Parveen Sultana: What’s Hate Got To Do With Singing?

How she was tricked to sing Hamein Tumse Pyar Kitna Yeh Hum Nahi Jaante

After Kishore Kumar recorded Hamein Tumse Pyar Kitna, music composer R D Burman congratulated him and said he was thinking of approaching classical singer Parveen Sultana for another version of the melody.

‘Why not Asha?’ Kumar asked.

‘Because the situation in the film is such,’ he said, ‘A classical singer sings it on stage. I have composed it in raag Bhairavi.’

‘Oh,’ Kumar said. ‘Call her.’

‘I am scared. She hates Hindi film songs. Nafrat hai.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Don’t you remember, her song Kaun Gali Gayo Shyam was used in the background in Pakeezah. She was expecting better.’

‘Talk to her husband Dilshad.’

Burman telephoned. Luckily, Dilshad picked up the receiver. Burman explained the situation. Dilshad said he would have a word with her and ask her to call back.

Burman crossed his fingers.

That night, when Dilshad broached the subject, Parveen reacted sharply.

‘Nafrat hai, nafrat,’ she said. ‘Talent ki koi qadar hi nahi inn logon ko. Na classical ka knowledge. Filmon mein gaana jaise qafas mein bulbul hai miya.’

She compared Hindi film songs to a talented bird in a cage. Dilshad called Burman the next morning and said they’ll have to find another way.

Kishore Kumar heard of it and called her. He explained the situation.

‘Can I sing you a line?’ he asked.

‘Ji,’ Parveen was curt.

He cleared his throat and sang.

Hamein tumse pyar kitna, yeh hum nahi jaante
Magar jee nahi sakte tumhare bina

Kishore stretched the last syllable like a meend to impress her.

‘Nafrat,’ she said and hung up.

Kishore told Burman to approach Kishori instead.

‘Amonkar? She’s scarier,’ he said.

Asha Bhosle said she has a plan.

One evening, when Parveen Sultana was performing at Shanmukhananda Hall, the three musicians, Kishore, Burman and Asha sat in the centre, enjoying her performance.

As Parveen thanked the audience at the end of the show, Asha stood up and said ‘Parveen ji.’

The whole auditorium turned to her. Audience gasped and murmured.

‘Parveen ji,’ Bhosle said, ‘Ek chhoti si request hai. Ek gaana aap apne andaaz mein aagar gaa dein toh please.’

Parveen was cornered. She could not say no to Asha Bhosle, her idol.

Asha sang in a low octave, her voice filled the quiet room like an echo in an enchanted forest.

Hamein tumse pyar kitna, yeh hum nahi jaante
Magar jee nahi sakte tumhare bina

Parveen felt like she had to respond to Asha as if they were singing a jugalbandi, a duet. She followed it in her own thumri style, adding alaaps and taans, showing how a traditional sounding Hindi film geet can be given a classical twist.

Her impromptu performance was rewarded with a standing ovation. She was stunned by the audience’s reaction. Parveen’s hate for Hindi film songs was being flipped over.

She agreed to sing it on her own terms because it was based on a raag and with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, whom she respected. The music room was filled with a hundred violinists, several sarod, sitar and santoor players, a flautist, a sarangi player. She was overwhelmed by Burman’s troupe. She sang it in one take.

It fetched her a Filmfare best playback trophy, a song for which Kishore Kumar was also nominated but lost.

As a gesture of her appreciation, she decided to include the song in her concerts. In the end, she would smile and tell the audience, ‘Aur yeh geet aap sabhi ke liye, jinke bina hum kuch bhi nahi jaante.’

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction or more formally known as real person fiction. It is not for any commercial use. Read more on Real Person Fiction here.