Kahaan teri manzil kahaan hai thhikaana
Posted on: March 8, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Ravi Shanker Sharma departed from the mortal world last evening (7th March, 2012). Better known as simply Ravi, to the masses and the audiences of Hindi films, Ravi was 86 years, having just celebrated that milestone 5 days ago.
Ravi was born on 3rd March, 1926 in New Delhi, in a middle class family. He had a penchant for singing and music, but was never able to afford a formal training in classical music. His first exposure and learning was listening to his father singing bhajans. He taught himself to play harmonium and violin. For some time he worked as an electrician to support his family. But then at the age of 24, the urge for singing and music brought him to Bombay in 1950. By his own account, his early years were a difficult struggle, as he spent many months homeless and penniless in Bombay, sometimes sleeping at train stations. Hemant Kumar gave him a chance to sing in the chorus of “Vande Matram” in the film ‘Anand Matth’ (1952). After a few such sundry assignments, he was given the debut opportunity by Devendra Goel, to compose music for his film ‘Vachan’. With the release of the film, its music made a notable impact with popular songs like “Jab Liyaa Haath Mein Haath” , “Chanda Mama Door Ke” , and “Ek Paisa De De, De De O Babu” . As a music director, he had the good fortune to get associated with some important banners in the industry, viz. Goel Cine Corporation (Devendra Goel) and BR Films (BR Chopra).
He remained active with music direction till 2005. In an active career that lasted five decades he composed music for 110+ Hindi films. In 1980s, he got assignments for composing music for Malayalam films. He has composed music for about a dozen and a half Malayalam films under the name of ‘Bombay Ravi’.
Despite having no training in classical music, his sense of melody and mood was excellent. He believed in nominal orchestration, and produced some many a wonderful and memorable melodies during his career. His films from the 50s and 60s read like a list of musical hit films, viz. Dilli Ka Thug (1958), Ek Saal (1957), Chirag Kahaan Roshni Kahaan (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Ghoonghat (1960), Gharana (1961), Pyar Ka Sagar (1961), China Town (1962), Tower House (1962), Bharosa (1963), Gehra Daag (1963), Gumraah (1963), Waqt (1965), Do Badan (1966), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Hamraaz (1967), Aankhen (1964), Do Kaliyan (1968), Neel Kamal (1968), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Ek Phool Do Mali (1969) and many many more. Just reading this list and remembering the great songs that belong to these films, bring to mind the sentimental and moving sounds like “Wo Dil Kahaan Se Laaun” , “Ae Mere Dil-e-Nadaan Tu Gham Se Na Ghabrana” , “Mili Khaak Mein Mohabbat” , “Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se Ajnabi Ban Jaayen Hum Dono” , “Zindagi Ittefaaq Hai” , “Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir Dil Ko Samjhaane Kahaan Jaayen” , “Naseeb Mein Jiske Jo Likha Thhaa”.
And then, who can forget the lilting romantic melodies like “Chaudhvin Ka Chaand Ho”, “Ye Hawaa Ye Nadi Ka Kinaara”, “Hey Neele Gagan Ke Taley Dharti Ka Pyaar Paley” , “Tumhari Nazar Kyun Khafaa Ho Gayee”, “Aaj Ki Mulaqaat Bas Itni” , “Ae Meri Zohra Zabeen, Tujhe Maloom Nahin” , and many more such wonderful tunes that came from his harmonium.
It is a pity that sometimes, prosperity and popularity brings with itself, its own demons. His bungalow in prime location in Santa Cruz (W), a property worth multiple crores, became a bone of contention between him and his son – a situation that led to a severe break down of relations between them. He passed away an unhappy man.
So much more is written and will be written about him. But for us fans of film music, it is his melodies for which we remain forever indebted to him. Time waits for no one – “Kis Ke Liye Rukaa Hai, Kis Ke Liye Rukegaa” , and Ravi has bid his final goodbye to this world.
