"My rambling stories, my happy and sad dreams
A few songs - melodious or harsh
Some good and bad roles
All these are mine; and I'm in them
Don't ever forget me, always remember me
As long as you live. As long as you live.
(Jab tak hai jaan. Jab tak hai jaan.)"
- Yash Chopra, September 28, 2012
Everytime I hear the title song "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", my throat tightens and my eyes fill with tears. I am reminded that Jab Tak Hai Jaan was the last film directed by one of the leading - and beloved -filmmakers in the history of Hindi films, Yash Chopra, who died on 21 October 2012 from dengue fever.
Born on 27 September 1932, Chopra spent 60 years in the film industry and produced or directed more than 50 films, including Dharmputra, Waqt, Ittefaq, Daag, Deewar, Chandni, Lamhe, Darr, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Because his most popular films told love stories, he came to be known as the "King of Romance" of Indian cinema. His humility and love shines through all his films and is a big reason people all over the world have fallen in love with Bollywood.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) hosted "In Conversation with Yash Chopra" on 28 September 2012, in which the two Bollywood icons discussed Chopra's life and work and reminisced about the films they worked on together. SRK starred in 7 films produced or directed by Yash Chopra, including Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
This last film came 8 years after the Chopra made Veer-Zaara, also starring SRK. When the actor asked Chopra what made him decide to make Jab Tak Hai Jaan, he explained that it began with a conversation with his son, Aditya Chopra:
One day I was thinking what to make after Veer-Zaara. I told Adi I was in a mood to make a movie. I want it to have my soul - old fashioned soul - but with a young voice. Your voice. The voice of the youngsters. I want it told in a young language but with my soul and integrity.
This film is not a film. This film is a gift to me by Aditya Chopra. He is the producer of this film, he's the storywriter. He came to and said, dad you're making a film. I'm your assistant. You won't talk with anyone else. Whatever you require, whatever you wish, will be carried out by me. I"ll have people working under me but they won't be in contact with you. From the smallest to the biggest thing we will discuss together. And he's a very, very good assistant, too.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan was released on 13 November 2012, a few weeks after Yash Chopra's death. As part of the end credits to this film, the title song offers an homage to Yash Chopra directing this last film. The song was written by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Gulzar and is sung by Javed Ali and Shakthisree Gopalan.
The music sounds like a lullaby of love that wonderfully embraces the heart of Yash Chopra. If you translate the words, you discover this love song sums up the story of the film. The lyrics of the song can be translated as:
I live because of you
I live only for you
As long as I liveIn just a few words
I want to tell you….
You’re the only one I've ever loved
The only one I’ll ever love
That’s all I want to say, that’s how I’ll always feel…
As long as I livePaying homage to your eyes
I’ll remain hidden behind them
As long as I live
In the softness of your arms
In the warmth of your breath
As long as I liveI shall pass sleepless nights
With your false, deceitful words…
On clear, flawless evenings…
Ringing in my ears
As long as I live
While the last stanza sounds a bit harsh, the film explains its meaning - and you should definitely see this film.
During his conversation with SRK, Yash Chopra announced he would not direct another film but would focus more on mentoring the "youngsters". While his retirement from directing stunned and saddened many, there was a silver lining in that Yashji was very happy with this decision after having made Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Here is what he told SRK:
Shah Rukh, I think I'm done. I've never calculated in life. I've wafted like a breeze, flowed like a river wherever God has taken me. I've only listened to my heart. When it speaks I don't listen to anyone else. My heart says this is it. I won't direct after Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
But I think with Jab Tak Hai Jaan, I'm so happy with the film, so satisfied with the film. Like they say when you're eating, you always save your most favorite dish for last. I'm so happy and satisfied with this film I want to have that taste in my mouth all the time. What I wanted ... this has turned out even better than the script I got. The technicians, stars, the continuous shooting in London and three weeks in Kashmir, and a few days in Bombay. I'm very happy with this film. I'm very satisfied with this film. Now, I don't feel like making anything else, especially directing.
If you are new to Bollywood, you should learn about the life and work of Yash Chopra and definitely immerse yourself in some of the films produced by Yash Raj Films, his production company.
You can start by warching the full 2-hour "Shah Rukh Khan in Conversation with Yash Chopra" interview which is available online and as part of the 3-disc Special Edition of Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Or you can watch the playlist below which includes English subtitles (via MrsPizarro92):