Songsplained: Aanewala Pal Jaanewala Hai

Song: Aanewala Pal Janewala Hai Movie: Gol Maal (1979) Singer: Kishore Kumar Music: RD Burman Lyrics: Gulzar, RD Burman In Gol maal, we see the protagonist, Ram Prasad/Laxman Prasad, struggle with his dual identities in order to impress his boss, resulting in hilarious situations. Meanwhile, he is asked to give music lessons to the boss' daughter which comes as the plot twist. He falls in love with her. In this sarcastic, satirical comedy, the feeling of love and the song, 'Aane wala pal, jaane wala hai' hits like a breeze of fresh air. And who are we to judge, when even his strict, rule-loving boss also admires his singing. The song is about the realization of the fleeting nature of time. When he is with his love, time flies. And he wants to spend his life in that very moment, until the next moment arrives. The saxophone gives a peaceful feeling as in that moment, he is at peace with his love. He does not have to juggle between identities. She loves him for the same things that her father hates. The situation is ironical but they feel serene when they are with each other. "Ik baar yun mili, masoom si kali, khilte hue kahan, khushbash main chali,"

(He found an innocent bud. In a moment, it was a bud, and then gradually it bloomed and went on its way happily).

No matter how much he wanted the moment to stop, there was nothing he could have done to make it stay. The beauty of the bud becoming a flower makes us think about how we, as people, grow from infants to a whole person and detach ourselves from our very roots and move on with life. But that is how it goes. That is what we call growth. "Dekha toh nahin hai, dhoonda toh nahin hai, Pal ye bhi jane wala hai,"

(And while you're busy thinking, this moment will be gone too).

The saxophone, again, brings out their desires and imagination, meeting at a place devoid of all the worries of the real world,  something that was seen in a lot of movies back then. The lyrics that follow are the best words ever to describe the very essence of time, according to me. "Ik baar waqt se, lamha gira kahin, Wahan dastaan bani, lamha kahi nahin..."

These lines tell us how stories are made. A moment from a particular time falls down, we pick it up and make memories in that moment. And then by the time we realize it, the moment is gone. "Thoda sa hasake, thoda sa rulake, Pal ye bhi jaane wala hai..." (The moment, it made us laugh, it made us cry, and then it left, leaving us empty, in the next moment). Gulzar's lyrics are profound and very very deep. No other voice or musician could have done justice to this song. Kishore Kumar, is the finest singer we ever had. His legacy lives on in his songs. 'Aane wala Pal' makes us realize the temporary nature of time. Nothing lasts, nothing stays, and all of us are realizing it in 2020. We don't know what the future has in store, so live your best life. As pal ye bhi jane wala hai...