“Mai filmi dhuno par geet nhi likha”-Remembering Bharat Vyaas

Rajasthan isn’t only a land with historical importance but it's also the birthplace for many literary arts and culture. It’s a land where for many years bravery, and sacrifice have been the traditional way of life. The pure land where there is Maha rani Paadmavati, Rana Sangram Singh, and then there are poetess Meera, Maharaj Prithviraj also holds historical importance as they are literary gems. This glorious Rajasthan has one more Poet Laureate- Bharat Vyaas, I met him at his home “Bharat Bhawan”.

Bharat Vyas is the same poet who has composed the following songs.

Zaraa Samne Toh Aao Chhaliye, Chhup-Chhup Chhalne Me Kya Raaz Hai 
(JANAM JANAM KE PHERE)

Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum (DO AANKHEY BARAH HAATH)

Kehe Do Koi Naa Kare Yaha Pyaar (GOONJ UNTGHI SHEHENAAI)

Aa Laut Ke Aaja Mere Geet Tujhe, Mere Geet Bulatey Hai (SAMRAAT CHANDRA GUPTA)

Itni Jaldi Kya Hai Gori Saajan Ke Ghar Jaaney Ki (SATI SAVITRI)

Prem Ki Ganga Bahate Chalo (SANT GYANESHWAR)

Qaid Me Hai Bulbul Saeyad Muskuraye (BEDARD ZAMANA KYA JAANEY)

Saarang Teri Yaad Me Naain Huye Bechain (SARANGA)

Yeh Kaun Chitrakaar Hai (BOOND JO BAN GAYE MOOTI)

Meri Chithhi Tere Naam, Sun Le Baapu Yehe Paigaam (BAALAK)

Yeh Maati Sabhi Ki Kahaani Kahegi (NAVRANG)

My first question to Bharat ji was about his film life.

When and how did your film life start?
'The law of destiny is strange. Wherever he writes his livelihood, he gets his bread from there. Bharat ji said while opening the pages of his past in front of him, ''When I was two years old, my father passed away. We were four siblings. My sister had passed away. There were three brothers left. And the burden of our upbringing fell on my mother's shoulders. She could not bear such a heavy burden and one day she also left us alone and passed away. Now our grandfather took us under his wing. Elder brother Chandra Vyas started a wood business in Bikaner. Younger brother B.M. Vyas joined the film line. When I passed the high school examination in Charu, my elder brother called me to him. But I did not like to be with him and I went to Kolkata. And took admission to college there. I was fond of writing poetry since childhood. I had become quite famous during my school days itself. This is because this hobby covered the expenses of my studies. It was such that after reaching Kolkata, I started participating in kavi-sammelans. And within no time, I became so famous that a gramophone company of Kolkata recorded some of my songs. Those songs became very popular and I became famous all over India. At that time B.M. Vyas planned to make a film as a producer-director and bought my first song for Rs. 10, but neither the film was made nor my song was recorded. Thus, I reached Mumbai but things did not work out. In those days there was a big film centre in Pune. The film company there named Shalimar was very famous. W.Z. Ahmed was its owner. He was a great literary man. He had great poets like Josh Malihabadi, Krishna Chandra, Ramanand Sagar, Akhtar ul-Iman. I also got appointed in the same company. And thus, my film career started from Shalimar. For that organisation I wrote songs for films like 'Sawan Aaya Re', 'Rimjhim', 'Bijli' etc. But when the country was divided, that company closed down. And from Pune I reached Chennai. Where I joined Gemini Pictures. And for the first time I wrote the songs of 'Chandra Lekha' for him.

How do you write songs? That is, do you write on the tunes?
Bharat ji interrupted me and said, "I first write the song and then the musician composes the tune, this is my weakness. All my hit songs have been written in this manner. You must remember the songs of your 'Navrang'. 'Aadha hai chandma raat aadhi, reh na jaaye teri meri baat aadhi.', 'Na koi raha hai na koi rahega, mera desh azaad hoke rahega.', 'Kaviraj, don't twist the ears of poetry, talk about business and raise money.' And the Holi song 'Atak-matak panaghat par ek naar naveli' etc. all the songs were hits."

Do you agree that today's songs have more poetry and rhyme. What is the reason for this?
The reason for this is the audience. They have started liking superficial songs more. That is why foreign type of songs like rock-n-roll have become more popular than good songs. But noisy songs are like alcohol. People may adopt alcohol but the only good, pure and nutritious thing is milk. But such songs are liked temporarily. But they are soon forgotten. On seeing an Anglo-Indian girl, we may feel that she is beautiful. But we do not feel like removing her veil and bringing her home as a daughter-in-law or daughter. This is the condition of the western music of our films today. I never compromised in this matter. When I came into the film line, Urdu poetry dominated the films at that time. Apart from ghazals, producers used to get cheap and superficial songs written like 'Aana meri jaan sunday ke sunday', 'jawani ki rail chali jaaye re'. But even at such a time, when I wrote songs like 'Chali Radhe Rani, Akhiyon mein paani, apne Mohan se mukhda mod ke' for 'Parineeta', the producer refused to record the song. But one day the magic worked and the producer had to record that song and after its release, that song became the most popular. Even today people listen to that song with love like they used to listen to it earlier. But 'Aana meri jaan sunday ke sunday' has been forgotten.

What do you think should be the relationship between a composer and a lyricist so that hit music can be created?
It is important that there is mutual understanding between the two. After this, the song that is born from their union touches the heart. If the music is based on classical raga, then the lyrics should also be classical. Like Basand Desai gave music in films like 'Jhanak-Jhanak Payal Baje' etc. and S.N. Tripathi gave music in 'Janam Janam Ke Phere' etc. We have such a good rapport that whenever we work together, we get lost in each other. All the films in which we have worked together have been hits. Songs like 'Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet, Dono Milkar Banenge Preet', 'Dil Ka Khilona Haye Toot Gaya' from 'Ghoonj Uthi Shehnai' are still young.

I have heard about you that you get angry very quickly. In such a situation, does the producer and the composer face a lot of difficulty in getting the lyrics changed? 
The thing about anger is true. I get angry very quickly. But this anger is my asset, without it heroic creation is not possible. I also get angry because I am working diligently. And if the other person does not take interest in it, then it is natural to get angry in such a situation. But then he laughed and said. Pat my back! Now I do not have to change the lyrics. Otherwise, there was a time when the producer used to ask to change the lyrics. Once, something amazing happened. A producer of religious films called me to write a song. When I went there, he gave me a piece of paper and said. A song came to my mind last night. Please look at it. I applauded him but after coming back from there, I did not turn back. Similarly, another producer (who is considered to be very wise and has made many hit films) called me. When I went to him, he started preaching. I will give you the idea of the songs and you write the song on it. I said, I am the doctor and you are the patient. How will the work if you preach to me? Actually, there is no dearth of such people in this industry who consider it their right to interfere in the work of not only the lyricist but also the cameraman etc. Bhaiya, don't ask anything further, we have talked a lot. I am not well. I am sitting after taking an injection.

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