Ten of my favourite flower songs
Blame it on dustedoff! Yeah, she asked me to do this post. And since I always do what I am asked to. Here it is.
Flowers and love go together. Flower codes abound as to what flower to send as secret message. In Hindi film songs, the flowers have been mostly used as similies or metaphors for the heroine. Gulabi hooth (rosy lips) being one of the common comparisons.
In my list I have again used some criteria to boil my list down to ten:
1. Songs with flowers used as adjectives have not been taken (so, no ‘gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhi’)
2. One different flower pro song (i.e. if I like two songs, both with rose in it more than the song with jasmine, than I had to choose between the two rose songs)
3. One song pro film (that was very easy)
4. When the name of the flower is the name of a character in the film, it has been rejected (so no ‘ghar jayegi, tar jayegi’
So here are my 10 favourite solo songs featuring ten different flowers.
Chaman ke Phool Bhi Tujh Ko Gulaab Kehte Hai – Shikari [1963]
MD: G. S. Kohli, Lyrics: Farooq Qaiser, Singers: Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar
Ajit, it seems, is of the opinion, that roses are the non plus ultra in the garden and when the flowers declare something is a rose, than it has arrived. Different opinions have been aired as to Ragini’s pulchritude though. The flowers in the screen cap are, by the way, oleanders and not roses.
My relationship with this song has been anything but smooth; you can read more about it here.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin Name: Rosa species
Hindi Name: Gulaab
English Name: Rose
Many species of the genus Rosa have been cultivated over the centuries in Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America. The most garden varieties are hybrid ones.
Champa Khili Daar – Aaj Raat Ko/Faisla [1974/1988/???]
MD: R.D. Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri, Singer: Mohd. Rafi
Blind and tired-looking Saira Banu is being serenaded by ‘dehati’-looking Vinod Mehra, while Ashok Kumar dances encouragingly to it. The blooming of champa (Magnolia) is heralded by Vinod as a signal for the lovers to meet.
Contradictory dates and names abound for this song and for the film. I found the movie at IMDB under Faisal but the name under which the song goes is Aaj Raat Ko. Since I am always interested in Pancham, I also tried to search for more songs from this film, but to no avail. I don’t even know if the film was released at all. Could be possible that the song was recorded in 1975 and the film released in 1988 making it Saira Banu’s last film to be released.
A melodious song sung by Mohammed Rafi.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Magnolia champaca also as Michelia champaca
Hindi Name: Champa, Champakali
English Name: Magnolia
The flowers are offered to Ganesh and Shiva in Hindu temples. They are also used in perfumery. They smell very sweet, particularly at night, when they are visited by beetles, which feed on the pollen and are at the same time also the pollinators of the flowers.
Phool Gendawaa Naa Maaro – Dooj ka Chand [1964]
MD: Roshan, Lyrics: Sahir, Singer: Manna Dey
My favourite singer for semi-classical songs, Manna Dey! Unsurpassable! Alas, it suffers also the same fate like the other semi-classical song sung by him – Laagaa Chunari Me Daag. The actor lip-syncing the song spoils it for me.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Tagetes species
Hindi Name: Genda
English Name: Marigold
Although a native of South Amrica, it has established itself very well in India and other countries. The flowers are used extensively to make garlands and door hangings (toran). The plant has insecticide properties and is therefore planted on the borders of flower beds.
Rajanigandha Phool Tumhare – Rajanigandha [1974]
MD: Salil Chaudhary, Lyrics: Yogesh, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
As bouquets became ‘in’ in India, Tuberose bouquets were all the rage in 60s, 70s and 80s. In this song Vidya Sinha, remembers the tuberoses, which her lover Amol Palekar used to bring her. He is languishing in Delhi, while she vacations away in Bombay, where she also meets her ex. Lovely film by Basu Chatterji.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Polianthes tuberosus
Hindi Name: Rajanigandha
English Name: Tuberose
Again a native of the new world! Its white colour, sweet smell and long tube indicate that it is pollinated by moths.
