Khayyam, a legendary Hindi cinema composer, started his career in the 1950s and worked until the 1990s. He discussed his collaboration with Asha Bhosle, starting with the 1949 film Parda, and how they perfected the music for Umrao Jaan, which won many awards. Watch his fascinating conversation.
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00:00When the clouds of sorrow will melt, when the ocean of happiness will flow,
00:06when the sky will dance, when the earth will sing melodies,
00:10that morning will surely come.
00:12And we said, Asha ji, we don't want Asha ji, we want Umrao jaan.
00:16They said, what? You don't want Asha ji?
00:18It was like this, what? You don't want Asha ji now?
00:21So the song ended. Their eyes were closed.
00:24So the door opened.
00:25They came out of the trance.
00:28They said, it was me. I have never heard my voice like this, nor have I sung like this.
00:33So it was God's grace.
00:42First of all, congratulations to Asha ji and her family on their birthday.
00:53And this is their 75th birthday.
01:04So this is a very big day for all of us, for the whole of India, for the whole world, for those who love them.
01:12This is a very big day.
01:14And our prayers are with God that may God keep them happy and contented in this way.
01:23And may they continue to sing in this way.
01:27May they continue to give joy and happiness to the whole world with their voice.
01:34And they sing all kinds of songs.
01:37Their voice, in my opinion, in all the languages of India, they have sung in every language.
01:48And they are so intelligent, they can sing in any language of the world.
01:59Even in English, I think they have sung some songs.
02:03And they can sing in any language of the world.
02:08They sing very easily.
02:10So may God continue to bless them with their talent, their skills, their qualities.
02:22And may God continue to bless the whole of India and the whole world with their talent.
02:28And we are very fortunate to have such singers.
02:36We got the opportunity to work with them.
02:39I remember the first song that Asha ji sang for me in the film Beevi.
02:47Mamta Shanti ji's playback.
02:51I gave her the playback of a heroine even greater than Ashwariya ji and Madhuri ji.
03:00She sang a very good song.
03:02I remember her words too.
03:04My mind's courtyard is shining like the moon.
03:08The song was written by Nazim Panipati.
03:12And the company was also Mamta Shanti ji's.
03:15Wali sahib Mamta Shanti ji.
03:17And after that she sang a song with me in Nargis Art.
03:21She sang a very beautiful Arabic style song of Kahwe Khane.
03:28Her words were, don't leave us and go.
03:32That was the aim of my heart.
03:34She sang such a beautiful song that there was a kind of dhoom that she sang an Arabic style song.
03:42Lata ji's younger sister, Asha Bhosle, sang the song.
03:46So there was a lot of dhoom.
03:48So this is where we started.
03:51After that, the song of the film Footpath by Meena Kumari ji.
04:00She sang the song with me.
04:02And I remember it very well.
04:05The heart is calling me.
04:08A very beautiful song.
04:10And the second song by Meena ji, Kaisa Jaadu Dala Re Bal Mana Jaane.
04:16Again, a very beautiful song.
04:18And I would like to tell you one more thing.
04:21In this film, I also sang the song of Cabaret to Asha ji.
04:27Her words were also like this.
04:30So that Cabaret, people don't know.
04:35Today I want to tell them.
04:38I will also tell you on stage that I gave the Cabaret song to Asha ji first.
04:44After that, other great musicians gave the songs to Asha ji.
04:52And the film was released again.
04:59Ramesh Sahgal's film.
05:02Rajpur Mala Sinha.
05:04Starring Sahil Udhiyanvi.
05:09There was a duet in it.
05:11You will remember this moment.
05:13Then don't complain about my mischievous eyes.
05:20Look, you saw me with love again.
05:23And the answer comes.
05:26I wouldn't have let my eyes turn.
05:29Your heart called me many times.
05:32That song was played so much.
05:35In the voice of Mukesh Bhai and Asha ji.
05:38That song was appreciated a lot.
05:41And a poem was written by Mr. Sahil for this film.
05:47Crime and Punishment.
05:49That morning will come sometime.
05:52That morning will come sometime.
05:55When the veil of the night will fall from the head of these dark centuries.
06:00When the clouds of sorrow will melt.
06:03When the ocean of happiness will flow.
06:06When the sky will dance and sing.
06:08When the earth will sing melodies.
06:11That morning will come sometime.
06:13So in the voice of Asha ji and Mukesh Bhai.
06:17And I remember it very well.
06:20I would like to tell you.
06:22As soon as these songs were played.
06:25Asha ji said.
06:27Mr. Khayyam, your morning has come.
06:30We were struggling.
06:33But really her voice.
06:36Like God heard her voice.
06:39And after that really.
06:42There was nothing like darkness.
06:44It was morning.
06:46When a colleague says such a thing from his heart.
06:53Then God hears it.
06:55So this happened to us.
06:57Then many films came.
