Today, on the occasion of Nanda’s birthday, here is a different kind of post; Nanda and her eight different voices. If you were a leading actress in the 60s and 70s, like Nanda, you could spend your entire career without having had lip-synced to anybody but Lata and Asha’s voice. Since Lata had that tiff with Rafi, it could be possible that Suman Kalyanpur also lent her voice to you in a duet with him. Thus, it is amazing to see that Nanda moved her lips to eight singers in her short career.
Today is also Madhu-Dustedoff’s birthday. So here is to both of your birthdays!!
Asha Bhosle
betaab nigahon se mujhe dekhne walo – Nartaki [1963]
MD: Ravi; Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni
There are more beautiful songs than these by Asha for Nanda, so you might ask, why I chose this one. For one, this has Nanda in quite an unusual role for her and that of a tawaif, a courtesan. This is not a role, which one normally associates with her. Moreover, though she gives her best, all the thumkas and nakhras just don’t look natural on her. But as far as I know this is the only role, which you find her doing all these things.
Geeta Dutt
gunahao ka chirag jal na sakega – Agra Road [1957]
MD: Roshan; Lyricist: Prem Dhawan; Co-singer: Mohd. Rafi & Geeta Dutt
I personally think, that Geeta’s mournful voice would have suited Nanda perfectly. But it seems that this is the only song, where Geeta gave playback to her. I would have preferred a more lively or a more sad song. This is also the only song, where Nanda came anywhere near Shamshad Begum’s voice.
If you, my dear readers, should find any songs by Geeta Dutt or Shamshad Begum for Nanda, I would love to listen to them.
Lata Mangeshkar
mile to phir jhuke nahin – Akashdeep [1965]
MD: Chitragupta; Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Lata gave Nanda her most songs. Not very unusual, this must be true for all the heroines of that era. The fact that Lata could imitate people helped her give each actress her individual note.
To choose one song from this vast collection was hard for me. That is why I took one song, which was not in the Nanda birthday post last year.
Sharda
jaan-e-chaman shola badan – Gumnaam [1965]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan; Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri; Co-singer: Mohd. Rafi
Some like Sharda’s voice, some don’t. I belong to the latter category. Nevertheless she gives the song the necessary sultriness. As far as I know this is the only song, where Sharda gave playback to Nanda.
Sudha Malhotra
na main dhan chahoon – Kala Bazaar [1960]
MD: S. D.Burman; Lyricist: Shailendra: Co-singer: Geeta Dutt
At the beginning of her career, Nanda seemed to have been doomed to be slotted in sister roles. Toofan aur Diya [1956], Bhabhi [1957], Dulhan [1958], Chhoti Behen [1959] and Kala Bazaar [1960] were such films. Fortunately though she could come out of this mould and get better and bigger roles.
Sudha Malhotra’s soft voice suits Nanda’s persona very well. A pity that she didn’t get more singing assignments.
Suman Kalyanpur
theriye hosh me aa loo – Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain [1965]
MD: Khaiyyam; Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
There are other songs, where Suman Kalyanpur gives playback to Nanda, but none matches in beauty (for me) as this one.
Usha Mangeshkar
pike ham tum jo chale – Gumnaam [1965]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan; Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri
There are very few Usha Mangeshkar songs in Hindi, in which she gives playback to the lead actress and still fewer songs, where she sings for the lead actress, while her more famous and succesful sister sings for the supporting actress. In this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Nanda has an unusual role of being a murder suspect.
Vani Jairam
zindagi me aap aaye – Chhalia [1973]
MD: R. D. Burman; Lyricist: Rajinder Krishan; Co-singer: Mukesh
Most of you might not even have heard of this movie. I know only the songs, thus don’t know much of the content. From other songs it looks as if Navin Nischol is a philanderer, thus most probably reformed by Nanda. The other songs from this song are good.
Dear Nanda, wish you a happy birthday and wish you many more healthy and peaceful years of life ahead! Thank you for the beautiful cinematic moments you have gifted us!
Harveypam's Blog 
ASHOK M VAISHNAV
January 8, 2013 at 8:00 am
I also join in wishing a very Meaningfully Happy Birthday to Madhulikaji.
