I don't want to be told 'I love you' at exactly 10 o'clock every day. I don't want my husband to buy me chocolates, overpriced red roses, or Valentine's Day cards. I absolutely don't want to pay exorbitant rates for a dinner in a restaurant. (Restaurants in my part of the world hike up their prices by at least 40% during this week.) Candlelight dinners are not very romantic - for me. I like my food too much; I want to see what I am eating.
As for my husband, I'm thinking back to our first wedding anniversary; let's see...
We decided (hmm, I decided) to go out for dinner; on the way we ran into our neighbour, who whistled in appreciation when he saw me. (Thank you, Sachin!) My husband promptly offered to let him take me to dinner in his place. And no, he didn't buy me flowers either. In fact, I'm the one who sent my husband flowers on our first anniversary (much to my mother-in-law's amusement and my husband's embarrassment). And the waiter at the restaurant we went to took pity on me when he learnt it was our anniversary, and brought me a red rose. (True story!)
Romantic? Hah!
In addition, S'll flirt soundly with anyone of the female persuasion and charm them into giving him upgrades, free samples, better service, etc., and grin happily when I point out that his smile is a weapon of mass destruction (he will also protest that he is not flirting; he's just being 'friendly'... yeah, right!); he has a congenital inability to answer a simple 'Yes' or 'No' to questions (everything is a treatise) and an even bigger disability when it comes to finishing his sentences (Son Major and I have spent years admonishing him - in emotions ranging from affectionate frustration to just plain exasperation - to '...finish what you were saying, please!'); he has a horrible habit of forgetting what he was going to say to you, and then remembering it (and interrupting you) when you are in the middle of telling him something very important; he is a total softy where the kids are concerned, and both of them wrap him around their little fingers, leaving me to be the bad cop and the not-fun parent; he will insist on tapping me on my shoulder when we are listening to a beautiful romantic song to tell me 'Listen to the chord progression' or 'Did you see how he jumped from D minor to...' or 'Listen to the way the violins reach a crescendo... and it matters not a whit that I wouldn't know a chord progression if it came and socked me on the jaw, or that D is a grade I am always scared I will see on Son Minor's report card, or that I can just about make out a violin from a clarinet (if it were a sarodh and veena, all bets are off)... all I want to do is listen to the song!
Romantic? Naah...
But, and this is a huge 'BUT': he willingly makes tea for me when I grumpily crawl out of bed in the mornings on weekends and holidays (on weekdays, I wait until I can throw him and Son Minor out of the house before I drink my tea in peace); he cooks up 'experiments' in the kitchen that do not have a name but taste finger-lickin' good (and saves me the trouble of having to cook); he writes funny little 'pomes' that make me laugh; he makes me laugh, period; he puts up with my moods and forbears to roll his eyes when I over-react; and he is there, when I need him to be, solid, dependable and comforting. He is one of only three people with whom I have been able to be completely myself - warts and all. I'll take that over any amount of chocolates or flowers or gifts.
And for the record, I have no problem with people choosing to celebrate Valentine's Day (or any other day) in a way that is meaningful to them. What I do have a problem with is that it seems to be one of those holidays where the point is to show everyone else how much you are 'loved', a holiday that just sets men up to fail. At least over here, it is as if the men have to pass a series of tests that 'prove' their love. And what I have a bigger problem is with the commercialisation of the holiday - does anyone have to buy chocolates, flowers, gifts to show they love you? Does it have to be on this one day? Or can it be any odd day of the year? (And I say this as someone who loves chocolates, flowers and gifts - both giving and getting the last.)
So, if I'm hopping on to the Valentine bandwagon now, it is with the purest of intentions - that of embarrassing my husband thoroughly and completely... (especially when he passionately hates all that Valentine's Day stands for.)
All jokes apart, we live in a jaded, often cynical world. But there are some beautiful songs that make you feel that romance is still alive, that if 'love' exists, this is how it should be/feel like, songs that make you feel all mushy for a while... Here's my contribution to the world of romance, my all-time favourite romantic songs in no particular order. It was a difficult task, I tell you...
1. Hum aur tum aur ye sama
An Evening in Paris
1967
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: Shankar-Jaikishen
Lyrics: Shailendra
It is fitting that a list of love songs should have a preponderance of Shammi Kapoor. I love, love, love this song. It is perfect. Such a romantic, intoxicating night, and two happy people.
Kashmir ki Kali
1964
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: SH Bihari
Shammi Kapoor once again. And Sharmila as well, though this film precedes the earlier one on this list by a few years. Sharmila is the mountain lass in her debut film, and Shammi is the genial scion of a wealthy family. As expected they fall in love. Unlike the usual Shammi-style of wooing (which is evident in Ye chand sa roshan chehra), this one is quiet, almost devotional, in the manner in which he treats her. There is a sense of awe that they have found such love, a sense of wonderment at the emotions that the night has evoked. Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle again, and oh, how beautiful they sound!
Shammi being Shammi, is irrepressible. When she asks him where he learnt to steal hearts, he tells her he learnt it from the same place that she learnt how to bewitch him with her eyes. She chides him, gently; people who love do not speak of their love so openly. Where is the fun in that?
Mazaa kya raha jab ke khud kar diya ho
Mubobbat ka izhaar apni zubaan se
He is unrepentant - as he has shown before:
Ye Raanjha ki baatein, ye Majnu ke kisse
Alag toh nahin hain meri daastaan se?