“Kahaan Teri Manzil, Kahaan Hai Thhikaana”, these poignant words seem like an appropriate farewell sound for the sad departure today.
kahaan teri manzil, kahaan hai tthikaanaa
musafir bataa de, kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
Whither are you headed, o traveler
Tell us, what destination you seek
Where will you go and rest
Whither are you headed, o traveler
gagan mein udne waalon ka bhi gulshan rain baseraa hai
ghar ki or chaley raahi to dhundhli shaam saveraa hai
For the winged ones, that roam the skies
They will come to rest on the garden trees
And for the one who is headed home
Even the fading light of dusk
Is as good as a bring morning
suraj chaand sitaare hain to un ki bhi manzil hai
manzil hai to jahaan bhi jaaye raah teri jhilmil hai
Even the astral voyagers – the sun, the moon and the stars
All travel, seeking a home
The final destination, if that be known
Then any path, and every way
Is illumined for an easy trek
bin manzil bekaar hai gaafil kadam bhi utthaana
But wandering without knowing
Wherefore one goes, and what one seeks
Then every step taken
Is taken in vain
Rest in peace, Ravi, and a heartfelt thanks for all the music you have given to us.
Good Bye.
(NOTE: This song is from the film ‘Nai Raahen’. This film was another production from Goel Cine Corporation, produced by Devendra Goel and directed by Brij Sadanaa. The film has seven songs shared amongst four lyricists, viz. Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Prem Dhawan and Gopal Singh Nepali (or GS Nepali). This song is written by GS Nepali, and is sung by Mohammed Rafi. The main star cast of the film includes Ashok Kumar, Geeta Bali, Anoop Kumar, Shobha Khote, Nazir Hussain, Sk Prem, Madan Puri, Radhakishan, Mohan Choti, Nazir Kashmiri amongst others.)
Audio
Video
Song-Kahaan teri manzil kahaan hai thhikaana (Nayi Raahen)(1959) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-G S Nepali, MD-Ravi
Lyrics
kahaan teri manzil
kahaan hai thhikaanaa
musaafir bataa de
kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
musafir bataa de
kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
kahaan teri manzil
kahaan hai thhikaanaa
musafir bataa de
kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
kahaan teri manzil
gagan mein udne waalon ka bhi
gulshan rain baseraa hai
gagan mein udne waalon ka bhi
gulshan rain baseraa hai
ghar ki or chaley raahi to
dhundhli shaam saweraa hai
ghar ki or chaley raahi to
dhundhli shaam saweraa hai
suraj chaand sitaare hain to
un ki bhi manzil hai
manzil hai to jahaan bhi jaaye
raah teri jhilmil hai
bin manzil bekaar hai gaafil
bin manzil bekaar hai gaafil
kadam bhi uthhaana
musafir bataa de
kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
kahaan teri manzil
kahaan hai thhikaanaa
musafir bataa de
kahaan tujh ko jaanaa
kahaan teri manzil
10 Responses to "Kahaan teri manzil kahaan hai thhikaana"
March 8, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Sorry, my bad, in the comments of the video it is corrected as Ravi :).
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March 8, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Pradeep ji,
Yes the correction is in the comments, and that too by another reader. The original person who has posted this song, has not made the correction to the post yet. In my experience, generally, posts by ‘ajayvu’ carry correct information. I too am surprised at this error.
Let’s hope the original post is corrected soon.
Rgds
Sudhir
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March 8, 2012 at 10:32 pm
I got the news about Ravi saab’s death late last evening from Twitter. I immediately looked for details on the net or on TV. Nothing!!!
Even on Twitter, though there were the odd comments, he did not trend. Not even in India. Not just yesterday but even today.
Quite typical of the way the country treated him throughout his career. In my opinion (and please feel free to correct me), he was never really given the respect due to a person who produced so many popular and iconic songs. He was just “there”.
I have been listening to many of his songs in the last 24 hours. Gumraah, Humraaz, Aaj Aur Kal, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Waqt, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Dilli Ka Thug, China Town, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke and many more. Lovely, melodious music.
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March 9, 2012 at 6:01 am
Sudhir Ji,
Very well written post. Sincere from the heart of a true music lover.
Thanks.
K S Shenoy
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 8, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Let his soul RIP. People associated with music never die, they live on forever in our hearts. Very well written post. The youtube link incidentally mentions the MD as N Dutta?
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March 8, 2012 at 7:47 pm
YT details should never be relied upon.
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March 8, 2012 at 7:49 pm
i i captain :).
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