My ten favourite moon songs
Tomorrow is full moon and we all know what it does … ahem…, to the lovers. No wonder that the moon features in so many songs. It also has different roles in it. The moon is at times the messenger, at times it is an intruder, sometimes it is a catalyst or also be addressed as the beloved him or herself. It can be different things, but one thing is for sure, it doesn’t leave the lovers cold and nor it does me.
The moon songs genre belongs to one of my favourites. There are so many songs with chaand in it, that it is really very difficult to choose ten. So I had to use the following criteria:
1. The songs have to blatantly call out to the moon.
2. Not included are comparisons with moon (so, no chaudhvin ka chaand ho),
3. nor indirect allusions to the moon (no o jaanewale chaand…),
4. nor mere confirmation of its presence (no chaand akela jaye sakhi ri),
5. nor be a lullaby (no chandaa o chandaa kisne churayi).
So here are my favourite 10 ‘chaand’ songs (in chronological order) from Hindi cinema.
Chandaa desh piya ke jaa – Bhartruhari (1944)
MD: Khemchand Prakash, Lyrics: Pt. Indra Chandra, Singer: Ameerabai Karnataki
Here it seems that the lady in question would like to send the moon as a combination of courier and US Marine and not only tell him about her sad condition but also bring him back. Tall order I would say!
But when I listen to Ameerabai Karnataki’s soulful rendition, the only excuse I can allow for the moon not doing her bidding is, that he wants to continue to listen to her.
Chandaa re jaa re jaa re – Ziddi (1948)
MD: Khemchand Prakash, Lyrics: Prem Dhawan, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
This is from the time before emails and facebook and even before the land line telephone. When one doesn’t have any contact with your lover and no carrier pigeons, the moon is the lone messenger, who can carry your message. Kamini Kaushal before she graduated to Maa roles lip-syncing to Lata’s flawless rendition. Is it only me or does the prelude reminds you also of the prelude to ‘aayega aanewala’.
Dam bhar jo udhar munh phere – Awaara (1951)
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singers: Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh
Well, nobody, well nearly nobody, likes to have a voyeur, when you are together with your beloved. Here it is no different with Nargis, she doesn’t even want the moon to be there when she is making love.
Raj Kapoor and Nargis, the romantic couple of the early 50s, seen here at the height of their relationship. The chemistry between the pair is so palpable, that one can’t but feel like a voyeur and look away like the moon is being asked to.
Dheere dheere chal chaand gagan me – Love Marriage (1959)
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri, Singers: Mohd. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
Dev and Mala don’t seem to want the night to end so soon and are begging the moon to take it easy this night. They are knocking on the wrong door I would say, after all the morning doesn’t come when the moon sets, but when the sun rises. Ha! But I remain completely mystified as to their programme for the extended night. The way they are scurrying around like rabbits, maybe they just want to play ‘pakda-pakdi’ (play tag).
Dheere dheere dhal re chanda – Angulimaal (1960)
MD: Anil Biswas, Lyrics: Bharat Vyas, Singer: Aarti Mukherji
We have again somebody, who is trying to hold off the night by asking the moon to travel slowly. This time she would like to fulfil her childhood dreams! That must be some dreams!
Aarti Mukherjee singing under Anil Biswas’ direction! What a song and why is it not so well-known? The film Angulimaal seems to have more such gems. Sad, that it is not more popular.
Chanda jaa, chanda jaa re jaa – Manmauji (1962)
MD: Madan Mohan, Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lata is again on a moon mission. Beautiful Sadhana, after arriving at the meeting place realises that her paramour is missing with only the moon present. She sends the moon on a search mission. I am just wondering if Kishore Kumar is really moon-faced as Sadhana implies in the song.
Jaa jaa re chanda jaa re – Private Secretary (1962)
MD: Dilip Dholakia, Lyrics:Prem Dhawan, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Jayshree Gadkar feels that the moon is jeering at her and making fun of her. She feels very miserable as it is, since Ashok Kumar isn’t there. It is quite a refreshing change from her most Tamasha-Songs for which she became famous in the Marathi Cinema.
A gem of a song from the music director Dilip Dholakia, from whom I know only this movie. His son, Rajat Dholakia, followed him in his footsteps.
Ruk ja raat theher jaa re chandaa – Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
For a change these are not fresh young lovers, pining for each other. They are celebrating their second suhaag-raat. Meena Kumari is trying to hold off time, because Raaj Kumar is to undergo a surgery the next day at the hands of her ex-lover. Very melodramatic, but is effective all the same!
When this song used to come on Chayya Geet on Bombay DD, I always used to think that she is singing this song, because he has to leave for the war next day.
Aye chaand zaraa chup jaa – Laatsaab (1967)
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singer: Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi
We have again moonlight-shy lovers. No, she doesn’t want the moon to hide itself for obvious reasons but to be able to say (!) something.
Nutan and Shammi Kapoor come together again after 7 years interval in this film, their last film being Basant in 1960 and the one before that, again 7 years back in Laila Majnu in 1953.
Having had heard Asha in this song, I had always thought that this is O. P. Nayyar’s composition, though the sound is surely S-J-like. Wonder why they didn’t take Lata or Sharda?
Chanda re chanda kabhi to zameen par aa – Sapnay (1997)
MD: A R Rahman, Lyrics: Javed Akhtar, Singers: Hariharan & Sadhna Sargam
Well, if in the 40s, 50s and 60s the moon was asked to turn away or go on some errands, in the 90s he is being asked to alight from the heavens to the earth and that also for a chat!
As they say, the times, they are changing!
A. R. Rahman’s won the silver lotus with the score for this movie and deservingly so!
So which are your favourite moon songs? They don’t have to fit my criteria, they were just there to help me to reduce the list to ten.
