Ghazal goes out of tune as Bollywood turns 100

Even as the two day Khazana ghazal festival tapered to a close at the Taj Colaba in a flurry of poetry, poets and lyricists were of the view that ghazal's role in Bollywood, which is turning 100, is now marginal

Why have ghazals all but vanished now? Cultural historian Mukul Joshi blames the 'disco era' of for it. "By the 80s, people seemed to be blinded by rhythm and beats more than words. It was a time when even Lata Mangeshkar, who's sung the most memorable ghazals, had to croon Disco 82."

Lyricist-poet and filmmaker Gulzar laments the passing of an era when nuances of language were appreciated. "There were people like Madan Mohan who used to make beautiful use of language, but sadly that era is long gone," he sighs.

Composing legend Khayyam too says, "Give me subjects like Umrao Jaan, Bazaar and Razia Sultan and I will still be able to be come up with tunes like I did for those iconic films."

Noted lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar recalls the 50s and 60s when all film-songs were ghazals. "That they're still sung by youngsters even on reality shows indicates their timeless magic," he told dna. Akhtar mentions the work of Kaifi Azmi as an example. "He borrowed the best from Urdu poetry in articulation and yet he never becomes inaccessibly difficult."

Faiz Anwar who has given us nectar sweet poetry in ghazals like the title song of Dil hai ki maanta nahin (1991) or Aaoge jab tum oh saajana (Jab We Met) says: "I've written completely dhaak-chik item numbers like Chikni kamar pe teri mera dil for Rowdy Rathore. But these're just bread-and-butter songs, which last for a few days and are forgotten. I still try to bring good poetry with songs like my Thoda sa pyaar hua hai (Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, 2002) or Tere mast mast do nain from Dabbang (2010)."

Since it vanished from Bollywood, ghazals have created an identity and following with private albums and concerts. 

Talat Aziz, Pankaj Udhas, Anup Jalota and many others found a platform. So much so that some like Hariharan and Ghulam Ali teamed up with the golden-voiced Asha Bhosle to create iconic albums, which still sell like hot cakes.

Others feel that ghazals are still relevant."Bollywood and ghazal have been together with Hindi films from the time music and melody have been around," says the velvety-voiced singer Bhupinder Singh, Pankaj Udhas the man behind the idea of the festival echoes Singh. "For the 113th edition of the festival we wanted to mark 100 years of Indian cinema. So a special retrospective of ghazals and nazms in cinema by way of a medley consisting of some of the most prominent and popular numbers from 1950s to date are being presented."

According to Joshi, the runaway success of Jagjit and Chitra Singh's concerts and the film Saath-Saath, which ran entirely on the strength of their ghazals created the road to recovery. "It still has so much potential to grow. I'm waiting to see it reach the pinnacle again."

As if on cue Bhupinder Singh begins singing, "Kissi nazar ko tera intezar aaj bhi hai".

Some memorable ghazals...

Aaj Bichhde Hain [Thodisi Bewafaii] Bhupinder
Chithi Aayi Hai [Naam] Pankaj Udhas
Chupke Chupke [Nikaah] Ghulam Ali
Dikhai Diye Yun [Bazaar] Lata Mangeshkar
Dil Cheez Kya Hai [Umrao Jaan] Asha Bhosle
Jhuki Jhuki See Nazar [Arth] Jagjit Singh
Kabhi Khud Pe [Hum Dono] Mohammed Rafi
Mera Kuchh Saamaan [Ijaazat] Asha Bhosle
Yeh Dil Aur [Prem Prabhat] Lata Mangeshkar
Yun Hasraton [Adalat] Lata Mangeshkar