The climax of Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa (1957) features the piece de resistance song of the film, Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye Toh Kya Hai . Fil...
The climax of Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa (1957) features the piece de resistance song of the film, Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye Toh Kya Hai. Filmed on the poet character Vijay (Guru Dutt), the song laments the unabashed materialism that has taken hold over humanity.
Lyrics such as “yeh daulat ke bhookhe rawaajon ki duniya” (this world governed by greed and facile rituals) and “yahaan pyaar hota hai byaapaar bann kar” (here love is nothing but a business) hold a most unflattering view of contemporary society. The song works on a slow boil as the singer Mohammed Rafi plumbs the depths of pain and pathos for much of its duration. Unable, though, to contain his discontent and disillusionment for too long, the poet ultimately hopes that this world burns down entirely. The musical arrangement, correspondingly, reaches a crescendo. Vijay’s pent-up rage gives way as he sings, “jalaa do, jalaa do, jalaa do, isey phoonk daalo yeh duniya”.
The Pyaasa song is as good an example as any of the songwriter Sahir Ludhianvi’s fiery poetic temperament. Although the term “Angry Young Man” was given to Amitabh Bachchan for the anti-establishment roles he played in the 1970s films written by Salim-Javed, it was Ludhianvi...
