Namak Issk Ka

Ocassionally comes songs when you hear them the first time, it sound just yet another average song. But when you repeatedly hear it, you can't help getting hooked to it. 'Namak' from the film OMKARA is one such song. On first hearing you never think anything special about it but if you are someone like me from Utaar Pradesh (A north Indian state), you can't help it when the song brings a smile on your face. Ever wondered why that happens??

Well the song and the music has that rock salt countryside music earthiness that one is used to hearing in village festivals (mela). If you have ever attended any of the melas, you will know exactly what I mean.
Picture these words

bheeter bheeter aag jale, baat karoon to sek lage
(its like a fire inside but when i talk it gives me a warmth)

main chand nikal gayi sainyan re, ang pe aise chhale pade
(i ended up swallowing moon because there were so many blisters on my body)

tez tha jhonka kya karoon, see see karti main maroon
(the wind was so hard that i died making the sound 'see see')

jabaan pe laaga re laaga re
(its now on my tongue)

namak issk ka.. haiiiii tere issk ka
(love of salt..... of your love)

Notice how singer Rekha says Jabaan instead of Zabaan and Issk instead of Ishq. And they way she says 'haaaiiiiii'....... Oh man!! that just kills me.
Its small things like this that make you notice this song. This song is actually a mujra number (a form of dance performed for entertainments of nawabs and wealthy landlords). Mixed with qawalli like feeling, you can easily imagine a village lady sitting on a stage making naughty expressions on her face, with thousands of lights all over her face with a quirky smile and battling of eyes just to excite the locals and add seasoning to the spicy fare. And if you thought the song is vulgar, then re-think... Its naughty but not vulgar. The raw countryside music feeling is what gives this song the extra edge.