Gulmohar Gar Tumhara Naam Hota – Devta [1978]
MD: R. D. Burman, Lyrics: Gulzar, Singer: Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar
Poor Sanjeev Kumar has to labour with three generations of women (his lover, daughter and grandchild, no his mother is not mentioned). And no luck with anyone of them! But at least the granddaughter has found somebody who can sing good songs unlike his son-in-law, who didn’t sing any. I would have gladly added some more lines in appreciation of this song, but I just don’t understand it. And to confuse things more, there was a house in our neighbourhood when I was small, which also had the name Gulmohar. So, I used to sing it as ‘Gulmohar GHAR Tumhara Naam Hota’ (If your house’ name was Gulmohar).
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Delonix regia
Hindi Name: Gulmohar
English Name: Royal Poinciana
The Hindi name means the peacock flower, because of the one petal in the flower which is white in colour, with red dots. No, not even this tree is native to India. It comes from Madagascar.
Hum Dil Ka Kanwal – Zindagi [1964]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Vyjayanthimala would like to give her lotus-heart only to the ‘one-in-thousand’ guy and Raaj Kumar thinks he is meant by that. This can only mean complications.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Nelumbo nucifera
Hindi Name: Kamal
English Name: Lotus
Often water-lilies are confused with lotuses. Water-lilies belong to the genus of Nymphaea and they don’t have the prominent raised thalamus of the lotus. Goddess Lakshmi can thus sit on this raised thalamus. In a water-lily, she would just slip!
Juhi Ki Kali Meri Laadli – Dil Ek Mandir [1963]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singer: Suman Kalyanpur
If one has never seen juhi (jasmine) and have heard about it only from the video of this song, he or she would think that the flower is indestructible. But we shouldn’t be too harsh on her, as far as I can remember she plays the role of a terminally ill patient. Now, this is what I call acting!
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Jasminum auriculatum
Hindi Name: Juhi
English Name: Jasmine
The flowers are often used in perfumery and used to make gajras (head bands).
Ai Nargis-E-Mastaanaa – Arzoo [1965]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri, Singer: Mohd.Rafi
To call a girl daffodil and a care-free at that seems quite odd for me, but Sadhana takes it in her stride and smiles sweetly as well, although Rajendra Kumar is just bent on complaining! Not an ideal romantic situation, but the director doesn’t seem to care.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Narcissus species
Hindi Name: Nargis
English Name: Daffodil
Is also not a native of India, but comes from South Europe and Turkey. It was most probably brought to India by the Mughals.
Kyu Chameli Khil Khilati Hai Bataa – Bahut Din Huwe [1954]
MD: B. S. Kalla, Lyrics: Pt. Indra, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
A very curious Madhubala has lots of questions here it seems! She wants to know why chameli laughs? Why the lotus smiles? Why the moon shines? When does the story make a song? Since I don’t the answers to any of them, I’ll leave it at that.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Jasminum sambac
Hindi Name: Chameli
English Name: Jasmine
Chameli is also a jasmine species: Jasminum sambac. In India, though the names are quite often interchanged. The genus Jasminum belongs to the family of olive.
Ketaki Gulaab Juhi Champak Ban Phoole – Baant Bahar [1956]
MD: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra, Singer: Pt. Bhimsen Joshi & Manna Dey
Bharat Bhushan seems to have picked up this habit of going and challenging all court singers. He does it here as well and interrupting a pretty good rendition by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. But it leads to a good duet between Joshi and Manna Dey and giving us a beautiful bouquet of colourful flowers. This song stands for ketaki.
Botanical and ethnological notes:
Latin name: Pandanus sp.
Hindi Name: Ketaki, Kewra
English Name: Screw Pine
The leaves are often used as a condiment for rice. The sweet smell of the inflorescence is supposed to attract snakes. This superstition has saved it from felling in lots of places. The inflorescences are also used in perfumery. The leaves are used in lots of handicrafts.
This post has been written in extreme haste, so thus may contain lots of mistakes. Sorry for that. I’ll be very grateful for corrections.
Most probably this is my last post for June, since I have lots of things to do till 3rd July. As usual, I’ll surely respond as fast as possible to your comments.
As usual I’m looking forward to your favourite flower-songs. Here is to Flower Power!