Harveypam's Blog 
dustedoff
May 17, 2011 at 6:57 am
Awesome list, harvey – though I must admit a couple of those old songs were new to me, including the one from Angoolimaal, which was absolutely awesome – it certainly deserves to be better known! And I really thought the criteria you’d imposed to restrict your list made loads of sense – otherwise the number of songs about the moon that have been sung in Hindi cinema would’ve gone into the hundreds. And some lovely ones, too. Offhand, the ones that I really like (though they don’t conform to your rules) are:
Woh chand khila, from Anari:
Nutan again, in very different mood; this is from Paying Guest:
An awesome song, from Apna Ghar Apni Kahaani; I’ve loved it from the first time I saw it:
And Dev Anand, in Kala Bazaar:
Finally, one song which DOES address the moon – as messenger, but unusually, not between lovers:
harveypam
May 17, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Thanks dustedoff!
Angulimaal has a very nice score. and I just love that song Dheere dheere dhal re chandaa. Pity that Anil Biswas didn’t score music for more Hindi films in the 60s. And amzing rediscovery for me was Ameerabai karnataki’s Chandaa desh piya ke jaa. I can’t remember where I’d heard it. Was it an old record of a friend’s uncle or radio? Anway I’d nearly forgotten about it, till I saw it on you tube few days ago.
Woh chaand khila is a nice song but Raj Kapoor spoils it for me. Chaand phir nikla is THE moon song for me. I’d it on an audio cassette in my teens.
Chaand bhi koi deewana hai… what an unusual melody! Who is the MD?
Lovely song! I listened to it already twice!
Khoya khoya chand…! A wonderful song. I just adore it. But somehow till my teens, I’d always thought that it means cheesy moon (cheese = khoya). My mum always used to complaint how expensive khoya ha become and thus I thought something so expensive can only be a compliment for the moon (and the night).
Mere bhaiyya ko sandesha reminds of the tradition in Maharashtra that girls, who don’t have brothers, regard the moon as their brother on Bhau Bhij (also callen Bhai duuj in the north) on the fourth day of Diwali.
dustedoff
May 18, 2011 at 7:33 am
Heh! I can imagine you thinking Khoya-khoya chaand had something to do with khoya! Actually, I like listening to that song more than watching it – Dev Anand’s antics as he lopes about, with his arms swinging bonelessly, get on my nerves. That is also one of the reasons I like listening to Woh chaand khila – no RK to see!
That’s an interesting little tidbit about Bhau Bhij – didn’t know it!
harvey
May 18, 2011 at 1:23 pm
I find Dev tolerable in Kala Bazaar. At times his loping about even appears charming to my eyes. But RK…, chhod do, bekaar ki baate!
dustedoff
May 18, 2011 at 1:36 pm
😀 😀
dustedoff
May 18, 2011 at 11:16 am
BTW: The MD of Apna Ghar Apni Kahani was N Dutta, one of the mostly underrated MDs of yesteryears.
harvey
May 18, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Wasn’t it you who wanted to make a list of underrated music directors of the 50s and 60s? N. Dutta would surely lead the list along with Chitragupta.
Isn’t that symptomatic, that of 50s and 60s one can make a list of underrated music directors while for the 80s and 90s one can only make a list of over-rated MDs.
dustedoff
May 18, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Yes, Karthik had suggested that I do a list of underrated MDs, and I’d thought of it myself too – have got a rough list ready, and yes, N Dutta is certainly on it. He was really good – should have received much more recognition. I wouldn’t actually put Chitragupt on the list, because many more people know about him and his work than, for example, Iqbal Qureshi or Lachhiram.
So many ideas for lists, so many movies to watch and review… so little time!
harvey
May 18, 2011 at 1:57 pm
I know Iqbal Qureshi but Lachhiram is totally a new name to me. Eagerly looking forward to your MD post, which is surely challenging if you stick to your rule of watching at least one film pro MD.
Speaking of underrated MD, I think one should include Dilip Dholakia as well. I liked his score for Private Secretary.
Try this:
Samir
May 19, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Well Said.
harvey
January 16, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Thank you Samir!
Richard S.
May 18, 2011 at 9:24 pm
I love this list, Harvey! I assumed at first that the song from Awara would be my favorite (as it has been one of my favorites for a while), but after hearing the song from Bhartruhari, I’m not sure. And all the others are so good too…
I see that you included lots of lovely Lata. So I am wondering, what about “So Gaya Sara Zamana”? (So beautiful to look at as well as listen to…)
Most of my other favorites that refer to or address the moon come from across the northern border and are sung by the same woman (and there are lots of those, actually). I thought I’d give you this “Chanda Re Chanda”…
Dustedoff, that’s a good list too. “Chand Bhi Koi…” is my favorite of those (though I didn’t know of it until you posted it here).
harvey
May 19, 2011 at 12:42 am
I’m glad you like the list, Richard! 🙂
Isn’t the song from Bhartruhari good! Wow! I’m completely bowled over, every time I listen to it. Teh song from Miss Mary is totally new to me. It has such a soothing sound, more like a luulaby. I’ll be soon making a list of my fav hindi film loris (Lullabies).
“the moon come from across the northern border”
That is why I find your posts on Pakistani films so fascinating and since I know next to nothing about them
I am most of the time speechless. Noorjehan’s Chanda re chanda is a nice song. But what has happened to the beautiful heavy voice of hers from Anmol Ghadi, here. It sounds so watered down!
From which year is this? Is it only my ears? Or does it have anything to do with development of the general preference of the audience for female voice? Lata’s voice also changed a lot from the late 40s to the 50s and even after that. But since I grew up with it, maybe the difference isn’t so glaring to me. I am really very eager to know your opinion on this.
