#kasaol

[suvarnarekha]

Bollywood songs from Late 90s and early-mid 2000s were something else, especially the Original ones. They had this vibe that really transported you to the song itself.

Listening to Chudi jo khanke is being in the hostel room

Listening to Bhool Bhulaiya track is finding yourself in that castle

Listening to Ashiqui mein Teri is being in China town at midnight

Listening to Dhoom again is seeing the warehouse in front of your eyes

why am I saying this? Lets just say that I went for the dimly lit club in Chakna chakna and didn’t realise that it has been an hour of me teleporting from aesthetic to aesthetic until I was already in the rainy streets from Laga Prem Rog😌

A taxi winds up on the mountain road of Kasaol. It’s been a long journey from Nizamuddin railway station; a peaceful drive to the hotel would be nice. But the cabbie is in the mood for songs of bitter love.  “Ab tere bin ji lenge hum. Zahar zindagi kaa pi lenge hum” Kumar Sanu's nasal voice playing on a scratchy tape recorder fills the car.

"I can learn to live without you. Life would be like drinking poison but what's the big deal if one heart breaks,"

Says this hit song from Aashiqui. It seems churlish to tell him to stop playing the music because-- it hits you suddenly-- that you don't really want peace. You want sookun, a feeling of love. And who better to grant that, other than Sanu da's heartfelt high notes.

An imaginary anecdote starts to weave relentlessly in your mind. As the driver switches songs to Bol Na Halke Halke. Your brain paces back to a gorgeous Preity Zinta, mistaking Abhishek Bachchan for a coolie, filling your heart with a flawless warmth.

The tape recorder booms again. This time, with the ever so magical voice of Mohit Chauhan in Tum se hi. Your consciousness reverts to the moments of Aditya and Geet, pouring out their hearts in rain.

The classic Falguni Pathak melody, Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye, makes your heart leap out of you in elation. The entire dance of Ayesha Takia with the lady in the painting evokes nostalgia which you can’t get over.

Dil Dooba blares next on the tape, Oh you cannot contain anymore! You break into crooked hip hop steps on the back seat, trying to imitate Akshay Kumar and Aishwariya Rai’s jhakaas dance moves from Khakee.