Harveypam's Blog 
pacifist
June 13, 2011 at 11:23 pm
A very informative post, hatvey 🙂
Love the botanical names and all. Clearly you have put in a lot of effort and I appreciate that very much.
The first song from Shikari is one of my favourites. The songs of this film were all so silky smooth.
I tried hard to come up with a song with a different name – but gulab, genda, champakali, juhi seem to be the most common.
I have some kamal songs in my head but for the moment the bulb refuses to light up.
But here are two songs I love.
harveypam
June 13, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Wow, pacifist, you are a fast guy!
idhar humne post kiya nahin aur aap ka comment haazir. Maan gaye aap ko!!!!
Hats off!
Thanks for your nice words, pacifist!
You are right. To come up with more flowers is a bit difficult. There are bela ke phool, but the word belaa is mostly used a saanj ki bela or equivalent.
I am waiting for your bulb to light up!
Somewhere on the way it seems one song got lost. Only the chameli made its way till here! And this song will surely feature in another list for which I’m still compiling songs. It will not only feature but plays a stellar role in it, which makes it impossible to come up in any other list. But I can’t write about it more now. Mum is the word! (I know it was father’s day, day before yesterday, but now mum is the word!)
Am very curious as to your second song and all the others waiting in the line!
pacifist
June 13, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Forgot to mention, the above song is from the film cha cha cha. Nice to see Helen in a romantic song.
Here is the other song from Ziddi (1963).
Both the songs are about chameli and champa, though the word Juhi comes up in this song.
*hitting my head with my hands* now what is that kamal song!!!!
harveypam
June 13, 2011 at 11:46 pm
thanks for the Ziddi song! It was on my list but it didn’t made it to my ten, maybe because I’m partial to Pancham! 🙂
But, yeah, I could have taken one song from the father and one from the son.
And don’t be so hard on your head, we need it still for the other songs! 😉
I can only say:
pacifist
June 14, 2011 at 12:39 am
LOL!!
(I’ve stopped hitting, hopefully the bulb will light up tomorrow). 😀
Harvey, I’m not a guy.
I’m glad I caught the post freeshly posted. I was making a round of the blogs and came here after visiting Richard’s.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Sorry about the guy thing! *sheepish grin*
I am also quite often at Richard’s when time allows.
Banno
June 14, 2011 at 6:26 am
Nice post, Harvey. Why do you hate Agha by the way in the ‘Dooj ka Chand’ song? He is one of my favourite actors. 🙂 I didn’t know half these songs, so thanks for the list. Pretty impressive.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:28 pm
No, Banno, I don’t hate Agha. I can’t even say I don’t like him. 😉
In fact he would be on my short list of good comedian in Hindi cinema.
but in this song, which is sung divinely by Manna Dey, he pulls faces and all and that doesn’t go down good with me. But I think he is not to be blamed for that but the director. It is the same with Laaga Chunri me daag from Dil hi to hai where Raj Kapoor spoils the song with his antics.
But as far as comedians go, Agha is the best. Loved him in Mr. Sampat.
Thanks for the compliments, dear!
dustedoff
June 14, 2011 at 6:41 am
Oh, lovely! That was fast work, Harvey – I suggested this post just a couple of days back, and you’ve chosen your songs, written up the post, and given us so much good information as well. Thanks! 🙂
The first ‘flower song’ that comes to my mind is the same one pacifist first linked to – Ek chameli ke mandve tale. And this one, a little-known song, but rather nice (and it features the lovely Laxmi Chhaya, too!). Suryamukhi hai mukhda tera:
pacifist
June 14, 2011 at 10:35 am
That was good DO. 🙂
You have introduced a new flower – suryamukhi.
dustedoff
June 15, 2011 at 6:55 am
🙂
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Thanks dustedoff! As I said ‘aap kahe aur ham na maane, aise to haalaath nahi’!
This Suryamukhi hai mukhda tera from Tu mera me teri is completely new to me! What a discovery! Very nice song and a nice flower as well and Laxmi Chhaya to top it all! Thanks!!!!!!!
Do you know who the MD is?