There is this Anarkali song (to which you introduced me) also with chanda in it “Bawari chakori kare duniya se chori chanda pyar”, which I adore!
dustedoff
May 19, 2011 at 6:23 am
@Richard: Yes, Chand bhi koi deewana hai is a wonderful song, isn’t it? – though hardly known. I found out about it when I was a kid. Doordarshan – our only TV channel back then – happened to show this one on one of their film song programmes, and it just so happened that we had a recordable VHS cassette in the recorder… and learnt it soon enough to be able to sing it all the way through!
pacifist
May 18, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I love chand songs..mostly.
Talking of Miss Mary, there’s another ‘chand’ song there which satisfies the criteriion set.
Miss Mary had some lovely songs.
harvey
May 19, 2011 at 12:48 am
Pacifist, I love chand songs a lot as well and that is why it was so hard to boil my list down to 10.
In fact ‘o raat ke musafir’ (you are right, what a metaphor!) nearly made it to the list but had to make place for the Laatsaab song. Maybe it was my weakness for Asha’s voice or the fact that I was over exposed to ‘o raat ke musafir’ in my childhood, that made me take it out. But I am already regretting it.
That is why I’m grateful to you for including it in your comment, thus it does make it to the this post.
pacifist
May 18, 2011 at 10:58 pm
BTW I like the reference to ‘chand’ as ‘Raat ke musafir’. 🙂
dustedoff
May 19, 2011 at 6:26 am
@Harvey: Loved that song from Private secretary! So peppy, and such delightful lyrics too. 🙂
harvey
May 19, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I realised afterwards that in fact I wanted to send you the video of jaa re beimaan. But am glad you enjoyed this one too!
pacifist
May 19, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I’m still on the ‘chaand’ trip, and when a song plays in my head I come over to link it. 🙂
This song from Shaarda has 2 lovely ladies, Meena Kumari, and Shyama adressing the moon with directions to it about what it should do regarding their lovers.:-D
harveypam
May 19, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Oh, pacifist, you are moon-struck, are you?
Yeah, the song from Sharda! ‘O chaand jahan wo jaaye’! Such a beautiful song! A Lata-Asha duet to boot! Like that song a lot as well.
Meena Kumari mouths ‘woh raah agar bhule, tu raah dikha dena’. And irony, she has to deviate away from the path of their love and marry his father!
What I find fascinating as well is, the shot of Raj sitting in the aeroplane, which is making a hell of a noise!
Samir
May 19, 2011 at 11:29 pm
A very unique list of songs, and a very apt set of rules. I found a few new ones here that I had never heard before, thanks for that.
Most of my favorites have already been added, I just have a few more
“Chaand Ko Kya Maloom Chahta Hai Use Koi Chakor”
“Chaand Si Mehbooba Hogi Eisa Maine Socha Tha”
(although I do not much care for Mr. India as a hero)
And, most surprisingly a new one
“Chaand Sifarish Jo Karta Hamari”
harveypam
May 20, 2011 at 11:17 am
Thanks for stopping by Samir!
Chand ko kya maloom was always a Vividh Bharati in the 70s and 80s. I practically grew up on that. And I never knew what a chakor is. I reasoned to myself, that it must be the male counterpart of chakori. And chakori always reminded me of kachoris, which loved and still love. But male kachori was beyond my comprehension. Years later, at the RMIM somebody had made a list of some songs and referred to chakor as partridge (or something similar).
It fits in for dustedoff’s ghoda gadi list as well.
Chaand si mehbooba is good! I like that song.
Chaand sifarish is one of the new songs which I truly like.
dustedoff
May 20, 2011 at 5:51 am
Another chaand song, but this time – of all things, an item number. And unusual too, because it features Geeta Bali and Shammi Kapoor in a film that didn’t pair them – she just appears as a dancer for this one song.
harvey
May 20, 2011 at 10:27 am
The callisthenics song!
Thanks for this song! I like Geeta dutt singing for Geeta Bali!
The song is really good. And it is as always good to see Geeta Bali, isn’t it!
She has this dazzling smile! Wonderful!!!! It lights up your life!
I think Geeta Bali can render Chanda chandnii me render it so onomotopoeiaically (is that a word?). I know it is an alliteration but she make you visualize it so good and Geeta Bali does her part good!
pacifist
May 20, 2011 at 11:13 pm
DO this is lovely. Shammi Kapoor looks sooo handsome. 🙂
Richard S.
May 20, 2011 at 7:43 am
Pacifist, glad you posted “O Raat Ke Musafir.” I thought of that one too, but I just like “So Gaya Zara Samana” more, and there are some interesting lines in that song about the moon and things the moon does…
Harvey, the film I took that particular Noor Jehan “chanda” song from, Lakht-E-Jigar, was made the exact same year as Anarkali, 1956. So, I don’t think you can say there’s a big time-related difference in Noor Jehan’s voice between these films (if you were thinking that that too(?))… I would say that I don’t like Noor Jehan’s singing quite as much after the ’70s – same as with Lata’s voice (though I still like much latter-day Noor more) – but before that, I guess it was mostly a change in style from film to film (Does Noor really sound “watered down” to you here? She just sounds maybe lighter/sweeter than in other, more dramatic songs.) I would say that, especially in Bollywood, female filmi singing was generally better in the ‘40s than into the ‘50s and later (are you coming around to that way of thinking too?), but mainly because there was such a variety of singers and popular female singing styles back in the ‘40s. (And Lata actually had a hand in changing that, didn’t she? That’s a subject that’s been talked about a few times in comments over on my blog. )
I am glad that you remembered that Noor Jehan song from Anarkali and am very glad to see that I had introduced you to it. 🙂 But given that you had so many criteria for this list 🙂 and that my understanding of Hindi or Urdu is limited (better than what it used to be – but that’s still saying very little), if I don’t see subtitles or a translation, I can’t always tell whether the song is sufficiently to and/or about the moon…
Dustedoff, thanks for posting the Geeta Bali item number from that fun film in which Shammi Kapoor is actually paired with Ragini. Now, once again, I’m going to have to go listen to the classic American rock’n’roll number that the music was taken from, Jim Lowe’s “Green Door”).
harvey
May 20, 2011 at 11:00 am
REally!!! Wow, I would never have thought that both the chanda songs are form the same year. Noorjehan’s voice sounds so differentin the Lakht-E-Jigar song! At least for my ears it does!