07:00Like no one gets a perfect world.
07:04In the voice of Asha ji.
07:06It was a super hit.
07:09And after that.
07:11I am going short.
07:13There are very few people like you.
07:15I know.
07:17We came to Umrao Jaan.
07:19In Umrao Jaan.
07:21Pakiza was made by Kamal Amrohi.
07:24And.
07:26His songs.
07:28Lata ji's songs in Pakiza.
07:30Ghulam Mohan's music.
07:32Unparalleled music.
07:34And.
07:36Making.
07:38And when this proposal came for Umrao Jaan.
07:42So we took it.
07:44Muzaffarul Saab Subhashini ji.
07:46Came and visited.
07:48And.
07:49Asha ji's voice.
07:52She chose.
07:54That Asha ji will sing.
07:56And.
07:57We went to Asha ji.
07:59Told her.
08:00She was very busy at that time.
08:02She used to sing 3-4 songs in a day.
08:04So busy.
08:05Asha ji this is a challenge.
08:07And you have to sing songs.
08:09And this is a story.
08:11Muzaffarul Saab and Subhashini ji were with us.
08:14All of us were present.
08:16So she said I will sing.
08:18I said you will get time.
08:20It is a lot of hard work.
08:22She said we will find time.
08:24And work started.
08:26And rehearsals took place.
08:29And she remembered the song.
08:31And it was not difficult for her to remember.
08:34But she gave 3-4 rehearsals.
08:37And.
08:39She remembered all the fine points.
08:43Everything.
08:45So we said.
08:47Asha ji we don't want Asha ji.
08:49We want Umrao jaan.
08:51She said you don't want Asha ji.
08:53It is very good.
08:55You don't want Asha ji.
08:57We have been working together for a long time.
08:59Really.
09:01We have worked together all our lives.
09:04I don't want Asha ji.
09:06Because I want Umrao jaan.
09:08So how?
09:10I said the tone.
09:12The tone of Umrao jaan.
09:14She said you sing and tell me.
09:17So I sang and told her.
09:20This way.
09:22You put your voice.
09:24She smiled.
09:26She said Khayyam saab.
09:28Postpone your recording.
09:30If you want me to sing like this.
09:32Then for 8 more days.
09:34I will rehearse it.
09:36Alone.
09:38So you record it for me.
09:40On cassette.
09:42So I recorded it in my voice.
09:44After that.
09:46We came to the recording.
09:48As soon as we came to the recording.
09:50We deliberately.
09:52We lowered the voice.
09:54By 150 or 200.
09:56Because.
09:58To get the effect of Umrao jaan.
10:02So Asha ji wrestled.
10:04So I called her.
10:06Jigjit ji come here.
10:08Come to me.
10:10She said Khayyam saab.
10:12You put the tone.
10:14My voice.
10:16We wrestled.
10:18But I am not able to sing with this tone.
10:20I am not in ease.
10:22What did you do?
10:24So Jigjit ji came to me.
10:26She said Asha ji.
10:28Is disturbed.
10:30So I told her.
10:32You put my tone separately.
10:34Did you forget my tone?
10:36I said I did not forget.
10:38I put it deliberately.
10:40She said why?
10:42I said because of Umrao jaan.
10:44I want Umrao jaan.
10:46She said when I am not able to sing.
10:48What will Umrao jaan sing?
10:50So she said.
10:52I said Asha ji.
10:54We will find a solution.
10:56We will take one take.
10:58Because it is ready.
11:00I have sung on the mic twice.
11:04So we will record from this tone.
11:08And also from your tone.
11:10She said you swear.
11:12My son's name is Pradeep.
11:14You will record from my tone.
11:18I said yes.
11:20I swore.
11:22I also swore to her.
11:24I swore to Saraswati maa.
11:26Whatever I have taught you.
11:28Whatever I am saying to you.
11:30You will sing 100% like that.
11:32And it was God's grace.
11:34And she sang like that.
11:38And when she heard the song.
11:40From the same tone.
11:44She liked it so much.
11:46That when she woke up.
11:48Her eyes were closed.
11:50And the song is 5.5 or 6 minutes long.
11:52So the song ended.
11:54Her eyes were closed.
11:56It was silent for a minute.
11:58It was silent for two minutes.
12:00Her eyes were not open.
12:02So the door opened.
12:06She came out of the trance.
12:08She said it was me.
12:10I have never heard my voice like that.
12:12Nor have I sung like that.
12:14So it was God's grace.
12:26God's grace.
12:46And it was God's grace.
12:48Asha ji.
12:50Exactly what we wanted for Umrao.
12:52Today Umrao.
12:54The world is saying.
12:56Such a voice.
12:58Such a music.
13:00Like Umrao.
13:02It has never happened before.
13:04And in the next 50 years.
13:06Such music.
13:08Such kind.
13:10You will not get to hear it.