long km tunnel or not. Finally we decided to add a pinch of adventure to this journey and entered the tunnel with butterflies in our stomach. Apart from this adventure thing, we were also unable to resist the temptation of clicking a train inside a tunnel, if our fortune favors to get this rare opportunity. The tunnel seems to be totally deprived of any illuminating object and we know that we were too. But thankfully the lightning source of our cellphones was their battery and that too independent of the weak signal strength in the tunnel. Together with the crumbling light and our pupils expanded to their fullest extent, we started to test our eyesight, while traversing the cimmerian tunnel. Just when we were around the middle of the tunnel, our luck hit the jackpot and we heard a train approaching towards us.

There were two tracks inside the tunnel and after some very serious calculations we came to know that one must be for the trains going from Pune to Mumbai and another for the return. The train was coming from Pune and going by the previous train's record we adjudged the train will be coming on which track. There was a turn just before us from where the train was coming. That was a perfect spot to shoot an incoming train. We all took our positions on the other track and get ready with our devices to shoot the train. The train's whistle was signaling that it was approaching us and we were just excited with the thought of clicking it. Then we saw the engine's light and as the train emerged from the turn, we realized that we were on the same track!!! For a moment, I was aghast. In that very moment, I thought that this is the lynch from the almighty for all my deeds. But just then, I came into my senses when Pritesh, standing behind me, shouted rigorously at me to get off the track. I realized that still the almighty is not that adamant to call me and appoint to some post in the Hell. I came in to the space between the two tracks and escaped from the death from a mere 2 or 3 seconds and was feeling the luckiest guy on this planet.

Even after this, we keep on advancing more along the track. But thereafter, whenever we heard any train's Chhuk Chhuk, we just used to shift ourselves in between the tracks and nothing else. Because I was in no mood to feel lucky another time :P

The incident is still ruminating in my mind while typing this and again I am feeling lucky that I still have the preference to explore more off this life.