Her voice sounds (to me) in the Lakht-E- Jigar song as if it was artificially lightened adn made to sound thin. But I could be prejudiced. Since I know Noorjehan mostly from her 40s songs and have grown up with that, that anything different than the sound of those times may sound ‘not proper’ to me.
I grew up with Lata’s voice. If you lived in India during that time, one just couldn’t insulated enough not to hear her voice.
Only if one listened to songs from south india, which was aired in Bombay radio sunday late afternoons, could one hear other voices.
So I grew up with the notion that Lata’s voice was the norm and all others are just deviations. I have exaggerated a bit with this line, so that you can get an idea about it.
Of course one heard Shamshad Begum or Noor Jehan or Suraiya but they weren’t really it. There were some who even laughed at it, jus tlike people used to laugh at the opera scene in Pretty Woman in Bombay cinema theatres.
But at the same time there were my aunt and other relatives who continually said how bad Lata is singing nowadays (in 70s) and how beautiful it was in the 40s and 50s. And also that how the two sisters don’t let anybody else come up and killed the careers of Shamshad Begum, Suraiya and Suman Kalyanpur and how Lata asked Sulakshana Pandit to stick to her acting rather than sing.
So, one couldn’t just ignore Lata. She was THERE! EVERYDAY!
AND I do like her song sfrom the 70s and the 80s and also the 90s for e.g., ‘Paani, paani re’ from Maachis. But when it goes to versatility it is Asha for me.
It is a pity that the Indians didn’t have access to Noorjehan’s songs after the Partition. The Pakistanis had no such problem, they had equal access to Indian film music as well as Pakistani film music.
So, what I mean to say is that my ears are tuned to certain parameters and I think I have this notion of how Noorjehan has to sound and if it doesn’t I am disturbed. Not really impartial, is it? That is why I like to come to your blog to see all things different and broaden my horizons. REally!!!
I admire you the way you have learnt Hindi/Urdu! It reminds me how many non Hindi-speaking Indian (who are in the majority) learn Hindi from Hindi movies.
And as I said before the moon songs you choose don’t have to fulfill my criteria! Thanks for your chocies, particularly the chanda song by Noorjehan from Lakht-E-Jigar. I need to come out more from my mind-set! 🙂
Richard S.
May 20, 2011 at 7:54 am
P.S. I took so long to answer yesterday’s comments (sorry about that), and I still committed typos! Maybe I need to find a good proofreader. 🙂
harvey
May 20, 2011 at 11:03 am
First of all I didn’t see any typos.
Secondly and more important please do commit typos, that doesn’t make me feel that lonely! 🙂
What with my language, articulation AND tpyos!
sunheriyaadein
May 20, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Beautiful list! Some of these songs are totally new to me. Will post one more comment after I listen to all the songs and read all the comments.
harvey
May 20, 2011 at 7:36 pm
arre baba, tere pas itna kum time hai! bahar jaa mazaa kar!
pacifist
May 20, 2011 at 10:50 pm
The song linked by dustedoff ‘mere bhaiya ko’ brought to light another similar song, but this one’s from Pakistan. The two nations do share some similar sentiments. 🙂
It’s really a sweet song.
harvey
May 21, 2011 at 12:00 am
That is A sweet song!!!
Which film ist that? And who is the singer?
So simple and so nice. Even the distrubances in the video can’t really mar the sweetness!
pacifist
May 20, 2011 at 10:55 pm
After the various roles of the monn, the very popular one has still to be mentioned – the ‘mama’ role.
The moon is addressed to, gets personified and comes down to the little girls singing to him and calling him their chanda mama..
harvey
May 21, 2011 at 12:05 am
Yeah, there are so many roles of our chandaa! Chandamama is an important role. In Lajwanti, there is also a lori which calls upon the moon to be silent so that the child can sleep.
dustedoff
May 21, 2011 at 6:37 am
… and in the same mood, how about this one?
harvey
May 21, 2011 at 3:05 pm
This is one of my favourite, no my favourite chandamama song. And Geeta Bali syncing and dancing, what can one wish for more! thank you dear dustedoff, for this lovely song.
Who is the lady lying in bed and smiling as if she is had constipation?
The way she is smiling it must be something worse!
harvey
May 21, 2011 at 3:08 pm
One song which I couldn’t take up because of the rules is ‘soch ke gagan jhoome abhi chand’ from Jyoti . REal pity. Such a beautiful and serene song!
dustedoff
May 22, 2011 at 6:19 am
Yes, I ADORE this song. It’s so beautifully sung, so wonderfully picturised too. I want to see Jyoti just for this song.
harvey
May 22, 2011 at 11:40 am
Isn’t this the film, where his wife dies, leaving him with the child alone and he becomes a single dad!
Or am I getting it mixed up with the film with Waheeda Rehman?
sunheriyaadein
May 24, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@ Harvey : That sounds like Pushpanjali starring Sanjay Khan. There’s a song – Jaane chale jaate hai kahan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZOFG8vS6uw)
harvey
May 24, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Oh! Pushpanajali also has a similar plot?
No, I meant Man Mandir!
Thanks for this film!
Ava
May 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm
The movie is interesting Dustedoff. You must see it.
harveypam
May 22, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Which one Ava? 😉
Am I right with my plot for the film or have I again completely mixed up the plots and actors and all?
