Costume Drama: Ghoonghat Hata Na Dena Goriye

"Sapan Suhane" (1961) features Balraj Sahni and Geeta Bali as the lead pair. Master Bhagwan, Chandrashekhar, Kamini Kadam, K. N. Singh, Helen, Leela Mishra and Tun Tun are part of the supporting cast. Balraj Sahni plays a truck driver while Geeta Bali portrays the daughter of a mechanic.

Presenting an energetic song from this film today. Geeta Bali dances with abandon on what appears to be the wedding eve for a blushing bride played by Kamini Kadam. Salil Chowdhury has adorned the composition with a spirited Punjabi touch.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shailendra
Music: Salil Chowdhury

Costume Drama: Ek Raat Mein Do Do Chaand Khile

Presenting a lovely romantic duet from "Barkha" (1959) today. Nanda is the leading lady while the male lead is Anant Kumar who is not much known. Another song Barkha bahaar aayi has appeared earlier in this space under a different theme.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Chitragupt

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: 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

Costume Drama: Rimjhim Badarwa Barse

A lovely rain song to match the season! From "Tangewali" (1955). Lata Mangeshkar's voice sounds young and fresh. Hindi films of yesteryears are adorned with beautiful melodies many of which are forgotten. This solo is one of them.

The video clip is a 2-in-1. The Hindi song is followed by the original Bangla song from "Pasher Bari" (1952). Evergreen comedy "Padosan" (1968) was based on this film.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Music: Salil Chowdhury

Costume Drama: Na Bole Na Bole Na Bole Re

Greetings to all on the occasion of Shrikrishna Janmashtami. I am happy to present a beautiful solo suitable for this day. It is from "Azaad" (1955). This is a hit musical with many lovely melodies. Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Pran are the lead actors. Two other songs from this film have already appeared in this space under different themes. They are Jaa ri jaa ri o kaari badariyaa and Dekho ji bahaar aayi.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: C. Ramchandra

Costume Drama: Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol

Meerabai has written a great number of beautiful bhajans that are relevant even today. Many of them have been featured in several Hindi films. Presenting one such today. From "Jogan" (1950) starring Dilip Kumar and Nargis. Rajendra Kumar had made his debut with a small role in this film. Geeta Dutt's magical voice adds a soothing touch to this devotional number.

Singer: Geeta Dutt
Lyrics: Meerabai
Music: Bulo C. Rani

Costume Drama: Gore Gore Haathon Mein Mehndi Racha Ke

Here is a sweet little song from "Parineeta" (1953), based on a Bengali novel of the same name written in 1914 by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari starred in this film. Several adaptations of the novel were made into films subsequently, but this version is thought of as the most faithful by many. Not surprising, given that Bimal Roy was the director.

I wish I could find a clearer video, but it does not seem to be available.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Music: Arun Kumar Mukherjee

Costume Drama: Pyaare Babul Se Bichhad Ke

We have had several ghoonghat songs in this theme. Most of them were playful or romantic. Presenting a solo in a different mood today. A bride is leaving her parental place to go to her marital home. Very meaningful lyrics by Shailendra, and apt for the occasion too. The film is "Raj Hath" (1956) and the pretty bride, Madhubala. Pradeep Kumar and Sohrab Modi were the other lead actors.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shailendra
Music: Shankar Jaikishan

Costume Drama: Are Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Ghazab

A playful duet from "Teen Devian" (1965) today. Dev Anand, Simi Garewal, Nanda and Kalpana featured in this film. It is a story of a poet who falls in love with three women. The inspiration for this story came from D. H. Lawrence's works. The film has many good songs, one of which Kahin bekhayaal hokar has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Haule Haule Ghoonghat Pat Khole

"Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959) was adorned with lovely songs like Tere sur aur mere geet, Akhiyan bhool gayi hain sona and Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya. Presenting a beautiful number from this film today. One more song, Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe from the same film had appeared earlier in this space in a different theme.

Shehnai pieces played by Ustad Bismillah Khan regale the audiences throughout the film. A jugalbandi between him and Sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffar Khan is a treat too.

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

Costume Drama: Ghoonghat Ki Aad Se Dilbar Ka

Presenting a duet from "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" (1993) today. Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla starred in this family entertainer. The film won Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Actress (Juhi Chawla) and Best Lyricist (Sameer, for this song). It was also the recipient of National Film Special Jury Award for director Mahesh Bhatt and National Film Award in the Best Female Playback Singer category for Alka Yagnik, again for this song.

One of the three child actors in the film is Kunal Khemu. He is married to Soha Ali Khan.

Singers: Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu
Lyrics: Sameer
Music: Nadeem Shravan

Costume Drama: Gori Ghoonghat Mein Mukhda Chhupao Na

A nice but forgotten solo from "Ghunghat" (1960) today. This was a successful film starring Bharat Bhushan, Leela Chitnis, Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Asha Parekh, Helen, Rajendranath, Rehman and Agha. Laage na mora jiya and Mori chham chham baaje payaliya are better-known amongst the other good songs from the film.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Ravi

Costume Drama: Ghoonghat Nahi Kholoongi

"Mother India" (1957) is a classic and one of the all-time box office hits. Starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar; this is the story of an ideal Indian woman. Sunil Dutt, who went on to marry Nargis in real life later, played the role of her son in this film. Here is a solo from this film featuring Rajendra Kumar and Kumkum.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Naushad