4. O nigahein mastana
Patita
Tarana
Romantic? Hah!
In addition, S'll flirt soundly with anyone of the female persuasion and charm them into giving him upgrades, free samples, better service, etc., and grin happily when I point out that his smile is a weapon of mass destruction (he will also protest that he is not flirting; he's just being 'friendly'... yeah, right!); he has a congenital inability to answer a simple 'Yes' or 'No' to questions (everything is a treatise) and an even bigger disability when it comes to finishing his sentences (Son Major and I have spent years admonishing him - in emotions ranging from affectionate frustration to just plain exasperation - to '...finish what you were saying, please!'); he has a horrible habit of forgetting what he was going to say to you, and then remembering it (and interrupting you) when you are in the middle of telling him something very important; he is a total softy where the kids are concerned, and both of them wrap him around their little fingers, leaving me to be the bad cop and the not-fun parent; he will insist on tapping me on my shoulder when we are listening to a beautiful romantic song to tell me 'Listen to the chord progression' or 'Did you see how he jumped from D minor to...' or 'Listen to the way the violins reach a crescendo... and it matters not a whit that I wouldn't know a chord progression if it came and socked me on the jaw, or that D is a grade I am always scared I will see on Son Minor's report card, or that I can just about make out a violin from a clarinet (if it were a sarodh and veena, all bets are off)... all I want to do is listen to the song!
Romantic? Naah...
But, and this is a huge 'BUT': he willingly makes tea for me when I grumpily crawl out of bed in the mornings on weekends and holidays (on weekdays, I wait until I can throw him and Son Minor out of the house before I drink my tea in peace); he cooks up 'experiments' in the kitchen that do not have a name but taste finger-lickin' good (and saves me the trouble of having to cook); he writes funny little 'pomes' that make me laugh; he makes me laugh, period; he puts up with my moods and forbears to roll his eyes when I over-react; and he is there, when I need him to be, solid, dependable and comforting. He is one of only three people with whom I have been able to be completely myself - warts and all. I'll take that over any amount of chocolates or flowers or gifts.
And for the record, I have no problem with people choosing to celebrate Valentine's Day (or any other day) in a way that is meaningful to them. What I do have a problem with is that it seems to be one of those holidays where the point is to show everyone else how much you are 'loved', a holiday that just sets men up to fail. At least over here, it is as if the men have to pass a series of tests that 'prove' their love. And what I have a bigger problem is with the commercialisation of the holiday - does anyone have to buy chocolates, flowers, gifts to show they love you? Does it have to be on this one day? Or can it be any odd day of the year? (And I say this as someone who loves chocolates, flowers and gifts - both giving and getting the last.)
So, if I'm hopping on to the Valentine bandwagon now, it is with the purest of intentions - that of embarrassing my husband thoroughly and completely... (especially when he passionately hates all that Valentine's Day stands for.)
All jokes apart, we live in a jaded, often cynical world. But there are some beautiful songs that make you feel that romance is still alive, that if 'love' exists, this is how it should be/feel like, songs that make you feel all mushy for a while... Here's my contribution to the world of romance, my all-time favourite romantic songs in no particular order. It was a difficult task, I tell you...
1. Hum aur tum aur ye sama
1959
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Usha Khanna
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
One of the most romantic songs, ever. Mohammed Rafi's voice, a dashing Shammi Kapoor, a tremulous Asha Parekh, the early morning mists, the music, barely there for most of the song, and then swelling into a crescendo... bliss. Dil Deke Dekho was music director Usha Khanna's debut. Unfortunately for her, every one of the songs (except this one) was 'inspired'. (For what it's worth, I don't think she had a choice.) I haven't come aross anyone pointing out an original for this song, so I'm hoping it was her original composition. It is also an incredibly sensuous song. A very innocent sensuality, but sensuous nevertheless. The song I have linked to is the audio version; for some reason I cannot find a video with the middle verse intact:
Beqaraar se ho kyun hum ko paas aane bhi do
Gir pada jo haath se woh roomal uthane bhi do
Ban-te kyun ho jaane bhi do
Hum aur tum aur yeh sama kya nasha nasha sa hain
Boliye na boliye sab soona soona sa hain
It is definitely there in the film.
An Evening in Paris 1967
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: Shankar-Jaikishen
Lyrics: Shailendra
It is fitting that a list of love songs should have a preponderance of Shammi Kapoor. I love, love, love this song. It is perfect. Such a romantic, intoxicating night, and two happy people.
Raat ne pyar ke jaam bhar kar diye
Aankhon aankhon se jo maine tumne piye
Hosh toh ab talaq jaake laute nahin
Aur kya laa rahi hai subha pyaar ki
Picturised in Paris, with Shammi Kapoor. And Sharmila Tagore. Asha Bhosle at her sensuous best. Mohammed Rafi singing for Shammi in just that way that was uniquely Shammi. And what better way to celebrate a love than to walk hand in hand with your lover around the city of love, under the light of the stars and a benevolent moon. What more can one ask for?
3. Isharon isharon par
Aankhon aankhon se jo maine tumne piye
Hosh toh ab talaq jaake laute nahin
Aur kya laa rahi hai subha pyaar ki
Picturised in Paris, with Shammi Kapoor. And Sharmila Tagore. Asha Bhosle at her sensuous best. Mohammed Rafi singing for Shammi in just that way that was uniquely Shammi. And what better way to celebrate a love than to walk hand in hand with your lover around the city of love, under the light of the stars and a benevolent moon. What more can one ask for?