Ava
May 23, 2011 at 4:37 am
Harvey – I was talking about Jyoti. It is about a couple Sanjeev Kumar and …. (dont knowwho the heroine is) who cant conceive a child. The lady is uber religious and superstitious, Sanjeev is agnostic, this causes additional stress to the lady. They meet up with a baba who is philosophical as well as religious and he helps them out. The story is pretty different.
harveypam
May 23, 2011 at 8:35 am
Thank you, Ava! I always mix up my hindi films. From the sound of it I haven’t seen it but sounds interesting!
What I meant was I think Man Mandir with the song yeh mere aankon ke pehle sapne.
I always used to wonder what or who this gaga is, whose lori he is singing. Now I know he meant Lady Gaga! 😉
harveypam
May 23, 2011 at 8:40 am
The actresss is Nivedita.
Ava
May 22, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Lovely list Harvey. There is another angle to the moon thing. It is believed to this day that if a baby is conceived on full moon, it is a male.
That should be worked into a song too.. O chand mujhe chand sa beta dila.
harveypam
May 22, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I need more such suggestions and then they can be worked into a ‘chatri na khol…’ type of post!
Ava
May 22, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I am glad your choice spanned so many decades. I love them all.
harveypam
May 22, 2011 at 4:13 pm
my darling 80s are missing, though! 😉
Anu
May 22, 2011 at 11:49 pm
What a wonderful list, Harvey. The song from Angulimala and Bhartruhari is new to me; as is Geeta’s item song from Madhu’s comment and Noor Jehan’s song from Richard’s. Madhu, in which film did Geeta Bali do this ‘item song’?
Here is some that may or meet not your criterion but have the chand as a important part….
From Pakeezah:
Chand ko kya maloom from Lal Bangla
Chaand aahein bharega from Phool Bane Angaare
This is from a newer film – Shama – Chand apna safar khatm karta raha
Na yeh chaand hoga from Shart (Hemant Kumar / Geeta Dutt / Hemant Kumar / SH Bihari)
Tu mera chaand mein teri chaandni
feature=related
It is interesting – I always thought this was Suraiyya singing for Suraiyya. Apparently, this was Geeta Dutt’s first song – for Naushad. Anyone know who really did sing this song?
And from Shart again:
and I will end with this, or I will be giving you ten songs 🙂
Lata / Madan Mohan/ (and for you, Madhu) Madhubala
harvey
May 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Thanks for your contribution, Anu!
Chalo dildar chalo is such a sublime song with simple words. I love it!
BTW did you know that the original lyrics were: chalo dildar chalo chaathe ke saath chalo (come my beloved let us go along with the umbrella). it was inspired by Mary Poppins.
Chand aahen bharega…, I listen to it and am just a puddle!
Chand apna safar khatam karta raha…, It reminds me of afternoons in Bombay during Diwali vacation.
Shart has no dearth of chaand songs, does it? Maybe it should have been namen Chand instead of Shart. All beautiful songs and my favourites.
Chaand madham hai was completely new to me. Such a beautiful song! And picturised so beautifully and beautiful Madhubala to top it as well. *sigh*
Thank you, dear Anu. I think I have listened to chaand madham hai now atleast five times!
Richard S.
May 23, 2011 at 8:39 am
Anu, those are such good suggestions, I didn’t mind seeing them at least twice 🙂 …
Regarding “Tu Mera Chand…” When I put up my own suggestions, I kept recalling to myself that there was something from Dillagi that might fit; it just didn’t come to me at the time. By the way, did you recognize teenage Shyama? (So cute…)
I also was thinking of that song from Pakeezah…
And while I’m here, I’d like to answer the question put to Madhu/Dustedoff, because I am very fond of that film due to its Travancore Sisters content (Ragini had lots of dances, and Padmini appeared in one too). That’s Mujrim (1958).
Richard S.
May 23, 2011 at 9:20 am
Here’s one that just occurred to me while I was treating myself to a list of Kanan Devi songs.
harvey
May 23, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Yeah, I had this one in mind as well, but since it has a lullaby character to it, I’d to leave it out. But when this song came to my mind, I thought of you! 🙂
Lovely!
I think this is one song which doesn’t ask the moon to look away. It seems in the 30s , the lovers were more adventurous than their counterparts in the 50s and 60s! 😉
harvey
May 23, 2011 at 2:54 pm
this one is for you:
http://videos.pakdawn.com/songs/aae-chand-tu-bata-de-song-humayun/
sunheriyaadein
June 2, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Amazing songs…this post is like chaudhavi ka chaand in itself…it’s so full of chaand!
Thank you all for introducing me to so many new songs. I loved them all.
harvey
June 3, 2011 at 11:48 am
That is why I like the list posts, because one can share so much and discover so many through the comments as well.
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 6, 2011 at 7:24 pm
In “Chambal ki kasam(1980)”, one lataji`s (very sweet song) picturised on Farida jalal and Raj kumar “Chandare mere bhaiyya se kehna,behna yaad karen,” whether this song qualifies for this catagory?
harvey
June 6, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Of course it does: as reader’s choice! Thanks for that, I’ll look it up!
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 7, 2011 at 8:13 am
1) Banjaran(1960) :
“Chandare mori patiya le ja, patiya le ja, saajan ko pahunchaa de re”
(lata,mukesh:Pardesi:Pt.Madhur:Manhar Desai, Kanchan Kamini)
2)Main Chup rahoongi:1962:
“Chaand jaane kahan kho gaya,tumko chehre se parda hatanaa na tha”
(lata, rafi:Chitragupt:Rajinder Krishna)(Sunil dutt, Meenakumari)(“Moon” is there na? I have almost forgotten the picturisation)
3)Dhamkee:”Chand kya hai, roop ka darpan,roop kya hai ,preet ka aangan”:
Kumkum,Vinod khanna:Ganesh:
Sorry, in this case, I have not seen the picturisation of the song. I am blindly recommending this song to you.