I couldn’t find the film on IMDB.
dustedoff
June 15, 2011 at 7:11 am
Yes, I discovered that song just by the way, and liked it so much, I wished it were better known. Such a lovely song! No idea who the MD was, though…
Another one, but this time not a film song! 😉
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 7:47 am
I think we shared the same filmi and DD childhood! Every time I was racking my brains for another flower song, this was the one that went through my mind often (Belaa, Gulab, Juhi, Champa, Chameli!). But it inspired many a thought which reminded me of a flower song! Thanks for putting it up here! 🙂
🙂
This makes me happy! Happy like HAPPY!!!!
Diversity management a lá Films Division!
dustedoff
June 15, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Films Division and DD did come up with some very lovely ‘fillers’, actually. Another one which I really and truly loved was also about a flower – based on Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’s poem of the same name. I liked the poem when I had to study it in school, but the TV rendition made me love it.
It’s not on Youtube, unfortunately – I wish somebody would get hold of it and upload it. It was fantastic.
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 1:57 pm
That sounds good! But can’t remember it. Nirala’s poems were always good. We also had them in our syllabus.
Another film of Films Division, which I fondly remember is the ‘Shortcut Phataphat’ one!
Unfortuanately I couldn’t find a video of it!
Do they still bring them on DD?
pacifist
June 14, 2011 at 10:53 am
Perhaps the Kanwal song from zindagi was the one
? It was definitely black and white.
Here’s another one in colour.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Wow, pacifist, this is a three in one song.
Kewra (Pandanus, Screw Pine), Kamal (Lotus) and Raat Rani (Cestrum nocturnum, Queen of the Night). three flowers! A hat-trick!
Had forgotten about it completely!
Richard S.
June 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Pacifist, nice to see that you came to this blog from my blog. I took the same journey. 🙂 I agree that this is a very informative post!
I love that song from Tere Mere Sapne – that’s my favorite Jayshree T. dance.
Harvey, on your list, my favorite is the first one, the one that shows Ragini’s pulchritude.
The Zindagi song is most fun when Vyjayanthimala and chorus blossom. I know I have seen a few songs with that kind of scene, but only one pops into my mind right now. This is a little off-topic, but it reminds me of Kamala Lakshman’s dance in Bhookailas:
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Richard, we all visit your blog! Otherwise, where else can we bitch about Sandhya! 😉
No, jokes apart! Your blog is a treasure trove for purana (old) tamil, telugu, malyalam and kannada songs. And not to speak of good political notes on films! Loved your Padmini-Raj article.
And thanks to you and Anu, have the intention of watching Awara, Shree 420 sometime soon!
South Indian films excelled in good dances! Love them! And the props are great!
bollywooddeewana
June 14, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Wow, you really do go all out on your posts, YOU ACTUALLY TOOK TIME TO TELL US ABOUT the botanical and English names, you really do love your flowers Lol, it reminds me of my Agricultural Science classes in school where we had to learn the botanical names of plants. The first song taht came to mind when i realised this was a Phool post was Phool hai taron ka from hare Rama hare Krishna but the one I’ve chosen to embed is this lovely number from Naya Kadam, with some very extravagant Phools ENJOY!!!!!
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Hey BD, as I said before, blame it on dustedoff. She asked me to do a flower botanical post! 😉
Thanks all the same.
I’d nearly forgotten Naya Kadam. Love to see Rajesh Khanna’s uninvolved-like facial expressions. But on the other hand Sridevi has screen presence for two and some left-over!
Yeah, extravagant is the word for it! 🙂
pacifist
June 14, 2011 at 4:18 pm
EUREKA!!!!!!
Finally I have the song that refused to come to light. 😀
It’s from Lajwanti 1958.
pacifist
June 14, 2011 at 4:23 pm
ooops! In my excitement I forgot to write what else I wanted to.
Richard, your song is not off topic because the word ‘lotus’ is there :-). I read it in the subtitles.
Harvey, yes I wanted to write about the other flowers especially the wonderfully smelling kewda, but rushed off, after posting the song in case I forgot it too, because I was getting late.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 6:48 pm
That is true, she does sing about I think Vishnu lying on a lotus or something. My knowledge of Telugu is marginal!
