Music In The Mountains: Kitna Haseen Hai Mausam

Meena Kumari would have been 85 today. So, today's post is in her honour and memory. Along with being a fine actress, she was also a singer and a poetess who used 'Naaz' as her pseudonym. Her diction was perfect and she delivered her dialogues with finesse. Born Mahjabeen Bano, she earned the epithet of 'Tragedy Queen' because of the large number of sad roles she essayed in Hindi films.

But she did get to play other roles too, and sang some happy songs on the screen. Presenting one such song from "Azaad" (1955) today. It is a lovely duet. Interestingly, her co-star is Dilip Kumar who was often referred to as 'Tragedy King'. Playback for him is by composer C. Ramchandra who sang occasionally using his last name Chitalkar.

Three songs from this film have appeared in this space earlier in three different themes. They are Jaa ri jaa ri o kaari badariya, Dekho ji bahaar aayi, and Na bole na bole na bole re. It is the first film to be featured here four times. What a great musical!

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, C. Ramchandra
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: C. Ramchandra

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: 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: Dupatta Mera Malmal Ka

"Adalat" (1958) starring Pradeep Kumar, Pran and Nargis is better known for solos like Jaana tha humse door, Unko yeh shikayat hai and Yun hasaraton ke daag mohabbat me dho liye. Presenting a playful duet from this film today. Though the composer is Madan Mohan, the song reminds you of O. P. Nayyar.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt
Lyrics: Ranjendra Krishan
Music: Madan Mohan

Costume Drama: Tie Lagake Mana Ban Gaye Janaab Hero

Today, a new item makes an appearance in this theme. A tie! This playful solo is from a family drama "Bhabhi" (1957). Balraj Sahni, Pandari Bai and Nanda played lead roles in this film. In this song, Nanda is featured with Jagdeep.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Chitrgupt

Costume Drama: O Ji O Ji Chhodo Bhi Dupatta Mera

A sweet duet from "Champakali" (1957) today. Bharat Bhushan and Suchitra Sen played the lead roles in this film. Hemant Kumar is the playback singer as well as composer here. He is often credited as Hemanta Mukherjee in the composer's role.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Hemant Kumar

Costume Drama: Jaipur ki Choli

"Gehri Chaal" (1973) is an action thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Bindu and Prem Chopra. The story revolves around a bank robbery. Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of Hema Malini's brother in this film.

A light-hearted duet towards the end of which Hema Malini passes on some important message to Jeetendra from this film today with playback by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. It happens to be Kishore Kumar's birthday today.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Saawan Songs: Yeh Pehli Ghataa Saawan Ki

A playful song from "Maa Baap" (1960) today. Rajendra Kumar and Kamini Kadam play the lead in this family drama. This song seems to have been shot in the Vrindavan Gardens near Mysore.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Chitragupt

Saawan Songs: Saawan Ki Aayi Hai Bahaar

Another song featuring saawan ke jhoole! Swings are an integral part of saawan in our culture and traditions. This beautiful number is from "Anjaan" (1956). Vyjayanthimala and Pradeep Kumar were the lead actors in this film.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Hemant Kumar

Saawan Songs: Saawan Ki Raat Kaari Kaari

A delightful solo from "Mehrban" (1967) today. This was a family drama starring Sunil Dutt and Nutan. It is a pity that I could not find a video for this song.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Ravi

Garden Of Five Senses: Suniye Suniye

Watch Kishore Kumar exhibit his versatility in this fun song from "Ladka Ladki" (1966). It starred Kishore Kumar with Mumtaz. I had posted another interesting number by Kishore Kumar, Jab jab tujhko chhua a few days ago.

Singer: Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Madan Mohan

Garden Of Five Senses: Humse Toh Achchhi Teri Paayal Gori

Hindi films have featured many songs showing that the lead actor is jealous of an adornment or an article of clothing that his lady love uses because of its proximity to her. Presenting one such duet today from "Ganwaar" (1970). This was Vyjayanthimala's last film as an actress.  Mujhse bhala yeh kaajal tera from "The Train" is a popular song belonging to the same category. This film got released in the same year as Ganwaar did--1970.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Naushad

Garden Of Five Senses: Sakhi Ri Sun

"Miss Mary" (1957) was an entertaining comedy/drama starring Meena Kumari and Kishore Kumar. This film is one of those that were made before Meena Kumari turned into a sob queen. She looks lovely and Kishore Kumar is in great form with his antics. With songs such as "O raat ke musafir chanda zara bata de", "Gaana na aaya bajaana na aaya", "Ye mard bade dil sard", it is a wholesome package. Presenting a melodious duet from this film today. It is always a pleasure to listen to the two legendary sisters together.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Hemant Kumar

Garden Of Five Senses: Daal Roti Khaao

The duet that I am presenting today had vanished from my memory. I found it when I was looking for songs related to food. It is one of those songs that were pleasant, but not extra-ordinary. A hummable number with a good message, this is from "Jwar Bhata" (1973). This was a family drama featuring separation and reunion of a grandfather with his grandson.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Garden Of Five Senses: Dekho Ji Bahaar Aayi

"Azaad" (1955) was a great musical. It has been featured earlier on this blog in the "Rain Songs" series with Jaa Ri Jaa Ri O Kaari Badariya. Presenting another lovely solo from the same film today. Lata Mangeshkar's voice is as fresh as a daisy in this melody that takes us back to an era when songs oozed sweetness and innocence.

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

Adornments: Baaj Ri Mori Paayaliya

I stumbled upon a pleasant, yet little-known solo from a practically unknown film "Gauri"(1968). It was an average melodrama starring Nutan, Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar and Mumtaz. So, nothing memorable about the film, but posting the song anyway because it was a surprise discovery.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Ravi

Adornments: Aankhon Se Kaajal Ki Lekar Siyahi

A little-known solo from "Jhoola"(1962) today. This film starred Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala in lead roles. Enjoy this sweet little melody!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Music: Salil Chowdhury

Rain Songs: Jaa Ri Jaa Ri O Kaari Badariyaa

Music has always played a big role in making a film click with the audiences. It must have been one of the ingredients that made "Azaad"(1955) the top grossing film in the year of its release. The film was embellished with such unforgettable melodies as Na bole na bole na bole re, Aplam chaplam, Kitna haseen hai mausam and several others. Of course, the music was complemented by the presence of Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari as the lead players. Enjoy a gem from this film today.

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

Rain Songs: Jaa Re Badaraa Bairi

Madan Mohan and Lata Mangeshkar have teamed up to create several wonderful melodies. This is one of them. The name of the film is "Bahaana" (1960) that starred Meena Kumari and Mehmood. It is a pity that the video for this song is not available.

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

Rain Songs: Kaise Bhaaye Sakhi Rut Saawan Ki

It is a pleasure to discover rare gems. Today's song is one such. Many may have never heard it before. It is from "Pehli Jhalak" (1955), a film starring Kishore Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

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