Definition: Ghazal, Nazm

Definitions of "ghazal" and "nazm" as I read them on some website years ago.

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GHAZAL
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A poem of five to fifteen couplets, a Ghazal is a collection of 'sher' which follow the rules of 'matla', 'maqta', 'behar', 'qafiya' and 'radeef'. So to know what a Ghazal is, it's necessary to know what these terms mean.

Sher (shey-r) - a two line poem. This is a deceptive definition as it does not convey the complexity of thought that can be conveyed in two lines. Each is a "complete" poem in itself. It stands by itself and can be quoted as such, and often is.

Thus, a Ghazal is a collection of 'ashaar' (plural of sher) which are complete in themselves and each may deal with topics/ subjects completely unrelated to each other.

Behar (be-huhr) - behar is the metre of the poem. This can loosely thought of as the length of the sher. Both the lines of a sher MUST be of the same 'behar' or 'metre'. Also, all the ashaar of a Ghazal MUST be the same behar.

There are 19 different metres that are used. In simple terms, they are divided into three categories - short, medium and long.

Radeef (ra-dee-f) - word or phrase that is repeated at the end of the second line in EVERY sher. The SAME word(s) are repeated.

Qafiya (qaa-fee-yaa) - the rhyming pattern of the word(s) just before the radeef in the second line of a sher. This is a necessary requirment, followed even in the absence of other rules.

Thus, a Ghazal is a collection of two-lined poem called sher, having the same behar, ending with the same radeef and having the same qafiya.

Matla (muh-ta-laa) - This is the first sher of a Ghazal, and both lines of the sher must end in the radeef. Usually a Ghazal has only one matla. If a Ghazal has more than one matla, then the second matla is called 'matla-e-saani'.

Maqta (mak-taa) - A shaayar (poet) usually had a pen-name under which he wrote. The pen-name is called 'taKhallus' (takh-ul-lus). The sher in which the taKhallus is included is called the maqta. It is the last sher of the Ghazal.

This is what a ghazal looks like:

Couplet one:
---------------------------------------------rhyme A + refrain
---------------------------------------------rhyme A + refrain
Couplet Two, Three, & so on:
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------rhyme A + refrain

Example A:
I say That, after all, is the trick of it all
When suddenly you say "Arabic of it all."
-----
For Shahid too the night went quickly as it came.
After that, O Friend, came the music of it all.

Example B:
What will suffice for a true love knot? Even the rain?
But he has bought grief's lottery, bought even the rain.
-----
They've found the knife that killed you, but whose prints are these?
No one has such small hands, Shahid, not even the rain.

Example C:
Suspended in the garden, Time, bit by bit, shines-
As you lean over this page, late and alone, it shines.
-----
Mark how Shahid returns your very words to you.
It's when the heart, still unbriefed, but briefly literature, shines.

Example D:
Where are you now? Who lies beneath your spell tonight
Before you agonize him in farewell tonight?
-----
And I, Shahid, only am escaped to tell thee-
God sobs in my arms. Call me Ishmael tonight.

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NAZM
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In a broad sense, nazm is a term used to define all kinds of Urdu poetry which do not fall into any other category. However, in a literary sense, a nazm is a well organized, logically evolving poem where each individual verse serves the need of the central concept or theme of the poem. Though a nazm is traditionally written in rhymed verse, there are many examples of nazms written in unrhymed verse, or even in free verse.

Iss gaane ne... crazy kiya re!

Well, I don't really *like* *like* these lyrics. As you can see they're quite ridiculous... :P well not as much as the song at least but I can't recall the movie nor the actors. Except for there's a slight chance it might be an Urmila-Matondkar-movie but I could be totally wrong. My memory says I used to listen to this song in the early 1990s on the cable channel ATN, which mainly aired movies and Hindi film songs. I googled for it and that did not help and also searched for the list of Urmila movies, but nothing rings a bell. The lyrics are:


hume to tumse pyaar hai zaraa zaraa khumaar hai
khade to saamne magar tumhaaraa intezaar hai
badi ajeeb pyaas hai yeh dil bhi beqaraar hai
na hosh hai zamaane ka na khud pe ikhtiyaar hai
meraaa oh my love!


If someone remembers this song or its film name or any other related details, please please please do share. I'd really appreciate it. It's literally driving me crazy.

Tumhara Chahnewala Khuda Ki Duniya Mein

Lyricists write all kinds of lyrics. You name it and they write it. Speaking of unrealistic lyrics, this one would take the cake. Every time I listen to this song, I just sit and wonder "what was SHB thinking?" while writing these lyrics. All I can do is smile listening to this song. The thought in his words is very highly respectable but hardly realistic. :) One of the very few songs of Mahendra Kapoor that I like. Very beautifully sitar plays throughout the song. I am sure this song is based on some raaga, if not entirely then partially. OPN truely rocks!!