You are a good source for songs, pacifist!
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 6:45 pm
That’s a gorgeous one!
Love it! Wonder why I didn’t think of it!
It could also go in a swan list with ‘do hanson ka joda bhichad gayo re’!
sunheriyaadein
June 14, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Oh wow, you already finished this post? That was quick!!!
Thank you dustedoff!!! Do continue implanting ideas in Harvey’s mind 🙂
Gotta rush now…will continue with the rest of the post and comments in a while.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Arre, don’t you plant more ideas in dustedoff’s mind! 😉
Just joking!
Everybody is more than welcome to send their ‘farmaishe’ (wishes). Let us see what is feasible!
Samir
June 14, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Really impressive post, what with all the detail, are you by any chance in the field of biology/chemistry/medicine ?
I do not know if this meets yours rules (I now need a supercomputer running the latest Artificial Intelligence Software to analyze them) but how about :-
1) Mera Naam Hai Chameli
2) Kamal Ke Phool Jaisa (although this one should be construed as “too chalu”, OK scratch this, just included to see your response.)
Are Marathi songs OK ? If yes, how about
1) Hee Chal Turu Turu (Kevda is mentioned later)
2) Mogra Phulala
I am sure there are many others.
harveypam
June 14, 2011 at 11:12 pm
“I now need a supercomputer running the latest Artificial Intelligence Software to analyze them”
ROTFL! 😀 Well, if you have one, use it!
Chameli from Bikaner wouldn’t have fit the bill! But nice to see her dance here. Kum Kum was always a good dancer!
Kamal ke phool jaisa IS too chaalu, but we are not sitting here as moral apostles, are we? We are just collecting songs!
Was Manoj Kumar the director of the film? Yeah, it IS sleazy!
Now that I have seen the song, I know why it never featured in Chhaya Geet, though quite often played on Vividh Bharati.
You won’t believe it, but while I was making the list, I could remember only Marathi songs like Chaafaa bole na and Raat rani geet mhane ga and something about Parijaat.
Of course you can bring in Marathi songs. Richard has brought a Telugu song along.
Thanks for the songs!
Suja
June 15, 2011 at 7:45 am
I really enjoyed your post, what a fabulous idea !! And very informative botanically too!! I have a little offering for your post, a song I like very much :
Kajra Laga Ke – http://youtu.be/CaN0fUDBOFo
Seeing your chameli song, I first thought of Mera Naam Hai Chameli but of course, it is a name here not a flower!
Flower songs are not forgotten even in the current generation of songs, this is a good one :
Genda Phool song from Delhi 6 : http://youtu.be/Sstey_Eg4Xc
But there are many songs with general (nameless) flower references in songs as well, I’ll just mention a couple I like –
Phool Aahista Phenko – http://youtu.be/r0EtQVlYDhg
Baharon Phool Barsao – http://youtu.be/McP9D114BfU
Thanks for the post!
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Thanks for your nice words, Suja!
Loved the Genda Phool song. I hardly listen to new songs, thus I missed out on that!
Thank you also for dropping by!
Shilpi Bose
June 15, 2011 at 9:31 am
Fantastic idea, Flower Power, nice selection , here is my choice, ae gulbadan from Professor.
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 9:58 am
Well, Shilpi, It was dustedoff’s idea! I just implemented it.
Ae gulbadan is a nice song! Professor does have its share of good songs! Well, Shammi Kapoor films always had nice songs!
Richard S.
June 15, 2011 at 10:39 am
I’ve just been checking out My Sister (1944). I don’t have the benefit of subtitles, so I can’t follow most of the words in these songs, but I am thinking that this nice one might fit…
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Thanks for the song, Richard! I didn’t know this one! It is such a nice simple song and love the way she dances. Did you see how on eof the branch props falls down when she pulls up her water pot?
Cute!
It does mention flowers, but I couldn’t hear any particular flower name. It is a bit difficult for me to understand the lyrics, because of the sound quality and also the intonation.