May I add one more voice here:
Neend Ud Jaayegi Teri – Juaari – Kalyanji Anandji – http://youtu.be/S3VXHgODwEY – The first part of the song is by Kamal Barot (by Naaz on screen) whereas second part is taken over by Suman Kalyannpur (Tanuja on the screen) and third part is by Krishan Bose (Nanda on screen). – Incidentally I had marked up this song for an article on Mubarak Begum on Songs of Yore. What a (set) of Happy Coincidences.
harveypam
January 8, 2013 at 5:13 pm
I thought about that song too Ashokji. It is a beautiful song indeed! I like it a lot! But like Karhtik has pointed out, Suman Kalyanpur is singing for Nanda, Mubarak Begum for Tanuja and Krishna Bose for Naaz.
Looking forward to your list of Mubarak Begum!
chitrapatsangeet
January 9, 2013 at 5:48 am
Alas, you mixed it up even further :-)), Suman sang for Nanda, Mubarak Begum for Naaz and KB for Tanuja.
harveypam
January 9, 2013 at 9:15 am
I stand corrected! Thank you Karthik!
dustedoff
January 9, 2013 at 6:28 am
Thank you, Ashokji!
dustedoff
January 8, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Thank you, Harvey – both for the greetings, and for this unusual post! This was such a refreshing way of looking at Nanda’s songs. It had never occurred to me that so many playback singers have sung for her. I especially love Na main dhan chaahoon (it suits her too, doesn’t it?). Jaan-e-chaman shola badan is a good song too, but I am among the Sharda-haters.
harveypam
January 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm
I am glad that you liked the post Madhu!
Once again best wishes!
Well, it all started with that Vani Jairam song from Chhalia and then Gumnaam came along and one thing led to the other and the post was ready.
I also think Asha would have been good for jaan-e-chaman but then Nanda would have had only seven voices. But Sharda´s different timbre did add variety to the 60s female voice landscape.
chitrapatsangeet
January 8, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Great post Harvey and a very happy birthday Madhu!
Ashokji I get a strange feeling that Suman sang for Nanda in the song in Juaari.
chitrapatsangeet
January 8, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Reminds me that I need to start blogging again!:)
harveypam
January 8, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Would love to read your posts Karthik!
dustedoff
January 9, 2013 at 6:30 am
Thank you, Karthik! And yes, please do get back to blogging! Everyday I check your blog, only to see the AVM post. 😦
harveypam
January 9, 2013 at 9:16 am
I second it!
ASHOK M VAISHNAV
January 20, 2013 at 8:56 am
I third support Karthik to go blogging and keep on….
harveypam
January 20, 2013 at 9:56 am
Yay!
harveypam
January 8, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Welcome back Karthik! Nice to have you back! Thank you!
I also agree with you that Suman sang for Nanda in neend ud jaaye teri.
coolone160
January 8, 2013 at 3:46 pm
One of my favorites of her is from Abhilasha
harveypam
January 8, 2013 at 5:20 pm
This is also one of MY favs coolone! Lata, Nanda and Pancham in one song! It featured in my list for Nanda last year!
coolone160
January 8, 2013 at 5:37 pm
🙂 Thanks for the link !
S. Israr Ali
January 9, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Really great! Happy birthday (8 Jan 2013) to Great Heroine Nanda and my Best wishes to her for happier, healthier and most prosperous life ahead! I wish to dedicate one of my most favourite songs graced by the Great Heroine on her
harveypam
January 9, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Since the link you have posted above leads one nowhere, I have deleted it
S. Israr Ali
January 9, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Really sorry Harvey! It might have happened due to ban here on YouTube.com nowadays. Any how the link below I have doubly checked which lead to the song – Tum humein pyaar karo ya na karo – Nanda graced in her wonderful movie – Kaisey Kahoon. It is one of my most favourite songs which I wanted to share as a tribute to her fine exquisite performance and wonderful feminish eastern beauty –
S, Israr Ali
January 10, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Madhur song – “Tum Hamain Piyar Karo Ya Na Karo, Hum Tumhen Piyar Kiyay Jayen Gey…”
from beautiful movie – KAISE KAHOON – on this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSFdLhvGpfs.
Sorry for giving wrong link again and again. Now I am sure above is correct link.
harveypam
January 11, 2013 at 9:16 pm
It is okay!
S. Israr Ali
January 9, 2013 at 7:40 pm
I really thank you Harvey for appreciating and referring me to Nanda’s 2013 site. I wonder if this would be the appropriate place for offering and recording Birth Day Greetings to her which I earlier posted on her 2012 Birth Day site. You are correct I derived it from her beautiful movie Parivar –
Aaj hai 8 January ka din
Aaj ka din hai bara mahan
Aaj key din ek phool khila tha
Jis sey mehka sara jahan
Naam hai us kanwal ka anmol Nanda
Ley key aye woh Devi piyar wa ulfat ka pegham
Jiske janam sey chamka hai sara jahan!