3. Isharon isharon par
Kashmir ki Kali 1964
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: SH Bihari
Shammi Kapoor once again. And Sharmila as well, though this film precedes the earlier one on this list by a few years. Sharmila is the mountain lass in her debut film, and Shammi is the genial scion of a wealthy family. As expected they fall in love. Unlike the usual Shammi-style of wooing (which is evident in Ye chand sa roshan chehra), this one is quiet, almost devotional, in the manner in which he treats her. There is a sense of awe that they have found such love, a sense of wonderment at the emotions that the night has evoked. Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle again, and oh, how beautiful they sound!
Shammi being Shammi, is irrepressible. When she asks him where he learnt to steal hearts, he tells her he learnt it from the same place that she learnt how to bewitch him with her eyes. She chides him, gently; people who love do not speak of their love so openly. Where is the fun in that?
Mazaa kya raha jab ke khud kar diya ho
Mubobbat ka izhaar apni zubaan se
He is unrepentant - as he has shown before:
Ye Raanjha ki baatein, ye Majnu ke kisse
Alag toh nahin hain meri daastaan se?
4. O nigahein mastana
1957
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: SD Burman
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Moving from Shammi to my other favourite hero, Dev Anand. These were the two heroes who, to me, personified 'romance' on screen. A long time ago, I wrote a post on how Dev Anand romanced his heroines. He wooed, he coaxed, he teased, he bantered... And he was very convincing in every mood. Here, he is in love. Completely, utterly, thoroughly in love. He is lost in her luminous eyes, so full of mischief, and who can blame him? This is one of my favourite star pairings ever. Their chemistry is unbelievable. Nutan looks incredibly lovely, the moon is shining, and when she begins to hum, he cannot but join in, singing an paean to her eyee - how can one not be driven insane by them, he queries.
Koyi dekhe nasheeli aaankhein mal mal ke
Dil kaise bane na deewaana
Shama kare hain ishaare jab jal jal ke
Kaho kya karein parwaana
5. Abhi na jao chhodkar
Koyi dekhe nasheeli aaankhein mal mal ke
Dil kaise bane na deewaana
Shama kare hain ishaare jab jal jal ke
Kaho kya karein parwaana
5. Abhi na jao chhodkar
1961
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: Jaidev
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
As I mentioned earlier, Shammi and Dev personified romance on screen for me. There are a few songs that I think of as quintessentially Dev Anand. This is one of them. It is one of the quietly romantic numbers, the sort that makes my heart go pit-pat. Love should be like this.
Here he is, young, handsome, earnest. How can any woman leave? Here there are no questions, no answers. There is no teasing here, just a quiet sadness that she has to leave. Don't go, he says, you've just come. There is so much he wants to tell her, so much he wants to hear from her. But dusk has fallen and she has to leave. Don't stop me, she begs tremulously. If she stays any longer, she will never be able to leave.
Bas ab na mujhko thokna, na badhke raah rokna
Agar main ruk gayi abhi jaa na paauungi kabhi
She knows her own weakness. He is persistent: don't go; don't leave our dreams, our desires unfulfilled.
Here he is, young, handsome, earnest. How can any woman leave? Here there are no questions, no answers. There is no teasing here, just a quiet sadness that she has to leave. Don't go, he says, you've just come. There is so much he wants to tell her, so much he wants to hear from her. But dusk has fallen and she has to leave. Don't stop me, she begs tremulously. If she stays any longer, she will never be able to leave.
Bas ab na mujhko thokna, na badhke raah rokna
Agar main ruk gayi abhi jaa na paauungi kabhi
She knows her own weakness. He is persistent: don't go; don't leave our dreams, our desires unfulfilled.
Patita
1953
Singers: Hemant Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Shankar-Jaikishen
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Yes, Dev Anand again. Why not? The man was a romantic to the core. And this is, in my very biased opinion, one of the best Hemant Kumar - Lata Mangeshkar duets ever. It has a dream-like quality, like a feeling that is so ephemeral that you can only sense it.
It is a song of second chances. She has a past; he is man enough to accept it. There is a quiet, more mature, and a very grateful acceptance of a love that has been attained after much trials and tribulations. Their present happiness is all the more poignant for the sadness that has gone before.
It is a song of second chances. She has a past; he is man enough to accept it. There is a quiet, more mature, and a very grateful acceptance of a love that has been attained after much trials and tribulations. Their present happiness is all the more poignant for the sadness that has gone before.
Kho gaye ho aaj kis khayal mein
Dil phansa hain bebasi ke jaal mein
Mutlabi jahaan meherbaan ho tum
Yaad kiya dil ne kahan ho tum...
I'm so happy to have found a video clipping that has the prelude.
7. Nain mile nain hue baawre
Dil phansa hain bebasi ke jaal mein
Mutlabi jahaan meherbaan ho tum
Yaad kiya dil ne kahan ho tum...
I'm so happy to have found a video clipping that has the prelude.