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 15, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I can`t remember any songs for this category, only songs having the words “PHOOL” are coming to my mind,(Raat ke sote samay bhi main soch raha tha, koi geet to aaye, zehen mein, par nahin aaya, Achcha exercise de rahe hain aap mind ko, phir se office niklte samay kuch geet yaad aaye, I don`t know, woh aapki category mein fit baitatha hai ya nahin?:
1)Utsav:Lata & Asha Bhonsle:Man kyon behkari behka aadhi raat ko, BELA mehka re mehka aadhi raat ko”:Laxmi pyare:Vasant Dev:Rekha,Anooradha patel
2)Kalakaar(1983)(starring Kunal Goswami-manoj kumar`s son & sridevi)
“Surajmukhi mukhda tera, chamkaa de tu jeevan mera”
Music:Kalyanji Aanandji”:Suresh Wadkar
****3)Dhoop Chaaon:1977:RAFI:Sanjeev kumar, Yogita bali, Hemamalini:Shankar jaikishen:
“Joode mein gajra mat baandho, tera geet mehak jaayega, meri pyar behak jaayega”
I want to attract your attendtion towards these following beautiful songs(4,5,6,7), if you haven`t heard the song, please poora gana suniye
4)Grihapravesh:Bhupender singh:1979:Kanu roy:Gulzaar:”Zindagi phoolon ki nahin, phoolon ki tarha mehki rahe, ”
5)Phool khile gulshan gulshan:1978:”O sab khil gaye gaalon pe mere ke baagon mein GULAAB kahan:Lata:Laxmi pyare:Moushumi Chatterjee:Rajinder krishna
6)Ghunghroo ki awaaz:1981:”Akhiyon ka kajra, haathon ka GAJRA kiske liye, meri jaan mera, sab tera :Kishore, Asha bhonsle:Rahul dev Burman:Forget picturisation, but nice composition(Vijay anand, Rekha)
7)Deedar-e-yaar:1982:lata:”Aaye phoolon ke rath par, padi rahoon par main piya ke path par”:Laxmipyare:Saahir Ludhianvi:Rekha and jeetendra
8)Bazaar:Khayyam:lata,Talat aziz:”Phir chidi raat baat PHOOLON ki”(gaane ka picturissation mein dher saara phoolon ki mujhe yaad aa rahi hai)
9)Silsila ke do gaanon ko bhi, bahut saare phoolon(TULIPS)ke beech mein filmaya gaya hai:”Dekha ek khwaab ko “and “:Ye kahan aa gaye hum
10)Prem Kahani:lata,mukhesh:”Phool aahista phenkho, phool bade naazuk hote hain”:Laxmi pyare
11)Kaash:1987:Kishore,sadhna sargam:rajesh roshan:”Phool ye kahan se aaye hain, boloon”:
Faaroque Qaiser:Jackie shroff, Master Makrand
12)Biwi ho to aisi:Anuradha paudhwal, Mohd.Aziz:Laxmi pyare:Rekha, Farooque sheikh::S.H.Bihari:
“Phool GULAAB ka,laakhon mein hazaaron mein, ek chehra janaab ka”
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 15, 2011 at 3:06 pm
******Sone ke haath:1973:asha bhonsle:”Lai lo champa chameli gulaab lai lo”:
Asha bhosle:Ravi:Babita,Sanjay khan
SABAK:”Chameli mera naam, aur champa mera naam, tum donon ka deewana, banwra mera naam:rafi, ushakhanna, Suman kalyanpur:Usha khanna:Sawan kumar
Parmpara:1993:Abhijeet,Lata:Shivhari:Aamir khan, Raveena tondon:
“Phoolon ke is shehar mein, kaanton se darne lage…..aaye na koi idhar, hum pyar karne lage”
*****Taxi Driver:1956:S.D.burman:Asha bhonsle:
“Phool gendwa na maro,dar jaaongi, haaye raam,dar jaaongi,aisi nazar na daaro, haaye raam mar jaaongi”
Aaspaas:1980:Lata:Hema malini:”Main phool bechthi hoon, main hoon phoolwali:Laxmipyare
Krodhi:1981:Asha bhonsle:”Phoolwati ka gajra na pehna ho, aisa koi is shehar mein nahin:Hema malini”
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 15, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Prem geet:1981:”aao mil jaayein hum sugandh aur suman ki tarha ,ek ho jaayein ”
Anuradha paudhwal, Suresh wadkar:Jagjit singh, Suresh wadkar
Man pasand:1980:lata:Rajesh roshan:Tina munim, dev anand:”Suman sudha rajni gandha or chanda,aaj abhi se
:Amit Khanna
Kotwal saaheb:1977:Hemalata:Suman samaan tum apna khila khila man rakhna, khushboo lutaate rehna, chaahe pade kaanton pe man rakhna:Ravindra jain:Hrishikesh mukherjee:Aparna Sen, Komal Mahuavakar
harveypam
June 15, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Wow, Prakash, tum to yaar pur geeto.n ke encyclopedia ho!