I don`t know following 2 songs will fit into your category, but still I want to recommend these two:
4)Aao Pyar karen:”Chaand se parda keejiye, kahin chura na le, chehre ka noor”:Saif ali khan, shilpa shetty:Aadesh srivastav
5)Hum dil de chuke sanam:”Chaand chupa badal mein, sharmaake meri jaana, seene se lag jaa tu”
(salman khan, Aishwarya rai-Ismail Darbar)
harveypam
June 7, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I had thought of taking ‘chanda re mori patiya le ja‘ in the list. But it just didn’t make to list. It is nice!
Chand jane kahan kho gaya used to be played quite often on Vividh Bharati, when I was a kid.
Chand kya hai, roop ka darpan: I remember this song only faintly. It was played on Vividh Bharati quite often in their afternoon programme.
Chaand chupa badal me is very nice. Like that song a lot, though I hardly listen to the songs of post 80s.
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 7, 2011 at 12:07 pm
“Chaand mere aaja”(1960)
Chitragupt:Rajinder Krishna
Bharat bhushan,Nanda
rafi,lata:”Chaand ko dekhoji, masti lutaaye, jaadoo jagaaye,dil mein hamaare,chand ye kehta hai,dharti ki raani”
Sanjog(1961)
Madan mohan:Rajinder Krishna
This film got 2 songs relating to “CHANDA”
1)Anita guha, pradeep kumar:Lataji`s soulful solo
“Badli se nikla hai chaand, pardesi piya lautke tu ghar aa jaa ghar aa jaa”
2)Asha Bhosleji`s this beautiful song from Sanjog(1961)ignored by one and all,even by Radio also,
Just hear this one, how shobha khote praises his beloved pradeepkumar by ignoring the MOON:
“Kehte hain chand jisko tumse naahin woh pyara, dekhen use ye duniya, mujhko nahin ganwaara”
Talash(1969)
S.D.Burman:lata,rafi ,R.D.Burman& chorus:majrooh sultanpuri:
The presence of Moon is all over, in the picturisation of this song, according to me: just watch and listen, Am I right?
“Aaj ko jhunli raatma, dharti par hai aasmaan, koire banke chaandni, utara man ke aangna,…Chandare tu jaa na jaa”
Saathiya:A.R.Rehman:Gulzar:Sadhna Sargam & chorus
I want to recommend this song,only on the basis that they have used the word “Chaand” in the mukhda only. But still I want to recommend this song for the sheer magic, this song creates on the listner.
“Chupke se chupke se,raat ke chaadar tale
Chaand ke bhi aahat na ho, baadak ke peeche chale,jale katra katra”
(aaj ke liye itna bas)
regards
prakash
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 7, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Mr.Aashiq/Ye hai mumbai meri jaan(1996)
Kumar shanu:”mera chaand mujhe aaya hai nazar,ai raat zara tham tham ke guzar:(Jatin lalit)(Saif ali khan,Twinkle khanna)
Abdulla:rafi:”Maine poocha chaand se ke dekha hai tu kahin”:R.D.Burman:Sanjay khan,Zeenat Amaan
harveypam
June 7, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Hadn’t heard ‘mera chaand mujhe aaya hai nazar‘. It is a nice song. But Kumar Sanu makes all songs sound the same, doesn’t he?
harveypam
June 7, 2011 at 10:10 pm
I had forgotten Chaand ko dekhoji totally. Nice song that. Chitragupta
is so under-rated!
Badli se nikla hai chaand is such a melodious song. A pity, that it is not known better.
I only know the popular song ‘Woh bhooli dastan’ from Sanjog.
I think I am listening for the first time to ‘Kehte hain chand jisko tumse’.
It is also a rare song, where the female character is praising the pulchritude of her male partner.
Lovely song!
I like ‘Aaj ko jhunli raatma’ a lot. It is indeed heavenly!
Thanks for reminding me of ‘Chupke se chupke se,raat ke’. It is lovely and such lovely lyrics by Gulzar!
I always tend to forget the songs of the 90s and 00s.
Wow, thanks for your contributions!
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 8, 2011 at 12:37 pm
These are all just recommendations, whenever I remember songs having “CHAAND”in it, it is becoming a habit to write to you, which I can not control:
1)Barkha(1959):Mukesh,lata:Nanda,ananthkumar:chitragupt:rajinderkrishna
“Ek raat mein do do chaand khile, ek ghoonghat mein,ek badli mein(Song that has CHAAND in it)
2)Main bhi ladki hoon(1964):P.B.srinivas, Lata:Dharmendra,Meenakumari:chitragupt:Rajinderkrishna
“chanda se hoga woh pyaraa,phoolon se hoga woh nyaara, nachega aangan mein (Song that has not CHAAND in it)(But I want to know that whether you heard this song? CHAAND KA TO BAHANA HAI)
3)Jeene ki raah(1969):”Chanda ko dhoondne sabhi taare nikal pade:Asha, rafi:Laxmi pyare:anand bakshi(song that has not CHAAND in it)
harvey
June 8, 2011 at 3:24 pm
The criteria that I used were:
1. The songs have to blatantly call out to the moon.
2. Not included are comparisons with moon (so, no chaudhvin ka chand ho),
3. nor indirect allusions to the moon (no o jaanewale chand…),
4. nor mere confirmation of its presence (no chaand akela jaye sakhi ri),
5. nor be a lullaby
but it is okay if moon is referred to as chanda or raat ke musafir. As you see I have chosen songs, which refer to the moon as chanda (Jaa jaa re chandaa jaa re, Chandaa jaa, chandaa jaa re jaa)
But I have asked to readers to feel free to post any songs with moon in it. So you are abiding by the ‘rules’.
Thanks to you I have been (re-)discovering many songs.
‘Ek raat mein do do chaand khile‘ is one such song. It was nice to listen to it after such a long time. Is that Ananthkumar with Nanda? He looks like Asrani, doesn’t he?
When I read ‘chanda se hoga woh paraa‘, I thought never heard of it. But after listening ot it on you tube, it came back to me, that I do know it, from the Vividh Bharati days.
