Have a story to tell? A theme to work on? An emotion to express? A mood to paint? Easy. You can do all this and more with Hindi film songs. For musical stories or theme-based songs or lyrical expressions of moods or...whatever, this promises to be a fun-filled ride. Come, get on the bandwagon!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Her Story: Exchanging Rings!

After a very cordial meeting with parents over tea, the stage is now set for the wedding. The first step towards this alliance is an engagement. Both families celebrate while the couple exchange rings. There is fun, laughter, singing, dancing and good food as family and friends enjoy, looking forward to the wedding.

I did not have to think very hard for a sagaai song. This one from "Hum Aapke Hain Koun" (1994) conveys the excitement around an engagement ceremony very well. Many thought of this film as a long music video. True, there are many songs in HAHK depicting wedding rituals and I will have to resist the temptation of posting more of them.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Lyrics: Ravinder Rawal
Music: Raamlaxman



Friday, March 30, 2012

Her Story: Proposing!

For the first time since starting this blog, I had a bit of hesitation before deciding on a song, because musically this is not in the same class as most songs posted earlier. But I picked it because it is apt for the situation in which our story is right now. It will soon be time for our young couple to tie the knot. The journey towards that step begins with this duet from "Souten" (1983). Shot on location in Mauritius, this song was very popular at its time. The film featured Tina Munim in one of her memorable roles before she gave it all up to become Mrs. Anil Ambani.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Sawan Kumar
Music: Usha Khanna

Monday, March 26, 2012

Her Story: With You, Always! - 2

Another beautiful composition where our lady and her beloved are expressing contentment about their togetherness. This one is from "Naya Daur" (1957), a super-hit musical. Several songs in this film have a delicious Punjabi flavour.

Trivia: This was the second highest-grossing film in 1957, the top one being 'Mother India'. The protagonist here is a spunky tongawallah who takes on the challenge posed by the impending introduction of a bus service in the area where he operates his horse cart.

A colour version of the original black and white film was released in 2007.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music: O. P. Nayyar

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Her Story: With You, Always! - 1

The two are now sure that they want to spend the rest of their lives with each other. They are expressing this emotion very beautifully in a duet from "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959). With the strong bond and chemistry between them, their wedding (to each other!) is now somewhere on the horizon.

Trivia: This film tells the story of a shehnai player. The shehnai pieces featured in the film are played by none other than Ustad Bismillah Khan. It has the distinction of being the only Hindi film that was adorned with the maestro's divine music. It also features a jugalbandi between him and sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffar Khan, and some renderings in the voice of Ustad Amir Khan.

This was the first big hit starring Rajendra Kumar. He became very popular later. There were times when many of his films were running in their silver jubilee week at the same time. He earned the moniker of "Jubilee Kumar" because of this.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Music: Vasant Desai

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Her Story: Bye-Bye! - 3

A hit song from "Love In Tokyo" (1966) that fits in the "Bye-Bye" situation. This was a very successful film at its time. It was almost entirely shot on location in Japan...a rarity in those days.

Trivia: In this film, Asha Parekh's hair was tied with a fastener that had two large beads on a rubber band. After the film's release, this little thingy became a rage amongst girls and young women. When they shopped for hair accessories, they would simply ask for a Love-in-Tokyo!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Music: Shankar Jaikishan

Postscript: The most obvious song which could have been featured in this situation is 'Achchha to hum chalte hain' from 'Aan Milo Sajna' (1970). There are many. 'Jaati hoon main, jaldi hai kya' from 'Karan Arjun' (1995), 'Dhal gaya din ho gayi sham' from 'Humjoli' (1970), 'Saathiya nahin jaana' from 'Aaya Saawan Jhoom Ke' (1969) and 'Jaane do na, jaane jaane do na' from 'Cheeni Kum' (2007). But we can only have so many. We do have to move on with the story!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Her Story: Bye-Bye! - 2

She wants to take his leave for the day, but he does not want her to go just yet. Enjoy this classic from "Hum Dono" (1962). What both of them have to say, couldn't possibly have been said better than this. Notice the hint of smile on Sadhana's face from 2.10 to 2.20, wonderfully matched by Asha Bhosle by bringing a suitable lilt in her voice in that fleeting moment.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music: Jaidev

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Her Story: Bye-Bye! - 1

After the singing and dancing around the trees, it is time for her to go home. But watch what he tells her when she says goodbye. Presenting a lively song from "Junglee" (1961). What fun to see Shammi Kapoor in action!

