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R.I.P. Wajid Khan:The best of Sajid-Wajid Hindi film songs

Sajid-Wajid-Songs
Wajid (right) of the Sajid-Wajid duo

The other half of the popular Hindi film music composing pair Sajid-Wajid is no more. Wajid Khan passed away today morning. He was only 42.

The brothers had been composing Hindi film music for over two decades now, their popularity peaking with songs for blockbuster Salman Khan movies, notably Partner (2007), Wanted (2009), Dabangg (2010) and Dabangg 2 (2012).

But Sajid-Wajid may ultimately be remembered for the melodious Sonu Nigam pop album Deewana (1999). At its time, Sonu Nigam finally broke through the Mohd. Rafi clone tag, with chartbuster songs in Hindi movie soundtracks like Pardes (1997), Border (1997), Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997) and Sangharsh (1999). The non-film success of Deewana established Sonu Nigam as a youth icon, the voice of young romance.

Though Sajid-Wajid made their name with largely catchy formula-ridden songs, they also made a bunch of memorable songs that still resonate. Here are some 9 PM Movies favourites:

teri-meri-kahaani-movie-poster
Allah Jaane  
Teri Meri Kahani (2012)
Lyrics – Prasoon Joshi 
Singer – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
 

This soulful Sufi-like ballet was among our select picks for the best Hindi film songs of 2012. The song showcased what forced-into-formula composers are capable of, if given a free hand. If you are giving the soundtrack a listen, do also sample Jab Se Mere Dil Ko Uff, a classic retro-sixties revisit, with Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan going great guns.Allah Jaane is an absolute favourite, my most revisited Sajid-Wajid song. The interlude flute and harmonium sections are a beauty and then Khan goes into trance mode, tracing the Prasoon Joshi lyrics like a painting:

kuch toh mila hai aaj hawa mein 
saason mein ghunghroo kaise khananan…
 
aasman hai pairon ke neeche
warna zameen pe kaise neelapan 
 
(something has mingled with the air today,
how this tinkle of the anklets in breath….
the sky is beneath my feet,
otherwise why is the earth blue…)
govinda-songs
Soni De Nakhre
Partner (2007)
Lyrics – Jalees Sherwani, Sanjay Chhel, Shabbir Ahmed
Singers – Labh Janjua, Sneha Pant, Wajid

The song video is best remembered for the fabulous Govinda dancing moves, and musically for the superb Punjabi party vibes.

Now there are a zillion Punjabi dance songs in Hindi movies, so to stand out and get noticed is a mean achievement. Great beats, infectious medium pace, despite the quaint vocals that don’t always fit, the song feature the best moments in an otherwise average David Dhawan movie.

 

veer-movie-poster
Surili Akhiyon Wale
Veer (2010)
Lyrics – Gulzar 
Singers – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Suzanne D’Mello
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Gulzar and Sajid-Wajid conjure some melody here with a beautifully paced love ballet in a period drama. This is another ‘homage to thy beautiful eyes’ song, elevated by Gulzar’s mercurial writing and Khan’s heartfelt pitch perfect rendition.
The composition gives us two different tunes in the two paragraphs, adding more depth to the song, despite the Lagaan-like English vocals feel. The poetry is exquisite, oh what will we do without Gulzar?
dabangg-movie-poster
Tere Mast Mast Do Nain
Dabangg (2010)
Lyrics – Faiz Anwar 
Singers – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and
Shreya Ghoshal (in film version)
 
The most popular Sajid-Wajid song ever, the blockbuster song of that year, again it is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan scoring big time with another soulful rendition, check out his fabulous vocals going low and high effortlessly.
A part qawwali, see how guitar strains are used softly, sparingly, apart from the tabla-mimicking  beats, while creating the required romantic effect. The Faiz Anwar lyrics are a hit and miss, evocative and repetitive, but it all works like magic in culmination.
Afterword
Hindi film music directors are not just about composing for movies. They are also inherently musicians, constantly exploring and experimenting. The YouTube Bollywood Hungama Dabangg 3 interview link below is a good insight to the musical lives of Sajid-Wajid.
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