Aaj Ki Raat

I recently watched a DVD of old B&W Hindi songs. Anyone who knows me knows how enraptured I am listening to oldies. I think I pretty much know any old song that is out there… especially if it was sung by Mohd. Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor or Talat Mahmood. But I discovered a song that I had never heard before. And it was beautifully melodious. Sung by Mahendra Kapoor, it portrayed an unusually restrained Rehman, whom I have always adored. Added to that were the wonderfully touching lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi, describing the rapture of the wedding night. I simply had to post the lyrics on here.

Aaj ki raat nahin shikwe, shikayat ke liye
Aaj har lamha, har ek pal hai mohobbat ke liye
Reshmi sej hai, mehki hui tanhaai hai
Aaj ki raat muraadon ki baraat aai hai.

Hur gunaah aaj muqaddas hai farishton ki tarhey
Kaanpte haathon ko mil jaaney do rishton ki tarhey
Aaj milne mein na uljhan hai, na ruswaai hai
Aaj ki raat muraadon ki baraat aai hai.

Apni zulfein mere shaane pe bikhar jaane do
Is haseen raat ko kuch aur nikhar jaane do
Subha ne aaj na aaney ki qasam khaai hai
Aaj ki raat muraadon ki baraat aai hai.