I greatly rejoice, fondly celebrate Happy Birth Day of my beloved Heroine Nanda and most sincerely convey my Best Wishes to her on this auspicious occasion.
Wishing you, adoring Great NANDA, a day (8 Jan 2013) that is as special in every way as you are and may your birthday be filled with many happy hours, fine roses and pleasant fragrances and your life with many happy birthdays and joys. Happy Birthday Dearest!!
Aap Zinda Rahain Hazaar Baras
Har Baras Key Din Hoan Pachas Hazaar!
harveypam
January 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm
hear, hear!
And may she enjoy every day of the hazar baras!
Anu Warrier
January 9, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Good to see a post from you, Harvey. Nanda does not usually feature among my favourite actors, but there were some films where he sweetness grated less on me than others. 🙂 (I positively detested her ‘Western’ avatars, since she was one person who really could not carry off the attire.) It’s an interesting concept – I didn’t know she had so many singers singing playback for her. (Count me in among the Sharda-haters too, though again, I did like Jaane chaman; I keep wondering how it would have sounded if an Asha or a Geeta had sung it instead.
Happy Birthday to Nanda; I hope she has a great year ahead.
harveypam
January 9, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Thanks Anu!
I agree with you on many points you have mentioned, dear Anu. Nevertheless, Nanda comes across to me as a genuinely sweet person and more importantly very natural in her roles. Thus she is one of my favs. Sharda’s voice is also not one of my favs. There were times, where I just couldn’t stand her voice, With age, it seems, I have mellowed! Not that I like her voice any better, but I don’t turn off the player.
Happy Birthday to Nanda!
Anu Warrier
January 10, 2013 at 1:24 am
I do agree that Nanda comes across as a genuinely nice person; in any case, she was warm and friendly in person. I must admit I like the person off screen almost as much as I disliked her on screen. So my wishes for her are genuinely felt. (I still cannot say that I like Sharda, but you must be happy with one out of two.)
harveypam
January 11, 2013 at 9:14 pm
That was a nice thing to say Anu!
I would be happy with you even if you choose none out of the two!
Thanks all the same!
thandapani
January 11, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Sweet sweet Nanda. Always liked her. It is very khoji of you to discover so many playback singers for Nanda. I must say I like all these songs. You KNOW how I love thehriye hosh me .. 😀
Happy Birthday to Nanda and Madhu. Hamari priya saheliyan. 😉
harveypam
January 11, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Thanks Ava for the nice words! Nanda WAS sweet, wasn’t she?
I was thinking of you when I decided upon thehriye hosh me aau. Such a charming song!
Nanda-Madhu, kya jodi hai! sachi ki pyari saheliyan!
thandapani
January 12, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Ha ha! Haan. They are both sweet and they both entertain us. One with her acting, the other with her blogs and books.
I must admit I like Madhu much more than I like Nanda.
harveypam
January 13, 2013 at 12:09 am
Well, Madhu apne jagah, Nanda apne jagah! No comparison! 🙂
Chris
January 11, 2013 at 8:33 pm
I like this song of Nanda, even though she is not singing it. I was crazy enough to like the ‘picturisation’ as a kid. 🙂 Also my first introduction to both RK and Nanda.
also,
Shashi also tried to copy Shammi Kapoor?
a rare song ,Is that the 4th unknown brother of Sanjay Khan by any chance? looks like him and was called Samir.
harveypam
January 11, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Wonderful choices Chris! Love all the songs there!
gulabi aankhen is quite an athletic song, no? Samir has written an interesting blog post on it. Wonder where he is right now? I have forgotten where it is, I’ll ask him and then post the link to it! It is simply hilarious!
Such an outrageous choreography to such a nice song kabhi tera daaman na todenge ham isn’t it? In the 60s I think except for the trinity, everyone was copying Shammi.
bheegi huyi is raat kaa aanchal is a fabulous song, isn’t it? So cool and sexy avatar of Nanda! I included that song in my fav Nanda solos birthday-post last year!