7. Nain mile nain hue baawre
1951
Singers: Talat Mahmood, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Anil Biswas
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
From the Dev-Nutan pairing to another star pair who scorched the screen. This was their first film together, and the beginning of a doomed love story, very much in the tradition of all great love stories. The emotions were barely held back in this film; each touch, each glance simmered with a passion that was barely concealed, lending an intimacy to their scenes together that touched us with their intensity. Anil Biswas' score only added to the feeling of romance. This is a happy song, filled with the first pangs of love. There is an innocence to the lyrics that will probably be laughed at today.
Dhadkane dil ki chhupaaun kis tarah
Laaj ka ghoonghat uthaaun kis tarah
Kis tarah saajan teri ban jaaun re
Nain huye baawre
This is a film where the 'acting' (I cannot believe they were merely acting!) soared over the trite script and made me invest in the travails of the leads. It is probably one of the best 'awww' inducing films there is.
8. Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan
Kohinoor
1960
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
A perfectly charming film, and the leads, great actors both, were in fine fettle. Besides, with a swashbuckling hero, and a spunky heroine, what's not to like? Composer Naushad aided and abetted the love story of a prince and princess and the ensuing mayhem with a wonderful score. What made Kohinoor stand out from the usual raja-rani tales was that it was laced with madcap humour from beginning to end (well, barring the last half hour) and both Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari seemed to be having so much fun.
Considering Rana Dhivender Pratap Bahadur Chandrabhan (yup, a mouthful) and Rajkumari Chandramukhi fall in love with each other's portraits, I suppose it is not a huge stretch of imagination that when they finally meet (after RDPBC has been ambushed, presumed killed), they should voice that love.
9. Phir na keeje gustakh nigahi ka gila
Dhadkane dil ki chhupaaun kis tarah
Laaj ka ghoonghat uthaaun kis tarah
Kis tarah saajan teri ban jaaun re
Nain huye baawre
This is a film where the 'acting' (I cannot believe they were merely acting!) soared over the trite script and made me invest in the travails of the leads. It is probably one of the best 'awww' inducing films there is.
8. Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan
1960
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
A perfectly charming film, and the leads, great actors both, were in fine fettle. Besides, with a swashbuckling hero, and a spunky heroine, what's not to like? Composer Naushad aided and abetted the love story of a prince and princess and the ensuing mayhem with a wonderful score. What made Kohinoor stand out from the usual raja-rani tales was that it was laced with madcap humour from beginning to end (well, barring the last half hour) and both Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari seemed to be having so much fun.
Considering Rana Dhivender Pratap Bahadur Chandrabhan (yup, a mouthful) and Rajkumari Chandramukhi fall in love with each other's portraits, I suppose it is not a huge stretch of imagination that when they finally meet (after RDPBC has been ambushed, presumed killed), they should voice that love.
9. Phir na keeje gustakh nigahi ka gila
1958
Singer: Mukesh, Asha Bhosle
Music: Khayyam
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
From Dilip Kumar to Raj Kapoor. Again, this is one of my all-time favourite songs, whatever genre you choose to put it in. I love everything about it - music, lyrics, picturisation. There is something very endearing about the shy playfulness that is there in the initial story-telling; it is the hero who is bashful, not the heroine. And I found that a refreshing change as well. I like how the story merges into the song, and I really, really like the juxtaposition of his desires and her emotions. Beautiful!
Ek yunhi si nazar dil ko jo chhoo leti hai
Kitne armaan jagaa deti hai tumhe kya maaloom
Rooh bechain hai kadmon se lipatne ke liye
Tumko har saans bulaati hai tumhe kya maaloom
Dekhiye aap ne phir pyaar se dekha mujhko
Aap ke dil ne kayi baar pukaara mujhko
10. Ye raat bheegi bheegi
Ek yunhi si nazar dil ko jo chhoo leti hai
Kitne armaan jagaa deti hai tumhe kya maaloom
Rooh bechain hai kadmon se lipatne ke liye
Tumko har saans bulaati hai tumhe kya maaloom
Dekhiye aap ne phir pyaar se dekha mujhko
Aap ke dil ne kayi baar pukaara mujhko
10. Ye raat bheegi bheegi
1956
Singer: Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Shankar-Jaikishen
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
I seem to have covered the Holy Trinity of the golden age quite comprehensively! This the second RK song to make it to this list after three Shammi Kapoor songs, three Dev Anand songs and two Dilip Kumar ones. Once again, this is a song that absolutely drips romance. (I'd initially thought of Dum bhar jo udhar munh phere, but it's made an appearance in too many of my lists.) Two strangers, thrown together by circumstances, discover an affinity to each other, regardless of the great gulf between them. Yet, they are circumspect, not really comprehending their own emotions - why should they feel the way they do? It is the beginning of a relationship that will stand the test of time. (Ironically, it ended a relationship that was as searing in intensity in real life as it was on reel.)
Ithlaati hawa neelam ki gagan
Kaliyon pe ye behoshi ki nami
Aise mein bhi kyun bechain hai dil
Jeevan mein na jaane kya hai kami
This was a time when Shankar-Jaikishen couldn't get a note wrong. Mukesh had taken a sabbatical to chase his dream of becoming an actor, and Manna Dey stepped in to become Raj Kapoor's voice (much to the producer's consternation). Chori Chori had four duets, each one of them a gem, though Aaja sanam will always hold a special place in my heart. I didn't use it here because it is a tad bit too poignant, in context of both reel and real.
11. Udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
Mr and Mrs 55
1955 Ithlaati hawa neelam ki gagan
Kaliyon pe ye behoshi ki nami
Aise mein bhi kyun bechain hai dil
Jeevan mein na jaane kya hai kami
This was a time when Shankar-Jaikishen couldn't get a note wrong. Mukesh had taken a sabbatical to chase his dream of becoming an actor, and Manna Dey stepped in to become Raj Kapoor's voice (much to the producer's consternation). Chori Chori had four duets, each one of them a gem, though Aaja sanam will always hold a special place in my heart. I didn't use it here because it is a tad bit too poignant, in context of both reel and real.
11. Udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt
Baharein Phir Bhi Aayegi
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt. OP Nayyar's music. Majrooh Sultanpuri's lyrics. A glowing Madhubala and a suave Guru Dutt. The picturisation. Perfect. It is a film that turned heavily regressive as it went on, but its songs (each and every one of them) are, justifiably, regarded as classics. Like the previous song on this list, this one too is about nascent emotions finding a voice. The plot is eerily similar - two people thrown together by circumstances, the girl in love with someone else (completely ineligible, obviously), the man needing to be with the girl for the sake of his job... from there, it diverges, this film becoming a hammer-headed treatise on how 'good' women should behave. (Chori Chori allowed the woman her freedom of choice, even while it was evident she was making a mistake in the beginning. It is a far more satisfying film.) But here, in this song, all one can see, and feel, is the romance, the often-confusing emotions that arise when one feels so strongly about another person.
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt. OP Nayyar's music. Majrooh Sultanpuri's lyrics. A glowing Madhubala and a suave Guru Dutt. The picturisation. Perfect. It is a film that turned heavily regressive as it went on, but its songs (each and every one of them) are, justifiably, regarded as classics. Like the previous song on this list, this one too is about nascent emotions finding a voice. The plot is eerily similar - two people thrown together by circumstances, the girl in love with someone else (completely ineligible, obviously), the man needing to be with the girl for the sake of his job... from there, it diverges, this film becoming a hammer-headed treatise on how 'good' women should behave. (Chori Chori allowed the woman her freedom of choice, even while it was evident she was making a mistake in the beginning. It is a far more satisfying film.) But here, in this song, all one can see, and feel, is the romance, the often-confusing emotions that arise when one feels so strongly about another person.
Sulagti hain taaron ki parchhaayiaan
Buri hain muhabbat ki tanhaayiaan
Mehakne laga meri zulfon mein koyi
Lagi jaagne dhadkanein khoyi-khoyi
Meri har nazar aaj dil ki zubaan hai
12. Aap ke haseen rukh
Buri hain muhabbat ki tanhaayiaan
Mehakne laga meri zulfon mein koyi
Lagi jaagne dhadkanein khoyi-khoyi
Meri har nazar aaj dil ki zubaan hai
12. Aap ke haseen rukh
1966
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Anjaan
Now this is pure romance. There is no doubt here, no conflict. He loves her, she returns the emotion in spades. He is not loth to tell her exactly how he feels about her, and she is more than willing to accept that quiet devotion - yes, there is an element of that - in the lyrics, in Rafi's voice, in the way Dharmendra looks at Tanuja on screen. Totally awww. All the time; and one of my perennial favourites for precisely that reason. There is something very touching about a song that asks how his it is his fault that his heart skips a beat when she is near. It is not his fault either that his beloved's sister mistakes his intentions.
Jhuki-jhuki nigaah mein bhi hain balaa ki shokhiyaan
Dabi-dabi hansi mein bhi tadap rahi hain bijliyaanShabaab aap ka nashe mein khud hi choor-choor hai
Mera dil machal gaya toh mera kya kusoor hai
Aap ki nigaah ne kaha to kuchh zaroor hai
Mera dil machal gaya toh mera kya kusoor hai
I love the way Mohammed Rafi almost caresses the notes in this song. It reminds me why, when pushed to make a choice, I always pick Rafi as my favourite male singer of all time.
So, a dozen songs; a dozen shades of love, of romance at its (to me) purest. My favourites. What are yours?
p.s. Here is the playlist, if anyone is interested.
But no malayalam,Tamil,Pahlavi,Pushtu?
ReplyDeleteI must say both of you are great romantics; you don't need to do candlelight dinner and chocolates on Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteGreat selection of songs. Phir na keeje meri gustakh nihgahi ka gila is my top favorite from the list. A small correction: the female voice is Asha Bhosle and not Lata Mnageshkar.
How about Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan? The Hemant Kumar solo is better than the Hemant-Lata duet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq_BtFLi1F4
AK
No. :) I'm more familiar with Hindi songs, and while I watch (and review) Malayalam films (and other languages), you will notice that my blog is largely devoted to Hindi films and songs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, AK. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't think how I made that mistake! I must have just skipped over the singers once I put them in. Thanks for pointing that out. I have corrected it.
Oh, I love the Hemant solo of Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan! I totally agree with you that it is much, much better than the Hemant-Lata duet. But this song has made an appearance on one too many of my song lists. It is one of my perennial favourites. So I decided to give it a miss this time. I'm so glad you linked to it, though!
OOOOO drooling over the gorgeous song right now :)
ReplyDeleteSplendid choices.
Thank you, Ava. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an impossible theme Anu! For once I wish you had imposed some of your 'autocratic and dictatorial' rules to narrow the choice. 'Love songs!' How does one even begin to make a list? But you have done it and given us a lovely glimpse into your own relationship. My best wishes to both of you.
