Tu mere samne, Main tere samne, Tujhko dekhun ke pyaar karun?
Upon first hearing, the song "Tu Mere Samne" from the 1993 Yash Chopra film Darr seems like a joyous love song. As the two lovers sing, you know that destiny has at last brought them together.
But this is no ordinary Bollywood love story.
And the love song is very one-sided.
One of the key tip-offs that the sentiments in this song are one-sided is that our antagonist Rahul Mehra (Shah Rukh Khan) initiates the song and wears the same outfit throughout the item number while the scenery changes. He seems to be stuck in the moment. Even the woman he is infactuated with, Kiran Awasthi Malhotra (Juhi Chawla), appears in 11 different costumes - including one reminiscent of that worn by Sridevi in Yash Chopra's 1989 film Chandni.
When the song begins, Rahul is seen running to a secluded place. Being a Yash Chopra film, this is somewhere in the mountains of Switzerland. (Shah Rukh Khan is credited with saying, "You only go to Switzerland with Mr. Yash Chopra.")
Suddenly Kiran is by Rahul's side, willingly accepting and returning his love. This, despite the fact that she is married to Sunil Malhotra (Sunny Deol) and currently on her honeymoon.
In this item number, Rahul is visualizing the dreams of his twisted heart.
A slight echo effect was added to the music - a technique which contributed to the unique nature of the piece. In the item number there is some sexual imagery which is a bit over-the-top, but it keeps with the idea that this song comes from Rahul's perspective. According to bollywhat.com the lyrics can be translated as:
Rahul:
You're facing me; I'm facing you;
shall I look at you, or shall I make love to you?
How did this happen, that you became mine?
How shall I trust (this miraculous development)?
You're facing me; I'm facing you;
shall I look at you, or shall I make love to you?
How did this happen, that you became mine?
How shall I trust (this miraculous development)?
You're facing me; I'm facing you.
Kiran:
I shattered; shattering, I went to pieces.
Your persistence rendered me helpless (to resist).
I shattered; shattering, I went to pieces.
Your persistence rendered me helpless (to resist).
Your magic worked its spell, o sorcerer!
I shattered; shattering, I went to pieces.
Your persistence rendered me helpless (to resist).Rahul:
You're facing me; I'm facing you.
shall I look at you, or shall I make love to you?
How did this happen, that you became mine?
How shall I trust (this miraculous development)?I will play with the locks of your hair;
I will take you in my arms
I will play with the locks of your hair;
I will take you in my arms
All lovers give their hearts;
I will give you my life as well.Kiran:
Ask for the roses of my lips; demand wine from my eyes.
Ask for the roses of my lips; demand wine from my eyes.
Your magic worked its spell, o sorcerer!
I shattered; shattering, I went to pieces.
Your persistence rendered me helpless [to resist].Rahul:
You're facing me; I'm facing you.
Shall I look at you, or shall I make love to you?
How did this happen, that you became mine?
How shall I trust (this miraculous development)?
This is a love story for the ages. This bloom of youth is ageless.
This is a love story for the ages. This bloom of youth is ageless.
These four seconds of your love are like one hundred years of [ordinary] living.Kiran:
Don't do it just once, but a hundred times! Make love to me to your heart's content.
Don't do it just once, but a hundred times! Make love to me to your heart's content.
Your magic worked its spell, o sorcerer!
I shattered; shattering, I went to pieces.
Your persistence rendered me helpless (to resist).Rahul:
You're facing me; I'm facing you.
Shall I look at you, or shall I make love to you?
How did this happen, that you became mine?
How shall I trust (this miraculous development)?
In his review of Darr on twitchfilm.com, J. Hurtado refers to this song as "delightfully creepy" and explains:
On its own the song is simply an upbeat romantic tune, but when you realize it is sung from the point of view of a murderous crazed stalker fantasizing about the object of his obsession it takes a distinctly icky turn. As the voices of Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar echo through the Alps, we are treated to a stunning array of vistas, not to mention the remarkable wardrobe for this song which includes at least a dozen beautiful gowns for Kiran, one knee-length Betty Boop sweater, and Rahul's eye-melting technicolor dreamblouse that has come to be known in my home simply as "The Shirt".
At the end of his daydream, Rahul returns to the real world to see Kiran dancing with Sunil. In the background we hear the opening lyrics of the song "Right here waiting" by Richard Marx:
Oceans apart, day after day, and I slowly go insane ...
"Tu Mere Samne" is considered one of the best Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar duets ever recorded. The song was written by the duo Shiv-Hari (Shivkumar Sharma, an eminent Santoor player and Hariprasad Chaurasia, a virtuoso flautist) and picturized on Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla.
If you enjoyed this post, check out our other Music Monday and Darr posts.