This is a personal website managed by art writer Ankush Arora.
He tweets @artandculturediary, and shares photography on Instagram.
His published work can be seen here.
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Ankush Arora 
Ankush, in Kai baar yuhi dekha chai, you are correct in stating that it is the anguish in the woman’s heart that this song depicts. Then why did Basu Chatterjee use a male playback singer? Both Dinesh Thakur and Vidya Sinha are in the cab. As a kid, when I watched the movie, I was confused in thinking the song depicted the anguish in Dinesh’s mind.Do women think in men’s voices?
On the other hand, no doubt, Mukeshji did a brillant job, but he can’t sing like a woman!
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Hi rajukhub@gmail.com,
Thanks for your response.
I think Mukesh’s voice is unmatched in ‘Kai Baar Yun Bhi Dekha Hai’, as is the case with any classic song. The effortlessness with which he sings was unique to his personality on the microphone. You could imagine a Lata or an Asha singing it as well, but I wonder how the texture would be and how they would do the high notes that Mukesh sings with feather-like smoothness.
While Chatterjee or those who worked with him would know best about why they decided to get Mukesh, I also think a man’s voice creates a sense of detachment, especially when the subject is a woman, who doesn’t know what she is feeling. Contrast this with ‘Rajnigandha Phool’, where Sinha is pouring her heart out through Lata’s memorable voice. So, Mukesh is probably is an omnipresent narrator.
Hope I made sense,
Ankush.
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Thanks for your response. The only other similar song I remember is SD Burman actually singing like a God figure in Bimal Roy’s Bandini. The song is orey maajhi.
But in kayi baar, it is no Godly voice in Vidya’s head.
I doubt if the common man analyses this as you and me, so the majority must have been confused with a male playback singer. And Dinesh puffs a cigarette during the song and acts as if he is in a pensive mood.
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Hi,
Hope you are doing great! I am Anuja Chandramouli, the author of Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior – Prince and Kamadeva: The God of Desire which was released earlier this year. It would be really awesome if you’d consider doing a feature on the book or an interview for Reuters. Plus, I would be eternally grateful to you!
My apologies for contacting you thus, but I had to ask after stumbling on your blog.
Hoping for a positive response!
Warm regards,
Anuja Chandramouli
anujamouli@gmail.com
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Dear Anuja,
Many thanks for your message.
I think since your book was released early this year, it’s too late to write about it now. But it would be nice to hear from you about your upcoming projects.
Good luck,
Ankush.
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