ReplyDeleteOK, let me see if I can come up with something. Two songs with very similar mood. I have chosen them because they are not heard very often:
'Mujh ko tum jo mile' Hemant and Geeta, Mukul Roy, Detective (1958): http://youtu.be/vkQB_CgEGm4
'Tum jo hue mere hamsafar' Rafi and Geeta, O P Nayyar, 12 O' Clock (1958): http://youtu.be/LeBuNvEKHhs
Geeta figures in both songs, which is understandable - given the status of 'Geeta Dutt fanatic' conferred on me by Songs of Yore. 1958 is just a coincidence.
I could add many more, but then I wouldn't know where to stop.
Subodh, damned if I do, and damned if I don't! See, all the times I post my 'autocratic and dicatorial rules', you complain. Now, the one time, I do not post them, leaving the field wide open, you are still complaining. Tch, tch, there's just no pleasing some people! *grin*
ReplyDeleteMy husband is complaining that I'm making fun of him. I had to tell him, no, I was being perfectly nice. I even pointed my halo out.
Love the songs you posted - both of them, though I'm slightly partial to Tum jo hue mere humsafar more because of the picturisation, I must admit. Mala Sinha is not a favourite, and Waheeda definitely is! Thank you so much for the links.
Ha ha ha! Caught me on that one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely list! "Raat ke humsafar"," Isharon isharon par","Abhi na jao"," Yaad kiya dil ne","Do sitaron ka zameen par" and ". Aap ke haseen rukh" are my absolute favorites. Particularly "Raat ke humsafar" and "Abhi na jao" because of Mohammed Rafi's intoxicating voice and Asha's beautiful and melodious rendition. :" Aap ke haseen rukh" is a pleasure to the ears and its picturisation is marvellous too.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite songs on this theme are-
"Main Kahin Kavi Na Ban Jaoon "*- Pyar Hi Pyar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClNxYSahjZk
"Ye Raten Ye Mausam Nadi Ka Kinara"- Dilli Ka Thug (1958)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1-FZNskUCY
"Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandani " - Chori Chori
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIkFW78x6UA
"Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor" -Asli Naqli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRMVEXb-xI
"Dil Ki NazarSe" ---- Anari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8vDu-C7u1Q
Anu, since the love of my life is a Punjabi (let's skip over the fact that he hardly knows any Punjabi!), let me say with a toothy-grin, twinkling-eyes, very happy face Dil khush kitta! (dil khush kar diya, in case your Punjabi is even more nil than mine). I totally loved your selection of songs (and I'm doing something I do very rarely: I'm listening to the playlist. So swooningly gorgeous).
ReplyDeleteOkay, we may not have overlapped in our choice of songs for our respective posts, but I didn't mention one thing: when I first started thinking of a romantic songs post, I thought of doing just romantic songs, that's all - none of that 'moods' stuff. I gave up on the idea later, because there were just too many songs that I'd want to put on it. But among the top songs that would definitely have been on that list were Hum aur tum aur yeh samaa, Raat ke humsafar, O nigaah-e-mastaana, Udhar tum haseen ho and Yeh raat bheegi-bheegi. Surprised? ;-)
I see others have added some of the songs I like a lot when it comes to romance - Mujhko tum jo mile and Tum jo hue mere humsafar - so I'll put in a couple of others that I love. One is Na jaane kahaan tum thhe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkmFTDTSGC8
...which manages to be very romantic, despite the presence of Rajendra Kumar.
And the male version of Waadiyaan mera daaman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41LzjTuk3Ys
Anu,
ReplyDeleteI believe in your type of romance, not this expensive celebration ( and fight over the expenditure after a week you seem to be truly romantic couple, bad nazar se door raho! but , but for the day you might have not picked this topic yesterday:)
Like your playlist a lot, my personal favorite Abhi na joa chhod kar.
Whenever I think romance these 2 songs from Nuausherwan E Adil mesmerizes me(always without fail) I cannot pick one over the other.You will not like the couple but the songs compensate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvvZydgf254&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLwwi5PthHc&feature=player_embedded
I loved all the songs in the list and the ones in the comment sections. Ente kadinjool is my favourite too. I am also a romantic who's very much against overpriced gifts. My romance is more of the poetic, lyrical, musical kind. Had to make a comment on this blog when I chanced upon this, and that too by a fellow Warrier, a writer and a romantic too. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Coolone. :) I'm glad you like the list.
ReplyDeleteOf your list, I love, love, love these songse: Dil ki nazar se, Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum,and Ye raatein ye mausam. Thank you for these links.
Thank you, Madhu! *grinning madly* I'm glad you liked the list. Laughing at the thought that our lists may have overlapped quite a bit after all! And no, I can't say I'm surprised. It just reinforces my belief in life and the universe and in coincidences happening outside Hindi films. :)
ReplyDeleteDil khush kitta - I can manage that much Punjabi. :) :) I grew up with Punjabi friends. (One of them taught me a lot of swear words in Punjabi, though.)
I love Na jaane kahan tum the despite the presence of Rajendra Kumar. (Truth to tell, I didn't find him as annoying as I usually do.) A very smiley Meena Kumari made up for it. :) And Wadiyaan mera daaman I like, despite the presence of Nanda. :) I wonder if Sadhana ever thought what a disservice she did to others when she designed that tight churidar kurta. People like Nanda, Asha Parekh, et al, should never be allowed within ten miles of that garment. I actually like Nanda better when she doesn't have that silly bouffant and these 'modern' clothes. She looks really lovely with her hair loose or in a plait, dressed in a simple salwar kameez or a sari. (Only my opinion, of course.)