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Music: Shankar Jaikishan

Friday, March 16, 2012

Her Story: Two's Company! - 3

The couple in our story is now at a stage which in Hindi films is shown by characteristic singing and dancing around the trees. There are umpteen songs that fit this situation very well. This one from "Gharana" (1961) is one of those.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Ravi

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Her Story: Two's Company! - 2

Here too, the two are singing away merrily about dil. A sweet melody from "Bambai Ka Babu" (1960). It is a pleasure to watch Suchitra Sen in one of her rare appearances in Hindi films.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Monday, March 12, 2012

Her Story: Two's Company! - 1

They are at their happiest when they are in each other's company...which happens to be most of the time! At other times, it is quite another story. Sleeplessness takes over, but she seems to be happy about it too. Watch her in this breezy song from "Dil To Pagal Hai" (1997) when she says, "saree saree raat jagata hai yahee, ankhiyon se neend churata hai".

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Uttam Singh

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Her Story: Sleepless! - 3

He tells her that she is not the only one who cannot fall asleep. He too is in the same boat. Here is a duet from "Post Box 999" (1958) in which they are telling about their condition to each other.

Trivia: In the original credits, Kalyanji Veerji Shah (Kalyanji Virji) was listed as the composer. Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar of the Laxmikant Pyarelal duo and Anandji Veerji Shah (Anandji Virji) appeared as music assistants. Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar went uncredited.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar
Lyrics: P L Santoshi
Music: Kalyanji Anandji



Thursday, March 8, 2012

Her Story: Sleepless! - 2

While we are on the topic of sleep--or lack thereof--another superb composition from "Pooja Ke Phool" (1964) comes to mind. With this song, Mala Sinha gets the distinction of appearing in two successive posts.

Trivia: Madan Mohan had recorded an earlier version of this song in which Rais Khan had played some very brief sitar pieces. But something made Madan Mohan change his mind and he decided to re-record the song with more sitar interludes and a different arrangement. So, Lata Mangeshkar had to sing it again with the changed arrangement. That is what was released. But listen to the earlier version here where one can hear some santoor bits, played by none other than Shiv Kumar Sharma. Santoor is missing in the final version.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Madan Mohan

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Her Story: Sleepless! - 1

She has been hoping to see him in her dream, but there is a small problem. Sleep is eluding her, and if she cannot fall asleep in the first place, how can she have a dream? Watch her singing about her condition in this lovely composition from "Aasra" (1966).

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Her Story: Dreamworld! - 2

He appeared in her dream last night. Watch this song from "Aadmi" (1968) in which she is hoping to see him again...in her dreams. The wondrously beautiful Waheeda Rehman is charming, shy and graceful at the same time, while Dilip Kumar, is debonair and dashing as ever, driving towards his beloved in an open car.

Trivia: This film is a remake of the Tamil film "Aalayamani" which starred Sivaji Ganesan.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Naushad

Friday, March 2, 2012

Her Story: Dreamworld! - 1

He seems to be everywhere...in her thoughts, in her dreams. Watch them telling each other about their dreams in this lighthearted song from "Seeta Aur Geeta" (1972). I don't think the picturisation of this song struck me particularly as being funny when I saw the film about four decades ago, but today it definitely does. Sanjeev Kumar in a tie and jacket riding a horse on a beach! Hema Malini in a satin pant-suit (bell bottoms?) riding a camel!! If it looks kitschy today, it didn't then. Films are a good mirror of our changing tastes and the prevailing trends at a given time.

Trivia: This is an early work of the scriptwriter duo Salim-Javed. Before this, they had worked on "Haathi Mere Saathi" (1971). They went on to achieve phenomenal success with "Sholay" and "Deewaar" in 1975.

This is one of the noteworthy films of Hema Malini. Her portrayal of identical twins struck a chord with the audiences. This role won her her only competitive Filmfare Best Actress Award in her long career.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: R. D. Burman