Jawab nahin!
But I just can’t go and listen to the songs right now, I am without interne tint he coming few days for most of the time!
Will do listne to them as soon as I have time!
Thanks for the fabulous list of songs.As usual I don’t knowmany of them and am irritated by some because I couldn’t remember them! 🙂
pacifist
June 16, 2011 at 1:09 am
Sorry Harvey, but I can’t resist the temptation of posting a song with an adjective flower ‘Nargis’.
If I’m not mistaken I think nargis = narcissus?
There are so many songs with ‘nargisi nazar’.
I chose this one. It’s nice and peppy.
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 11:01 am
Hey, this is a nice peppy song! It sounds so familiar, but I can’t really remember, when and where I saw it the last time! Thanks for reminding me of it again!
By the way nargisi nazar would mean a round-eyed one, wouldn’t it? With dilated pupils? so to say a bella-donna!
dustedoff
June 16, 2011 at 6:45 am
I couldn’t see a ‘Reply’ button on that last comment of yours to me, Harvey, so posting a reply here… I have no idea what Doordarshan shows or doesn’t show; I don’t watch TV!
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 10:59 am
“I don’t watch TV!”
Bless you! When I’m in India, I have to, because the TV runs the whole day long! 😦
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Following 2 gems, eventhough mentions the word “phool” in one line only, I want to attract your attention towards
these two, if you have not heard these songs
1)MAINE JEENA SEEKH LIYA:(1982)Suresh wadkar:Nadeem Shravan:lyrics-surendra sathi or Anwar sagar
(picturised on zarina wahab & pradeep verma(ek baar phir fame)
One of Nadeem shravan`s first assignments I think,
“Chehra kamal hai aapka, aankhon mein hai sharaab, saare jahan mein aapka koi nahin jawaab”
2)Bhagwan Parashuram:1970:Asha Bhonsle:Music:Jai kumar
(whether he is the same jai kumar(parthe)who provided music to JAAN HAAZIR HAI ???(1975)(starring Shekhar kapoor, Premkishen)(which includes my favourite , but rarely heard following songs
a))”Hum na rahenge, tum na rahoge, ye pyar hamara hameshaa rahega-Manhar udhas,Dilraj kaur,Amit kumar
b)sawan aaya baadal aaye, mere piya naahi aaye
sorry, Coming to BHAGWAN PARASHURAM, this film got a very good song sung by Asha bhonsleji(she even herself chosen this song to be included in her favourite songs compiled by HMV)
Picturised on Jayashree Gadkar and Abhi Bhattacharya
Lyrics by Madan
“Mere man ke maan sarovar mein tum kamal samaan khile ho sajan, mera pyar ho tum, mere praan ho tum”
(YOUTUBE mein is gaane ko dhoond dhoondke thak gaya, 2,4 maheen ke pehle ye gaana mujhe, youtube mein mila tha, aaj nahin mil raha tha,aakhir mein, jab “ASHA-MERE MAN KE”type kiya to ye gaane ka video bhi mila)
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 11:03 am
The song ‘mere man ke maan sarovar me‘ is really good, it was the song-discovery of the week for me!
Thanks for the song, Prakash! Lovely!