Thanks for the links to these two beautiful songs, Madhu.
Thank you, Ashraf. :) You are right, I may not have chosen this list if it hadn't been for the day. I am an equal-opportunity Grinch, though. I hate the commercialisation of all holidays. (Perhaps it is because I hate being told I have to do something 'because'... *grin*)
ReplyDeleteI can take both Mala Sinha and Raj Kumar in small doses. :) And both the songs you chose are lovely. Thank you for the links.
Aren't we lucky to have such a wealth of songs to choose from? Bliss!
Welcome to my blog, Sujatha, and thank you for posting a comment. I'm glad you liked the list.
ReplyDeletep.s. My husband says that it looks like all the Warriers in the world are congregating on my blog. :) Good to see you here. Do keep visiting.
:)
ReplyDeleteAnu & Suja
ReplyDeletei would add nee oru kadal sangeetham from Nayakan, the Kamal starrer - lyrics, music,rendition
hi Anu
ReplyDeletei would like to know if the Sadanand Warrier mentioned by Gautam Choudhury in salilda.com & yours are one & the same
Yup. The same same. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many, Geetha. Where does one stop? :)
ReplyDeleteI am thinking that S is right - this seems to be a Warrier meet!
ReplyDeleteI know!!! Don't let it stop you from coming here.... :)
ReplyDeleteAnuji, excellent list. Ashraf Lakhaniji’s comments express my sentiments exactly and I like the two Nausherwan e Adil songs too. Couple of links to similar lilting tunes:
ReplyDeleteSaman ke dil mein hamare (Talat, Lata; Film: Anhoni; MD: Roshan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxGl5MraPnA
Nain so nain nahi milao (Lata, Hemant; Film: Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje; MD: Basant Desai)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA1-tCrJCDQ
Do dil dhadak rahe hain (Asha Bhosle, Talat, Film: Insaaf; MD: Chitragupta)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KkW8I3Idqw
As usual an excellent selection of songs and the rest has been added by your devoted readers, it leaves me scratching my head, thinking--- ok--hmmmm--- there are several songs, surely there is something that I can contribute---- AH! (a bulb lights up and Shilpi grins) here are my songs
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNPC9p0eDE8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVehtWnQq28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5usBaF6YCXA
Thank you, Canasyaji. I appreciate the kind words. Thank you also for the links. Such beautiful songs.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your bulb lit up so well, Shilpi. *grin* Of your links, Chalo dildaar chalo is a personal favourite. Aren't we lucky to have such a lot of songs to choose from? *sigh*
ReplyDeleteye kab aaya? kal padhunga.
ReplyDeleteValentine's Day ko, my dear Harvey. So rahe the, kya? :)
ReplyDeleteHarvey, if my Dad had been here, he would have said, Kal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab!
ReplyDeleteLalitha, have you heard the procrastinator's version of that couplet?
ReplyDeleteAaj kare so kal kar, kal kare so parson
Itni jaldi kyon karein, abhi pade hain barson
:)
Thank you for putting in Do dil dhadak rahe hain. It's been years since I heard this song - so long, in fact, that just reading the title of the song didn't ring any bells. It wasn't until I began listening to the song that I realised that this was a song I used to like very much as a child.
ReplyDeleteOh, and may I hog your comments space a little more, Anu, and post two more romantic songs that I especially love? One is Chaand bhi koi deewaana hai, which I spare no opportunity to plug in wherever I can:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtlSoLhSiE
And the other is Sochke yeh gagan jhoome, from Jyoti:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVyTVJ1HeNs
Same here, Madhu. The only song I could remember that started with those words is the song from the 90s film Pardes. :) It is when I listened to the song that I realised this was a song that had always been a favourite, but had completely slipped my memory. :)
ReplyDeleteMadhu, feel free to hog my comments space all you want. :) But especially when you add this song. I first came across it when I was researching song for my post on songs beginning with Chand . As I mentioned then, it quickly became a favourite. Absolutely lovely!
ReplyDeletethat is my motto in life, Anu!
ReplyDeletesleep, that is one thing I would like to do all my life, par khambakht zamana sone hi nahin deta.
ReplyDeletebless your dad, Lalitha!
ReplyDeletethank god, he didn't know me. bechara would have got more grey hairs.
My favourite love songs? Wow!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a hard choice. hats off to you and your decision-making talent.
"I don't like Valentine's Day"
That is our age, dear Anu!
"I don't want my husband to buy me chocolates"
You can always give them to me.
"My husband promptly offered to let him take me to dinner in his place."
Sadu follows the principle of 'love thy neighbour', even if he doesn't neigh.
"In addition, S'll flirt soundly with anyone of the female persuasion... all I want to do is listen to the song!"
I don't know what you are complaining about.
"of embarrassing my husband thoroughly and completely..."
I am in a good mind to turn around and leave.
"All jokes apart..."
Okay, I'll stay!
"Hum aur tum aur woh sama..."
good one to start...
"Raat ke humsafar..."
Wow, very good!
"Isharon isharon par..."
nice, but isn't it isharon isharon me..?
"O nigahein mastana"
not bad.
