Jugni - the song that stuck

'Queen' is a movie featuring a young protagonist who decides to go on her much anticipated honeymoon abroad. This becomes an especially interesting scenario in light of the fact that her fiancé stands her up at her wedding. The movie is a breath of fresh air in an industry that is an aeon away from portraying women progressively. I believe the story could have had more depth, but it's a step in the right direction.

The subject of this blog, however, is a song from the movie called 'Jugni'. The song is composed and sung by Amit Trivedi and penned by Anvita Dutt.

It begins by setting the context of a girl who is tentative, scared, and trapped in darkness. Amit begins with low notes and a soft tone. This combined with Anvita's brilliant use of repetition, gives a amazing sense of trepidation.

‘Dari, dari, dari, dabe, dabe, dabe

Pairon se woh chali, kaanch ki ghaas pe, ghaas pe’.

The real build-up to the climax happens in following lines, where the girl glimpses a new dawn, just as it is breaking out. Amit takes the notes very quickly to the high notes in these lines, to transition the story from its soft beginnings to its more bold ending.

Subah, subah, subah…

The climax that follows does full justice to all that has happened till now and describes how the girl breaks free. The analogy to a bird just taking flight is well done and gives a sense of freedom that one would feel when breaking out of years of tradition and accepted practice. Amit completely lets himself go in these lines and sings with all his heart and soul. The accompanying beats, for the lines, also brings in the climax with a much needed bang.

Jugni, udi, naye naye par liye,

Oh pinjraa khol! Oh pinjraa khol….

Like the rest of the songs in the album, the song details the journey of a woman realising her existence as an independent being and revelling in it.

The song tells a story and tells it beautifully. The melody compliments the words and transforms you into a different world, much as the creator intended. The impact the song has on me is one of bursting with a desire to be free and therein lies the brilliance of the man.