Am eternally grateful for posting teri ankhiyan meri ankhiyan! Hadn’t heard this song ever before! Such a lovely song! RDB the composer, no wonder! The film must have been long in making! Yeah, it is Samir Khan. Same guy, who also starred in Gomti ke Kinare,w hich had some fabulous songs by RDB
Here is one:
Samir
January 16, 2013 at 5:26 am
BTW, this Chris is admirably filling in for me, he even found a Sameer Khan song 🙂
harveypam
January 16, 2013 at 11:03 am
Yeah Samir, this is waht comes from you taking sanyaas from 70s masala fare!
“he even found a Sameer Khan song”
He unearthed it in fact!
Chris
January 21, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Rajendra Kumar did not copy Shammi Kapoor. neither did the other ‘Kumars’ like Raaj ,Pradeep, or Ashok Kumar (they were still ‘heroes’ in the 60s). and ofcourse Dharmendra.
Thanks for that song from ‘Gomti ke kinare’ 🙂 I only knew that film as being Meena Kumari’s last.
harveypam
January 22, 2013 at 10:24 pm
I was just generalising a bit. You are right! But most of the new comers did try to ape Shammi K.
I’m glad that I could introduce to that song from Gomti Ke Kinare. I still remember, when I heard the song for the first time! I was amazed at this unusual composition!
Shalini
January 15, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Nanda is a little too weepy for my tastes, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating the many wonderful songs she’s been a part of. One of them being your Lata pick for her – mile to phir jhuke nahi which has long been a favorite of mine. Such a light and graceful composition.
Although not in quite the same league, another Lata-Nanda number that’s become an ear-worm is “Aao karen baatein” from Naya Nasha:
Agree on “theriye hosh meina aa loo” being the best Suman K. song on Nanda. My second choice would be “Manmohan man mein ho tumhi” from Kaise Kahoon:
I have to admit, the Nartaki song doesn’t do it for me.:-) Nanda just can’t pull off the coquette act. She’s far more convincing as the reluctant and sedate prostitute in the magnificient Asha ghazal “kabhi kissiko muqammal jahan nahi milta” from Ahista Ahista:
The alternative Asha pick for me would be the utterly sweet and charming “Gaa rahi hai zindagi har taraf bahar mein” from Aanchal
harveypam
January 15, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Nanda did get many weepy roles. But in the ones, where she didn’t have like in Ittefaq, she was superb.
Love aao kare baatein! A really superb composition by Sapan Chakravarty. The influence of his mentor is noticeable!
I was in two minds if to take manmohan man me or thehriye hos me aa loon, but took the latter because of its sensuality and in the former she has to compete with Manna AND Rafi, the poor thing! Thus, I’m glad you put it up here.
Kabhi kisi ko muqamal is a wonderful song and I had put it in my last year birthday post for Nanda, that is why I didn’t consider it for this post, though I’d qualms of leaving it out. https://harveypam.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/happy-birthday-nanda/
Good Asha songs for Nanda, which I like a lot is Mujhe Gale Se Laga Lo – Aaj Aur Kal [1963]
and
Bheegi Hui Is Raat Ka Aanchal Kehta Hai – Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare [1966]
Nanda doing a hare krishna hare ram in Naya Nasha
Nevertheless I like gaa rahi hai zindagi, it will be useful for me in a similar post soon! Thanks Shalini
Samir
January 16, 2013 at 5:23 am
One of my New Year resolutions was to be a better person and NOT lead with a Masala 70’s song, so here is a perfectly sedate (but nice) 60’s one from Juaari.
See, I finally found one that had not yet been posted; I even went back and checked your earlier Nanda post 🙂
I found another one, Not a 70’s, but still chalu Masala (anything with Jeetendra has to be)
Now that New Year Resolutions are out of the way, how about —
I know you wanted another with Rajesh Khanna, but this one is just that touch more sedate.
Finally just to prove I have not become senile 😉
harveypam
January 16, 2013 at 11:01 am
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Samir without his 70s Masala songs in the new year! That is the saddest news to reach me in 2013!
But if it means spawning good songs like hamsafar ab yeh safar kat jaayega, I can’t really complain. But I’ll miss the 70s masala Samir! One of the few (meanwhile growing list of) Mukesh songs, which I like!
“I even went back and checked your earlier Nanda post :)”
That shows your meticulousness coupled with empathy! Great!
though I did mention it in my comments, but the video is not visible, so you’re forgiven! 😉
How right you are about Jeetendra and chaluness. Big exceptions being his collaboration with Gulzar. Jeetendra chalu ka chalu hi rahega even when he played the family patriarch in the 80s!
