Chitra Singh - Hamko dushman ki nigahon se na dekha keejay

I am posting this to feed my blog, to prevent it from dying.  Also, I love Chitra Singh.  She was the perfect singing partner for Jagjit Singh.  Her flute like voice complemented Jagjit's heavy one.

Their duets are amply celebrated.  But I feel, at times, Chitra is neglected as a solo singer.  Hence this offering.

Here is a lovely song, with beautiful lyrics and great music.  Chitra does full justice to it.

Pyar hi pyar hain hum
Hum pe bharosa keeje

Lyrics:

     humko dushman kee nigahoN se na dekha keeJe
     pyaar hi pyaar haiN hum humpe bharOsa keeJe

     chand yaadoN ke siwa haath na kuch aayega
     is tarah uMr-e-gureza ka na peecha keeJe

     roshni auroN ke aaNgaN meiN gawara na sahee
     kam se kam apne ghar meiN to uJaala keeJe

     kya khabr kab wo chale aayenge milne ke liye
     roz palkoN pe nayee shamme jalaya keeJe

Chitra Singh - Safar me dhoop to hogi

Chitra Shome was born in Calcutta in a musical family. She had no formal training in music, but had a lovely voice.  Very early in her life (I could not find dates for her birthday or any important events on the internet) she married Dutta and moved to Bombay.  Her husband ran a sound recording studio and recorded jingles.  Chitra was a popular voice on these jingles and was soon joined by Jagjit Singh who was looking to make money.


Her marriage was on the rocks by the time they met, and soon she was divorced from Dutta and married to Jagjit Singh.  They tried to get into singing for movies, but the talented Jagjit Singh brought out The Unforgettables, a collection of ghazals that catapulted them into instant fame.  Soon ghazals were all over the place and Jagjit and Chitra ruled the scene like a king and his queen.


Slim, beautiful and sophisticated Chitra, with her high cheekbones looked gorgeous beside the handsome Jagjit.  Jagjit's deep voice and Chitra's light flutey voice complemented each other perfectly.


Although Chitra was overshadowed by the massively talented Jagjit, she held her own and is appreciated and her ghazals and songs sought after even now.

I am always on the look out for Chitra solos, sung emotionally yet with a light touch.  Her songs bring out the lyrics, but rarely make you feel depressed. Just thoughtful.

Here is an early ghazal of hers, written by Nida Fazli, composed by (I am guessing here) Jagjit Singh


Kisi ke vaste rahen kahan badalti hain
tum apne aap to khud hi badal sako to chalo


Amazing







safar me.n dhuup to hogii, jo chal sako to chalo
sabhii hain birrD me, tum bhii nikal sako to chalo

kisii ke vaasate raahe.n kahaa.N badalatii hai.n
tum apane aap ko Kud hii badal sako to chalo

yahaan kisii ko koii raasataa nahii.n detaa
mujhe Giraake agar tum sambhal sako to chalo

yahii hai zi.ndagii, kuchh Khawab chand ummiiden
inhii khilauno se tum bhii bahal sako to chalo