‘Chanda ko dhoondne sabhi taare nikal‘ depresses me every time I listen to it. Homeless children do that to me and no melody can move me from it.
sunheriyaadein
June 8, 2011 at 5:27 pm
One more Chaand song…heard it on radio today :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1rnnZQwCs0 (The interruption in between is hilarious…Gaana kyun bandh kar diya?)
harveypam
June 8, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Prakash mentioned this song yesterday. I had nearly forgotten about it. It was played on radio quite often when I was small.
Since the film was so hazy, i couldn’t discern, who was the lady, who intervenes. Do you know who she is?
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 11, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Poonam:1952:Shankar jaikishen:Kamini kaushal,Ashok kumar, Sajjan
“Jhoome jhoome dil mera, jhoome jhoome dil mera, chanda ki chaandni mein jhoome jhoome dil mera”
(CHAAND is there in on fleeting shot-“Phir se wohi CHAAND ka to bahaana hai”)
harveypam
June 11, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Indeed a beautiful song this!
‘chanda ki chandni me jhoome jhoome dil mera‘
Sung well by Lata and a good composition by S-J
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 12, 2011 at 1:44 pm
4 CHANDA songs recommendations, which are melodious, but did not got due credit:
**1)Do shikari:Rekha, Biswajeet:Chitragupt:Lata mangeshkar
Melodious song, but picturisation hmmmm, I will leave it for you to decide
“O..chaand kyon zard hai, raat bedard hai, kaamptha hai badan,kuch hawa sard hai, “(perhaps, this film is one of Rekhaji`s first films)
2)Kartavya:1979:Laxmikant pyarelal:Rafi, Usha mangeshkar:Dharmendra
“Chandamama se pyara mera mama,meri raaton ka tara mera maama”
***3)Jaali Note:1960:O.P.Nayyar:Dev anand,Madhubala(CHAAND is not there visually)
“Chaand Zard Zard hai, Mere dil mein pyar ka halka halka dard hai”(very good song, Aapne is gaane ko suna hai kya?, Nahin suna hai to ek baar sun leejiye)
4)Nanha Farishta:1969:Kalyanji Aanandji:Sahir Ludhianvi:Padmini, Baby Raani:Lata mangeshkar
“O natkhat nanhi laadli tujhe dekhe, tera mama chanda mama”
5)Do ladke, dono Khadke:1979:Basu Chatterjee:Moushumi Chatterjee, Amol palekar:Hemant kumar
Asha bhosle, Yesudass:”Chanda ki doli mein thi ek pariyon ki raani, heere jaise pankh jiske,hai usiki hai ye kahani”(CHAAND is not there visually)
harveypam
June 13, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Chand zard zard hai from Jaali Note is really beautiful! Wonder why it is not that popular?
Thanks for introducing me to this song, Prakash!
Chand kyun zard hai… from ‘Do Shikari is a nice song too. Has the typical Chitragupta sound to it. Didn’t know that Chitragupta composed in the 70s as well.
O Natkhat nanhi laadli from Nanha Farishta, Chandamama se pyara mera mama and Chanda Ki Doli Mein Thi are okay
The girl in the Kartavya song was in the same school as I. But then she left the school after some years. Wonder what has become of her.
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 14, 2011 at 1:35 pm
What`s her name?, she is there in Mahesh bhatt`s Lahu ke do rang, Rakhee`s Humkadam, also plays Rakhee`s younger role in Muqaddar ka sikander, whether she is Baby Shaloo?
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I think she is Baby Shalu, but Shalu is I think her screen name. As far as I remember she was from a Muslim family (but I could be mistaken) and her name was completely different. But I can’t remember her real name now.
Maybe I can try on facebook. My school has a page there, maybe somebody remembers her.
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 25, 2011 at 2:16 pm
I am not yet finished with this category itself,HA HA
1)Apne huye paraaye:(1964)Lata, Subirsen:shankar jaikishen:”Gagan ke chanda,na pooch humse, kahan hoon main, dil mera kahan hai”(Manoj kumar, Shashikala)
2)Chotisi Mulaqat(1967):Rafi:Shankar jaikishen:”Ai chaand ki zebai, tu jhool ja baahon mein, madhosh bahaarein bhi, lene lagi angadaayee”(Uttam kumar, Vyjayanthimala)
3)Pyar ki kahaani:1971:Rafi:R.D.Burman:”koi aur duniya mein,tumsa haseen hai, nahin hai, nahin hai(Picturised on young Amithji, anil dhawan, Tanuja, Farida jalal)(presence of CHAAND can be felt all over this song),
Futher if you haven`t heard this song, I want to divert your attention towards these songs.
harveypam
June 27, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Gagan ke chanda is so beautiful. I had completely forgotten about it!
Ai chaand ki zebai is also a nice song with Rafi in a typical 60s mode!
Koi aur duniya me makes even Amitabh’s kurta look like a moon. But no it is not a moon song! 🙂
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 28, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I just discovered this song 2 days ago, from a radio programme:
“Chaand bhi koi deewana hai, saath hai, lekin begaana hai
singers:Asha Bhonsle & mahendra kapoor
(picturised on young Mumtaz and Sudhir)I dont`t know exactly the name of the film(1968:
“Apna ghar, apni kahani” or “Pyaas”):
Music:N.Dutta
Lyrics:Qamar Jalalabadi
harveypam
June 28, 2011 at 11:42 pm
I love this song since dustedoff mentioned it in her comment above. It is such an unusual melody! N Dutta is great!
