How many of us can relate to the classic melody by Mohd. Rafi, Mere Mehboob Tujhe, from the movie Mere Mehboob? You must be wondering what I am talking about. How about, the one and only, “greatest” of all music composers, Himesh Reshammiya’s Tanhaiya or Jhalak Dikhlaja?? Ah, I see your face glow. But, is it music? Can whatever that is being dished out today be called music?

To answer that question, we need to go back 30 years at least. The 60s and the 70s was the golden era of music. The age when soulful and committed voices of Mohd. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt, etc moved the world. But it was not their voice alone that created waves in the world of music. They had the best ever music directors like SD Burman, RD Burman, Laxmikanth Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Naushad etc who could do wonders with instruments and bring out so soulful and meaningful a rendition that even the world watched open mouthed. And the lyricists. Gulzar, Shakeel Badayouni, Majrooh Sultanpuri, etc stringed words like never before, making a colorful garland of words, whose scent spread far and wide, attracting humanity like bees to a flower.

It was the union of such greats which formed the basis of music in movies. And versatile they were. That Kishore Kumar, who could fill your heart with love and joy with Mere Sapno Ki Rani, make you cry your heart out with Chingari Koi Bhadke, who could fill your senses with lust and desire for the woman you love with Roop Tera Mastana could also make you swing your hips and gyrate with Khaike Pan Banaras is a task which is surely insurmountable, and not reproducible by any musician of this age. Mohd. Rafi’s evergreen Mere Mehboob Tujhe still has people wishing they fell in love the way it is described in the song. Mukesh’s Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye is a song of hope for many.

The examples are so plenty that writing about them, though would be a pleasure, would take up my lifetime. So, what is wrong about today’s music? In a word, everything. You could say there are a lot of singers, who have voices, though incomparable, voices which are good, but just not good enough. The reason being – Most of them sing for money and fame. Numbers get them, and you anywhere. The commitment is toward wads of printed paper. And all this comes along with a huge ego, which hampers whatever little progress in the world of music. True, even the singers of that age had a lot of ego, but with a reason, and within reason.

And what to say about today’s music directors? Have your own style of singing, make a tune which is fine, and sing the same word thrice at the beginning of every sentence. Some basic knowledge about instruments is enough. Use every instrument that is possible, and mix it up on a software. Lo and Behold, you are a music director. You can start on a world tour, and even start working as an actor on films.

But you do find some gems. Like AR Rehman. He is good. But nowadays, his music has also become inferior. But no one can compare with him presently. He is the best on the block. And there is a severe dearth of lyricists. We don’t seem to produce good quality lines these days. Looks like the lyricists are rendered speechless by the soulless composition of their words.