"Abhi na jao chhodkar"
*swoon* yeh huyi na baat! anu jaa uthi!
"Yaad kiya dil ne kahan ke tum"
Mummy ka song. Why mummy ka song? My mum always boasted that Usha Kiran was her school-mate with such a fervour, that they msut have been langotiya yaars or whatever thing girls wear.
"Nain mile nain hue baawre"
it is more of Madhubala-Dilip chemistry than the song isn't it? my fav from this film is beimann tore nainwa.
"Phir na keeje gustakh nazar ka gila"
good, good! bahut achhe!
"Ye raat bheegi bheegi"
kya gaana hai, arre waah, mazaa aa gaya!
but I have this knack of singing "ek halka sa brush phir karo tum flush..." to the tune of "itlati hawa neelam sa gagan". Still love it! Or maybe that is why I love it.
"Udhar tum haseen ho idhar main jawaan..."
goya ke..., thik hi hai...
"aap ke haseen rukh pe..."
mar dala!
Now this is one song,which I can lsiten to for hours, okay not for hours, but quite often.
This song is the reason, why I love Rafi's voice.
This also reminds me of tumse kahoon ek baat from Dastak.
http://youtu.be/3Oqmz1pPXuU
...and also of tu mere saamne hai from Suhagan. The picturisation of the song is awful, but the song is lovely!
I talked of tumhara intezaar hai at Madhu's blog and that reminds me of ye raat ye chandani phir kahan.
BTW did you notice that I liked all the Raj Kapoor songs from your list?
It should be my motto as well, Harvey, but unfortunately, I've some sort of ADD that makes me adhere to Lalitha's father's motto instead. :( It's a pain, I tell you.
ReplyDeleteSachi-muchi! The story of my life, as usual. :(
ReplyDelete"I don't want my husband to buy me chocolates"
ReplyDeleteYou can always give them to me.
Darling Harvey, if he doesn't buy them for me, how can I give them to you? If you can get him to buy them for you, you may keep them with my love. :)
"In addition, S'll flirt soundly with anyone of the female persuasion... all I want to do is listen to the song!"
I don't know what you are complaining about.
You mean, my long paragraph of complaint didn't cause you to have any sympathy for me? :(
Yes, I noticed that you liked all the RK songs. I absolutely love you. :) :) (Though I'm not too sure of the parody of Ye raat bheegi bheegi...)
And yes, *groan* how did I make that mistake? It is Isharon isharon mein Scurrying off to correct it. Thank you!
That is a good list you've rustled up, Anu. As usual you've sifted out some real favourites of mine. Raising one of them cribs.
ReplyDeleteDid you miss this one or.....? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRbBORKhGYg -
Poetry on the screen - Guru Dutt, Cinematographers (Nariman Irani & V.K Murthy - brilliant in how they showed a million shades of dark) , Waheeda Rahman (who thankfully is just expected to lie down looking ethereal), Rafi, in a master-class rendition and Ravi the music director. Am yet to see a more perfect song of love (Silsila, yeh kahaan aa gaye hum comes quite close)
And then, Isharon Isharon as well as Aap ki haseen rukh are superb choices, I concur.
Then again, you've missed out two of my favourites from Khamoshi - Tum Pukar Lo as well as Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb.
We could go on and on about this list....like the definitions and preferences of love; this too is 'to each his own'. Wish you a happy V-day ;)
I just loved Tumse Kahoon....thank you for introducing it to me. And yes, one can put this once on infinite repeat. Love Lori, superb! It cannot be anyone but Rafi here.
ReplyDeleteI didn't 'miss' anything, Boby. :) I just made my list. And I'm leaving the comments open for everyone to add their own favourites. :) I love Chaudhvin ka chand ho, but somehow I have never thought of it as a 'love' song. It's too dratted devotional for that!
ReplyDeleteSo also, I love Tum pukar lo but have you seen the picturisation?! Nothing romantic about it! It's so sadly frightening almost! I don't know into what genre I would put that or Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi either. But neither are going to boost romance in me. :)
Yes, it is beautiful, isn't it? I hadd used it in my Sensuous Songs post.
ReplyDeleteOhh, my absolute favorite is missing from this list. "Jalte hain jis ke liye..." oh dreamy.
ReplyDeleteThat is why the comments are there, Lakshmi, so you can add your favourites. :) I'm glad you posted it, I like it too.
ReplyDeleteHow on earth did I miss this? But miss it I did, till this moment when it seems that the world is drenched in rain and romance is in the air. Only my husband is enjoying his sunday afternoon nap (nap?, he's fathoms deep) and after all for true romance I have to turn to Rafi, Hemant Kumar, and their ilk. However it's very satisfying. Maybe an addition I would have opted for is "Tere ankhon ke siva duniya mein rakha kya hai?" I'm not really sure why but that song always turns me into pure mush.
ReplyDelete:) Sounds familiar to me, Nalini. I'm glad you found your way to this post after all. :) One easy way to look through these posts is to go to the tabs on the top of the page - click on Old Hindi songs, and it will give you all the themed lists, the singers' lists, etc. Click on Films and it will give you all my reviews, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI purposefully left the post wide open without what Subodh calls my 'autocratic and dictatorial rules' just so that readers could put in their choices of romantic songs. For who knows what each one finds romantic? There are so many other songs as well that I find romantic. But I had to draw the line somewhere. :) I'm glad you posted it here. Here is the video as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InoD-N-hntY