Hide and Seek

Thoughts on "Luka Chuppi" from the Rang De Basanti OST.

Note: Originally written in March 2016

Listening to the album of Rang De Basanti at work, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the thought that led to the conception of the track 'Luka Chuppi'. Here is a scenario where a mother grieves her son's death; the song assays a subtextual reference in the form of maybe one last conversation between the mother and son, him at the pearly gates, herself unable to let him go. It plays out like a little game of hide and seek, the mother begging him to come back whilst the noble son struggling to explain that he is better off in another world. He utters lines like 'Yahaan udne ko mere khula aasmaan hai', imploring her to let go. How can someone explain grief and moving on in such a fragile yet elegant way! Rakesh Mehra is such an underrated genius. Tracks like these are the primary reason why Indian cinema should never give up lyrical music....