A song for December...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTxZy32Fv_0
The memory of my first hearing this song, on a cold December evening three years a go, is still fresh in my mind.
I was walking back from the St Stephens College Library, in New Delhi, arms full of heavy books on Indian history, cursing our curriculum that made me toil so hard, yet was stingy in appreciating the efforts. Cutting and walking across the basketball court, I heard this song for the first time. Although four of my friends were singing along loudly, fittingly out of tune and reminding me of croaking frogs, it didn’t matter in the least…
…the song had already captivated me.
“Bulla Ki Jaana Maen Kaun” or “Bhulla, I don’t know who I am”, sung by Punjabi rock singer Rabbi Shergill, immediately went to the top of the list of MY favourite songs. It stays there, firmly at the top, to this day.
It was then strange that it took me three years (until today, June 25, 2008) to finally watch the song’s video. Once again, it blew me away. It reminded me so much of the past that I left behind, it reminded me so much about home…
...The green trees, the inky darkness of the night, the cold kept away from me by four layers of clothing, the warmth of the camp fire, the hotness of delicious tea against my freezing, ungloved hands, the mouth-watering smell of fresh made omelette, jam-packed between two lightly-brown roasted breads, the old radio hanging from the wall, blaring out the song which I fell in love with...
The song has made different impacts on different people. Over three years, I have heard some say that “Shergill sings with gay abandon,” while others “I could feel the heart-wrenching pain in his voice.”
For me, it was both.
This song, each time I got lost in it, made my heart soar like a bird who made its first flight into the deep blue sky. This song made me feel like having taken a prolonged dip in a cold river, on a hot summer day, refreshing me to the core of my being. This song made me feel like a lover, pining for his long lost one. This song made me feel... so much like myself.
Try to hear, see and feel this song.
Do not worry about lyrics, they have been deciphered for you. The camera work is awesome, capturing India’s mood perfectly.
Someday, if I meet the Punjabi gentleman who gave me a song to love forever, I would hold his hand in a firm shake, look into his eyes and say softly…
“Thank you…”
Can quite identify with the royal enfield/yezdi and the 'chai' at a shack in the hill station after riding thru light drizzle for a coupla hours. (not to mention the crisp beedies!! :-p)An experience for the soul.
Somebody told me, "You are what you eat".Now I know why I'm nuts!!
Very beautiful song. I'm American and I loved the tempo of the lyrics even though I could only see the captioning. Very beautiful photography also.
@ Bugsy: Dude, thats the closest feeling of heaven on earth. That must have been one helluva trip. I still remember the 17-kilometre-one-way trips i used to make from where i lived to jama Masjid at 2AM in the morning just to have freshly prepared steaming kababs. Ah, home sickness written all over me now...
@Jackmohan: It was the best song to happen to mankind and Stephanians after Indian Ocean's Kandeesa. Hallelujah for that song.
@DG: DG, do that, definitely, if you need any help, you know who to holler at.
@Sean was my son: thanks, mate. Appreciate the good feedback.
"one day we will meet again as time will never defy our togetherness and will never be apart again...."
Greek, what a lovely song. I've put it on my I-Pod. Really enjoyed the video with the images of India. It's making me want to have another holiday in your wonderful country :)
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Greeker...loved this song ...1st time I saw it on MTV....so many monsoons ago.
And love the video too. They very nicely put out the words in the video as it is in Punjabi. So understanding the meaning of the song was easy.
It went on to become a rage....none of his other numbers got so much fanfare.
you're homesick and you're making me homesick too.
How about a December night, four layers of clothing, a highway and a Royal Enfield tearing through the inkiness?