'Chakora' A song we ignored!

Well, if I am very honest, sometimes I am happy these songs aren't discovered so I could pull them out and make a blog when I have nothing to contribute otherwise.

I am starting this new series named 'Sangeet aur Smritiyaan: Music and Memories', I will take on beautiful and authentic songs, music across culture specifically focussed on Indian origins. I will also cover 'Shloks' that have meaning or deserve criticism.

Anyway coming to this specific song, this song is taken from the 'not-so-good' movie 'Mirzya'.

But, we shouldn't have ignored the Shankar Ehsaan Loy music.

'Chakora' or the 'crow pheasant is an Indian mythical bird that has had an association with the moon since the time of memorial. In our old times, their love story was part of every folklore almost and they soon became the symbol of love that was unrequited.

In this song, two lovers, who are divided by caste, differences are compared to it.

The first line begins with the flight of the bird towards its lover.

The next saying when love reaches its peak they lose their wings. Because of course, how could a bird ever reach the moon? But that doesn't stop its flight or love. A selenophile you see.

This is a funny comparison to two lovers who lose their freedom and everything in the name of love. But again, that doesn't stop them either. Like a blinded bird, they reach for their lover to grab them and complete their unrequited love.

When love is at its peak, all boundaries lay barren.

This is both a mockery and admiration. Because it symbolizes the bravery that is required for you to do such a thing but in the end, it is all a naive attempt that would never give a fruitful outcome. Would you admire such a lover or find him crazy 'Majnoo'?

The first paragraph is my personal favorite.

The singer says 'In the house of love, you are given all that you desire'

Well, this is true, with love, everything is possible. Imagine a world where we loved all animals and humans? Yeah, no terrorists, no religion, and no war.

He goes on to say 'Without even looking one could find God'

Of course, reuniting with your love or imagine you have loved someone all your life and you finally run into them on a hot day when you have given up on everything. You wouldn't care if you were an atheist, the first response would be 'I found my temple, He is the God'.

The female vocalist pitches in for a terrible practical remark.

'Of course, the world does get what it wants'. This must be every one-sided lover or someone whose love was not required for whatever reason and barrier. They must see all the couples across the world enjoying a normal ice cream or conversation and suddenly, they can't stop the pitying jealousy that hits with a bang.

She continues to say 'The lover gets nothing'

And indeed, true.

Now comes the main part of the song that says the guy was not a Prince but she was a princess. All of this love happened in the craft man's/Blacksmith's lane but love was not a blacksmith. This indicates that love knows no barrier. It doesn't understand what is what, who is who. You do not define a boundary for love. It is as natural as a river or perhaps I must say wind.

I missed a line 'Baki Jale Apni Agni Mein, Us par jale patanga dhola'

This means everyone out there burns in their own flame or passion. But, lovers? They burn in their love's light or warmth. That is all they know.

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Chakora

Song by Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Mame Khan, and Suchismita Das

Music composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, starring Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher, Om Puri, Art Malik, K.K. Raina.

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