Male: (tumhaaraa chaahanewaalaa khudaa ki duniyaan mein
mere sivaa bhi koyi aaur ho khudaa naa kare) (2)
tumhaaraa chaahanewaalaa khudaa ki duniyaan mein

yeh baat kaise ganwaaraa karegaa dil meraa
tumhaaraa zikr kisi aur ki zabaan pe ho
tumhaare husn ki taareef aainaa bhi kare
to main tumhaari kasam hai ke tod doon ussko
tumhaare pyaar tumhaari adaa kaa deewaanaa
mere sivaa bhi koyi aur ho khudaa naa kare
tumhaaraa chaahanewaalaa khudaa ki duniyaan mein

(the sitar playing here is to die for!)

woh din naa aaye ke mujh se kabhi judaa hokar
kisi kaa pyaar dobaaraa kahin talaash karo
jhukaa ke sir ko kisi ajnabi ke shaanon par
tum apne gham kaa sahaaraa kahin talaash karo
kareeb dil ke tumhaare kisi bhi haalat mein
mere sivaa bhi koyi aur ho khudaa naa kare
tumhaaraa chaahanewaalaa khudaa ki duniyaan mein

Female: tumhaare dil ko kabhi mujh se koyi thes lage
mujhe yakin hai aisa kabhi nahin hogaa
mujhe wafaaon pe apni badaa bharosa hai
tumhaaraa pyaar hi de jaaye naa kahin dhokhaa
dua yeh hai ke tumhaaraa khudaa ki duniyaan mein
mere sivaa bhi koyi aur ho khudaa n kare

Male: tumhaaraa chaahanewaalaa khudaa ki duniyaan mein
Female: mere sivaa bhi koyi aur ho khudaa naa kare


Movie: Kahin Din Kahin Raat (1968)
Music Director: O. P. Nayyar
Singer: Mahendra Kapoor & Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: S. H. Bihari aka Shamsul Huda Behari
Picturized on: Bishwajeet & Sapna
MIO Link: http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/T5K7Rm1sR9.As1NMvHdW/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHG3tQA_YgA

Zubaan Pe Dard Bhari

There aren't too many Rajesh Khanna's songs where Mukesh gives voice, but this is the second one after "jis gali mein tera ghar" that I like a lot. In a sad song such as this one, his expressions and the lyrics and music make your heart drown in pool of sadness. Ow it hurts here.. right in the heart!


जुबां पे दर्द भरी दास्ताँ चली आयी (२)
बहार आने से पहले खिजा चली आयी
जुबां पे दर्द भरी दास्ताँ चली आयी

खुशी की चाह में मैने उठाएँ रंज बडे (२)
मेरा नसीब के मेरे कदम जहाँ भी पडे
येह बदनसीबी मेरी भी वहाँ चली आयी
जुबां पे दर्द भरी दास्ताँ चली आयी

उदास रात है विरान दील कि महेफ़िल है (२)
ना हमसफ़र है कोई और ना कोई मंज़िल है
येह जिन्दगी मुझे लेकर कहाँ चली आयी

जुबां पे दर्द भरी दास्ताँ चली आयी
बहार आने से पहले खिजा चली आयी
जुबां पे दर्द भरी दास्ताँ चली आयी


Movie: Maryada (1971)
Music Director: Kalyanji Anandji
Singer: Mukesh
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi




PS. Rajesh Khanna is one actor who looks totally hot in kurta also. ;-)

Phir Wohi Shaam..

This is probably Talat sabab's most famous number from Jahan Ara. One of my favorites when it comes to TM and Madan Mohan combo. Beautiful Urdu lyrics by Rajender Krishan make the song more meaningful.


(फिर वोही शाम वोही घम वोही तन्हाई है
दील को समझाने तेरी याद चली आयी है) (२)
फिर वोही शाम

दील तस्सवूर तेरे पेहलू में बिठा जाएगा (२)
फिर गया वक़्त घड़ी भर को पलट आएगा
दील बहल जाएगा आख़िर को तो सौदा ही है
फिर वोही शाम वोही घम वोही तन्हाई है
दील को समझाने तेरी याद चली आयी है
फिर वोही शाम

जाने अब तुझसे मुलाक़ात कभी हो के ना हो (२)
जो अधूरी रही वोह बात कभी हो के ना हो
मेरी मंज़िल तेरी मंज़िल से बिछड़ आयी है
फिर वोही शाम वोही घम वोही तन्हाई है
दील को समझाने तेरी याद चली आयी है
फिर वोही शाम


Movie: Jahan Ara (1964)
Music Director: Madan Mohan
Singer: Talat Mahmood
Lyrics: Rajendar Krishan
Picturized on: Bharat Bhushan, Mala Sinha