Jidhar Dekhoo Teri Tasveer Nazar Aati Hai

Jidhar Dekhoo Teri Tasveer

Some time in the early 80’s I had been to Mumbai with my friends and we went to  see Mahaan at V Shantaram’s Plaza. They had installed a new sound system. I can still remember the clarity and crispness of the sound. This song Jidhar Dekhoo stuck with me since then. Kishore’s majestic vocals supported by RD’s outstanding music and Anjaan’s simple words that set the tone of the film. This was the first song in the film that a young Amitabh sings for his wife Wahida Rehman.

Below is picture tweeted by Amitabh where RD is explaining him the song

T 2183 - RD Burman 'Pancham', rehearses me for 'Mahaan' song ..'jidhar dekhoon ..' pic.twitter.com/2oS8D0s6Pm

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 22, 2016

The main instruments are Accoustic guitars, Bass guitar, Dholak, Tabla, Resso, Santoor, Mandolin, Violins and electronic keyboards. This is a short song (only two interludes) and a fairly uncomplicated composition. The music is simple and patterns are repeated. But then read through some observations that make this song different.

Listen to the song with head phones to experience the separated clear stereo effect. The song starts with a few strums on the accoustic guitar followed by Kishore setting the tone for the song. Right from the start, the effect of Kishore’s voice supported by the two guitars is so mesmerising that one sits up in the chair to ready oneself for more audio goodies! The bass guitar starts around 0:30 and violins start with a momentum from 0:33. Pickup is on Bongo followed by Mandolin and the song starts!

One interesting observation of this song : When the vocals start at around 1:00 the pickup is on Dholak and through out the song the Dholak does not go with the traditional Punjabi “Theka” but is played in the fashion of a song pickup being looped. Also note the support that Bass guitar provides to the Dholak as it extends the sounds of the Dholak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IB3VwJQ4RY

Note another part : In this song, the sound of the words at the end each line are extended-

जिधर देखूँ SSSS 

तेरी तसवीर SSSS, 

नज़र आती हैSSSS

तेरी सूरत SSSS

मेरी तक़दीर SSS

नज़र आती है SSSS

This pattern continues throughout the song even in the antara’s.

Another observation : After the vocals, the strums on the guitar are such that they are integral part of the song and would render the song incomplete had they not been.

I am told the Mukhda has a feel of Charukeshi while the Antara is set in Khamaj.

For a song with a soft opening music, the violins suddenly speed up the pace lifting the song to  a higher level. So why would this song be set in this pace? Probably so that later in the film, when the song is sung by an old Amitabh at a slow pace the difference between the moods stands out.

जिधर देखूँ तेरी तसवीर, नज़र आती है

तेरी सूरत, मेरी तक़दीर, नज़र आती है

The first interlude music is fairly long for an RD song. It starts with the keyboards followed by Mandolins and Violins. Violins accompany the vocals throughout the antara.

ज़िन्दा हूँ मैं तेरे लिये, जीवन तेरा है

मेरा है जो, सब है तेरा, अब क्या मेरा है

मेरी खुशियों की तू जागीर नज़र आती है

The second antara starts with the Mandolin followed by Santoor & Violins. The pattern of Violins accompanying vocals is repeated here.

बिना देखे, बिना जाने, तन मन बाँधे जो

बंधन जो, जनम जनम, मर के जुदा न हो

तेरी चाहत वही ज़ंजीर, नज़र आती है

जिधर देखूँ तेरी तसवीर, नज़र आती है

तेरी सूरत, मेरी तक़दीर, नज़र आती है