"Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Bah Gaye" - Love, Longing and the Popularity of the Ghazal
Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (Editor)
Document TypeIn-house Video
Date31 August 2026
Duration23 min 46 sec
FormatLong-form Video
Description
Examining the cinema of B.R. Chopra through his film songs, experts Ravikant, Antara Mondal, Shikha Jhingan and Neville Tuli, focused on the ghazal "Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Bah Gaye" from Nikaah (1982), a Muslim Social, featuring singer-actress Salma Agha in her Hindi film debut.
The discussion, which was part of the workshop, 'A Musical Glue for Nation-Building: Deconstructing the Film Song,' explored various facets of the song, including its genesis, popularity, and circulation. Composed by Ravi with lyrics by Hasan Kamal, the ghazal captures the anguish and heartbreak of unrequited love, exploring themes of love, loss, and longing.
Ravi's composition and Salma Agha's voice take centrestage because of the form of the ghazal itself, which was immensely popular at the time. Salma Agha's evocative vocals are filled with raw emotion, conveying the pain and vulnerability of a heart burdened with unfulfilled desire. This was the most popular song of her career.
As part of our ongoing exploration of Cinema as a Critical Educational Resource, these excerpts invite us to engage with the Film Song as a valuable lens through which to understand changing ideas of modernity, identity, and popular culture in India.