Costume Drama: Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna

"Guide" (1965) is a hugely successful film. Based on R. K. Narayan's Sahitya Akademi winning novel "The Guide", it featured Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman in lead roles. The novel was published in 1958. Waheeda Rehman plays a married woman who is passionate about dance. She dreams of pursuing dance while Dev Anand as Raju Guide is instrumental in helping her fulfil her dream.

S. D. Burman adorned the film with wonderful compositions. Presenting a superb solo where the vivacious Waheeda is oozing with infectious effervescence and joy. Shot on location at the majestic Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, this song is an audio-visual delight.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shailendra
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Shaam Rangeen Hui Hai

A hauntingly beautiful duet today from a forgotten film "Kanoon Aur Mujrim" (1981). Suresh Wadkar and Usha Mangeshkar have lent their voices to this superb composition by C. Arjun. He is the man behind the hugely popular songs from "Jai Santoshi Maa" that released in 1975. One of his compositions Saawan Ki Pari from "Murder On Highway" (1970) has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Not much is known about the film from which today's song is being posted. Its video is not available. And to top it all, there seems to be some dispute about who the lyricist is. Some credit these lovely lines to Ahmed Wasi, and some to Kaifi Azmi. Such sketchy details are usually a deterrent to posting a song. But the sheer allure of this melody is hard to resist.

So here it is!

Singers: Usha Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Ahmed Wasi/Kaifi Azmi
Music: C. Arjun

Costume Drama: Bairi Aanchal Pag Pag Uljhe Hamaar

Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar celebrates her 87th birthday today. She has enriched the world of Hindi film music for decades. We wish her a Happy Birthday and pay tribute to her with this sweet solo from "Rahgir" (1969). There is a rustic touch to the lyrics and the dialect adds to its innocence and sweetness. Biswajeet and Sandhya Roy played the lead roles while Shashikala, Kanhaiyalal, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy and Asit Sen were in supporting roles. It is a pity that we don't have a video. Listen to the melody and enjoy!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: Hemant Kumar

Costume Drama: Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke

Several Hindi films have been based on the idea of reincarnation. "Madhumati" (1958) is one of the earliest films to have been made on this theme. It is produced and directed by Bimal Roy. Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi are the writers. Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala played the lead roles.

Enjoy a melody from this film today. This is the first song from this great musical to appear in this space. Beautiful solo, pretty leading lady and lovely visuals all add up to make this song a treat to listen to!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shailendra
Music: Salil Chowdhury

Costume Drama: Jaise Radha Ne Mala Japi

"Tere Mere Sapne" (1971) is a Navketan film, produced by Dev Anand, and written and directed by his brother Vijay Anand. Both brothers starred in it too, along with Mumtaz and Hema Malini. The story is based on a novel by A. J. Cronin, "The Citadel". Dev Anand plays a doctor working in a coal-mining village. Most of the film is shot on location in Chhindwara, an area in Madhya Pradesh known for coal mines .

S. D. Burman adorned the film with melodious compositions two of which have appeared in this space earlier under another theme. They are Hai maine kasam lee and Jeevan ki bagiya mahkegi. This is the third one, a sweet solo by Lata Mangeshkar. Enjoy!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Bholi Si Soorat Aankhon Mein Masti

A peppy duet from a very successful musical "Dil To Pagal Hai" (1997) today. Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor starred in this super hit romance while Akshay Kumar appeared in a cameo. Two other songs from this  film, Dil to pagal hai and Koi ladki hai have appeared in this space under different themes.

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

Costume Drama: Piya Aiso Jiya Me Samay Gayo Re

I am happy to present a beautiful solo from a critically acclaimed classic "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam" (1962) today. The film is based on a Bangla novel Shaheb Bibi Golam by Bimal Mitra. It depicts friendship between the lonely wife of a wealthy aristocrat and a part-time employee of the family in feudal Bengal. Meena Kumari played the role of the lonely wife who takes to drinking, while Rehman played her husband. Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman are in the cast too. A story has it that the film was sent to the Oscars but the academy rejected it saying in a letter to producer Guru Dutt that the portrayal of a woman who drinks was not permissible.

This song is filmed very aesthetically showing the wife being readied by maids in anticipation of the arrival of her husband. 

The film features lovely songs such as Saquiyaa aaj mujhe neend nahi aayegi, Na jaao saiyan chhuda ke baiyan, Bhanwara bada naadan hai, and Meri baat rahi mere man me.

Singer: Geeta Dutt
Lyrics: Shakeel Nomani
Music: Hemant Kumar

Costume Drama: Jab Mera Aanchal Dhalega

An Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duet to honour Ashatai on her birthday today. This is from "Picnic" (1966).  Asha Bhosle has sung numerous songs in this western dance genre. This is not very well-known, but a nice one and fits well in our theme. Another song Aanchal ko udne do from the same film has appeared in this space under the same theme.

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

Costume Drama: Ek Jhonka Pawan Ka Aaya

A pleasant solo from "Tamanna" (1969) today. Biswajit and Mala Sinha starred in this family drama. Here they play a couple anticipating the arrival of their new baby. Nice lyrics depicting their happiness. Enjoy this almost forgotten song.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Kalyanji Anandji

Costume Drama: O Kali Topi Vaale Zara Naam To Bataa

Presenting a duet from "Kali Topi Lal Rumal" (1959) today. It is not much known. Other better known songs from this film are Laagi chhute na ab to sanam and Dagaa dagaa vai vai. Shakila, Chandrashekhar, Agha, Mukri and K. N. Singh are part of the cast.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Chitragupt

Costume Drama: Huzoor Is Kadar Bhi Na Itraa Ke Chaliye

"Masoom" (1983) is the first film directed by Shekhar Kapur. It is an adaptation of Erich Segal's novel Man, Woman and Child. Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi are the lead actors. Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey are in supporting roles. Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar appear as child actors.

Watch some amusing dance steps and fun acts by Naseeruddin Shah and Saeed Jaffrey in this entertaining duet.

Singers: Suresh Wadkar, Bhupinder
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: R. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Thandi Hawao Ne Gori Ka Ghoonghat Utha Diya

Several Hindi film songs have featured the lead pair dancing with a group of tribal or village folk during some festival or celebration. Today's song is one such from "Prem Nagar" (1974). This film starred Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini. The story of an alcoholic rich man and his secretary who becomes his love interest later, this film was based on a Telugu film of the same name. It was made in Tamil too.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: S. D. Burman