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 28, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Film:Mera ghar mere bachche(1960)
singer:Mukesh
(Sudesh kumar,Daisy irani,Sulochana latkar,Naaz)
Music:Sardaar malik
Lyrics:Hasrat jaipuri
“Chanda ke des mein rehti hai ek raani, aankhein hain uski chanchal sitaare,”
harveypam
June 28, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I didn’t know even the existence of this song! You do come up with new ones!
harveypam
December 17, 2011 at 9:31 pm
SHATRANJ – BADLI MEIN CHHUPE CHAND NE KUCH MUJHSE KAHA HAI
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDUBIFYhCsM)
pacifist
December 18, 2011 at 11:26 am
I came here to read the latest comments and this song suddenly entered my head, from Lakhon Mein Ek 1971 – addressing the moon.
(chanda o chanda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0piSk2ueRY)
harveypam
December 18, 2011 at 11:50 am
That is such a sweet song, isn’t it? I love it! It (not in this version) will feature in a list, which will come in a week’s time. But shhhhhhhhhhh……! 🙂
pacifist
December 18, 2011 at 2:50 pm
One WeeeeeeeK????
That’s too long to conjecture with all the permutations and combinations of the things involved with the song (the ‘other’ version)
One week is Christmas, and holiday time, and people going away on holiday 😀
But I’ll be patient sice I love lists.
harveypam
December 18, 2011 at 11:15 pm
On Christmas Eve, you will get the answer!
I think you ‘ll like it. I had been talking with Madhu about it in April.
pacifist
December 18, 2011 at 9:41 pm
…aaand another song. From Ek Dil Sau Afsane. She’s addressing ‘door ke o chanda’.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2PQEkDFLQA)
harveypam
December 18, 2011 at 11:16 pm
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!! (will explain later, why)
I love this song! Very beautiful!
pacifist
December 19, 2011 at 8:01 am
LOL!
Now I Know what the list is about. 😉
harveypam
December 19, 2011 at 10:49 am
Wise girl! I knew you would!
pacifist
December 19, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I don’t seem to be giving up 😀
Here’s another one. Sanjay Khan’s smile is so creepy here.
(maine puchha chaand se from Abdullah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnywvI8SHV8)
harveypam
December 19, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Don’t give up!
Despite the creepy smile it is still a nice song, no?
Pancham composed nine years before this a similar tune with nearly the same lyrics in Pyar Ki Kahani (1971). Even in that song Rafi was the singer. No moon in the lyrics but it is quite prominent in the picturisation.
(koi aur duniya me tumsa nahin hain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiTIGZSw_GQ)
Arun
October 14, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Whatever logic you give, this list is incomplete without Khoya khoya chand.
Bhuvan
August 26, 2017 at 2:31 pm
I liked your songs. Thanks for compiling so good list.
Some more chand songs:
1. Song – Kaisi haseen aaj baharon ki raat hai
Film – Aadmi (1968)
Singer – Rafi
Music – Naushad
2. Song – Tum gagan ke chandrama ho
Film – Sati Savitri (1964)
Singers – Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
Music – Laxmikant Pyarelal
3. Song – Chand Se Parda Kijiye
Film – Aao Pyar Karen (1994)
Singer – Kumar Sanu
Music – Aadesh Shrivastava
4. Song – Jab Se Dekha Hai Tere Haath Ka Chand
Film – Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai
Singers – Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo
Music – Anu Malik
4. Song – Jab Se Dekha Hai Tere Haath Ka Chand
Film – Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai
Singers – Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo
Music – Anu Malik
5. Song – Chand Mera Dil
Film – Hum Kisise Kum Naheen
Singer – Rafi
Music – R D Burman
6. Song – Aye Chand Teri
Film – Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya
Singers – Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam
Music – Ismail Darbar
7. Song – Chaand Raat Tum Ho Saath
Film – Half Ticket (1962)
Singers – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music – Salil Chowdhury
8. Song – Gali Mein Aaj Chand Nikla
Film – Zakhm (1998)
Singer – Alka Yagnik
Music – M.M. Keerm
9. Song – Raat Ka Sama Jhoome Chandrama
Film – Ziddi (1964)
Singer – Lata Mangeshkar
Music – S. D. Burman
10. Song – Tu Mera Chand, Mai Tere Chandani
Film – Dillagi (1949)
Singers – Suraiya, Shyam
Music – Naushad
11. Song – Tu Hi Mera Chanda, Tu Hi Tara
Film – Nanha Shikari (1973)
Singers – Mukesh, Sushma Shrestha
Music – Bappi Lahiri
12. Song – Ae Chand Tu Bata De Mera Chand Hai Kaha
Film – Bhakt Ke Bhagwan (1947)
Singer – Rajkumari
Music – Channalal Thakur
13. Song – Chanda Hai Tu, Mera Suraj Hai Tu
Film – Aradhana (1969)
Singer – Lata Mangeshkar
Music – S. D. Burman
14. Song – Dhundhe Nazar Nazar Meraa Chaand Hai Kidhar
Film – Dilli Ka Dada (1962)
Singers – Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor
Music – N Datta
15. Song – Aankh Ka Tara Mera Chand Se Pyara Re
Film – Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon (1971)
Singer – Lata Mangeshkar
Music – Chitragupt
16. Song – Ae Chand Ab Tu Ja, Mera Diwana Aa Gaya
Film – Khubsoorat (1952)
Singer – Suraiya
Music – Madan Mohan
17. Song – Ae Chand Kal Jo Aana
Film – Devta (1956)
Singer – Lata Mangeshkar
Music – C Ramchandra
18. Song – Aaj Badli Se Mera Chand Nikal Aaya Hai
Film – Main Hoon Jadugar (1967)
Singer – Suman Kalyanpur
Music – Naushad Premnath
19. Song – Mera Chand Mujhe Aaya Hai Nazar
Film – Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999)
Singer – Kumar Sanu
Music – Jatin-Lalit
20. Song – Chandi Ka Gol Gol Chanda
Film – Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961)
Singers – Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
Music – S N Tripathi
21. Song – Chaand Taare
Film – Yes Boss
Singer – Abhijeet
Music – Jatin-Lalit