Any song of his gets a double entendre aura! 😀
Another Rajesh Khanna song would have been great! But it seems you just don’t want to humour me this time! 😉
So I’ll supply one myself:
The Tree-Theory comes into full practice in that Rootha Na Karo song. And it is a good case against your senility! After all it proves so many theories of Hindi film songs picturisations for e.g., the necessity of snowy mountains in the 60s. And not to forget the trees!
Thanks for your wonderfully amusing comment Samir!
Songs Of Yore
January 21, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Harvey, Nanda and Na Na (Nyet nyet) to Na na karte pyar tumhi se kar baithe? Or are you keeping it for ‘Nana’ (mother’s father) songs?
harveypam
January 22, 2013 at 10:29 pm
😀
Is that a farmaish? But dear AK, I don’t know any Nana songs. Neither Nana (mother’s father) nor Nana (Palsikar) songs! Maybe Nana Patekar songs, but I don’t know if it is up my alley.
🙂
Richard S.
January 26, 2013 at 5:59 am
Sorry to have come to this post so late… I had completely forgotten that January 8 was Nanda’s birthday. (I remembered that it was Madhu’s and also David Bowie’s. And a few days later, I was reminded that it was Elvis’s birthday too…)
And, wow, you found eight voices for Nanda! This is a well-informed post – as always. I am not that knowledgeable of Nanda… Not that I don’t like her, just haven’t paid her as much attention as other actresses from the period (and you probably know who 🙂 )… Anyway, curiously, in the Nanda films that have stuck most in my mind, Lata did the singing…
I like this duet with Lata on Nanda and Geeta Dutt on Satish Vyas in Toofan Aur Diya:
harveypam
January 26, 2013 at 8:39 pm
There is no such thing as coming to a post late Richard.
Eight voices for Nanda is good, isn’t it? But I still have this nagging thought, that I have overlooked something. Nevermind, this is just a blog post and not a doctoral thesis.
Nanda doesn’t feature much in the 50s, thus she is not much in your radar range and moreover she was not famous for her dances, though she was a trained (kathak?) dancer.
Here is an interesting article from 1953 about her dancing skills from cineplot.com
http://cineplot.com/vintage-tidbits-nanda-with-her-elder-sister-meena-1953/
And another on her friendship with Waheeda Rehman
http://cineplot.com/nanda-waheeda-rehman-being-friends/
V. Shantaram’s stable being nearer to your heart, Toofan Aur Diya is the obvious link to Nanda for you!
I saw that movie, long long time back on DD and remember that it was a very weepy story.
Thanks for the info on David Bowie, Richard!
Shilpi Bose
January 26, 2013 at 2:49 pm
I am late as usual, what is new, I am either late or am too short of time to post a comment and it doesn’t help much that I have 2 blogs to manage. This is an excellent post, frankly quite a unique idea. Your choice of Aakash Deep for Lata is spot on. I have to confess I am partial to the songs from my father’s films and I just love this from Aakash Deep. There is another beautiful composition by Salil Chowdhury from Usne Kaha Tha
harveypam
January 26, 2013 at 8:48 pm
As I just wrote to Richard, there is no such thing as coming late to a post. Comments are always welcome, even if the post is years old! 🙂
I have enough work managing one blog, I can imagine it must be very difficult to manage two. I am glad you liked the post and its theme.
We conversed about Nanda-Akashdeep-TarunBose in my last post on Nanda. A pity, that they didn’t share screen space in the movie. But in Usne Kahan Tha, they were much more nearer, playing husband and wife. The song above is one of my favs to be filmed on Nanda
Wonder if any anecdote from this film will come in your post on Bimal Roy.
Thanks Shilpi!
Shilpi Bose
January 30, 2013 at 7:31 am
Harvey Usne Kaha Tha is anecdotes galore, if I may put it that way. Yes of course I will feature those in my blog, only thing there will be long gaps between posts. I have already started on Bimal Roy and believe me it is a huge task but I am enjoying it.
harveypam
January 30, 2013 at 8:58 am
The trailer (Usne Kaha Tha is anecdotes galore) makes me look forward to your next article. I wholly trust you, when you say that it is a huge task and good to know you are enjoying it.
Thank you for your good work!
zishaan bhati
January 15, 2014 at 8:00 am
Your knowledge and memory of old Hindi films are amazing
harveypam
January 15, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Thank you zishaan! That is very kind of you!