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 16, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Pehle SORRY boloonga, baad mein apni raam kahani shuru karoonga:
Main is mauke ka poor faayda utaana chahata hoon aur aapne suna nahin hoga tho, neeche mention kiya hua gaane ki taraf aapka dhyaan aakarshit karna chahta hoon:(Yaane ke apna favorite gaana aap par forcefully thop raha hoon)
AASHIQ HOON BAHARON KA(1977)(film kuch khaas nahin, par lata,kishore,anand bakshi,laxmi pyare ke combination mein gaane bahut achche hain
a)Title song b)I am in love you are in love c)masharique se jo aaye, magarib mein kho gaye d)tera dil kya kehta hai
e)Mere gore gaalon ka
This song(“Mere gore gaalon ka, reshmi baalon ka, rang pheeka pad gaya ve, tere ishq da rang chad gaya ho ho”)
which is very melodious(atleast for me ! I can go to any length, praising this song),racy,peppy song expressing feelings of love(with punjabi words in between)sung by Lataji, picturised on Zeenath amaan and Rajesh khanna(In this film Zeenath, who is born an Indian, lives in foreign country, believes in western cultural values, changes her personality and cultural values as soon as she is in love with hero Rajesh khanna, and becomes typical coy, gharelu, bharatheeya naari, draped in saree and decked with flowers)The above mentioned song was picturised on this situation in this film , amidst beautiful foreign locality and flower gardens.
Is gaane ke anthare mein 2 lines hain, jo hamesha mujhe yaad aate rehte hain, kya kehte hain usse ” mujhe HAUNT karte rehte hain” Wajah maloom nahin !!!!!
I want to introduce this song to you, let`s see whether this song impress you or not ?
The said lyrics goes like this:
“PARDESI GAJRE KI KALIYON SE, AATHI HAI, DES KI PHOOLON KI KHUSHBOO, HOYE HOYE HAAYE, KAISA KIYARE TUNE JADOO, KAHAN SE KAHAN MAIN CHALI GAYEE, BAATON BAATON MEIN, YE SAB HUA DO HI MULAAQAATON MEIN”
Thanks for reading with patience and PHOOL ke bahaane meri pasandeeda gaane ke baare mein likhne ka aapne mauka jo diya iske liye
regards
prakash
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 16, 2011 at 7:56 pm
How about the sensuous song from 1983-SADMA:
“O babua, ye mahua, mehkne laga hai, ho meri saans jalti hai, badan mein saanp chalte hain, tere bina,na na na”
Gulzar:Illaiya raja:Kamal hassan, Silk Smita
(According to my knowledge, MAHUA means forest flower, am I right ?)
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 11:08 am
Mahua is a nice flower with a very sweet intoxicating smell! It is the flower from Madhuca longifolia belong ing to same family like chikoo. Elephants, who eat the fermenting flowers are reported to get drunk and go on rampage. Mostly tribals (is that a politically correct word?) use the flower for its sweetness.
Like all of the songs in Sadma, I like this one a lot too! Asha is simply great in this!
Suhan
July 23, 2011 at 2:26 pm
An absolutely lovely number by Asha on the ‘mahua/mohua’ in Bengali to RD’s tune. I think this was part of the Durga Puja series that he used to come out with every year.
(Mohuai Jomeche Aaj: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leFqxl5vHwA)
harveypam
July 28, 2011 at 9:45 am
RD is the best!
Thanks for this song!
Now, which Hindi film song is based on this tune, I wonder!
I think it is high time I get to smell some mahua flowers!
Suhan
July 29, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Hindi song is this one 🙂
(Liyo Na Babu Tanik Piyo Na – Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja [1975]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq36BVwkSJA)
And re. mahua, those that know swear by the liquor made from it.
harveypam
July 30, 2011 at 6:22 am
Hey, thanks for that! I had been trying to remember it but couldn’t recall it!
Yeah, I’ve heard, better said, read, a lot about mahua liquor. Mus try it once! 😉
BTW, the mahua song also reminded me in parts of
(Jaipur Se Nikli Gadi Delhi Chale Halle Halle – Gurudev (1993: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1XD4fGtHL4)
PRAKASHCHANDRA
June 16, 2011 at 8:14 pm
oops sorry, I forgot to type Asha bhonsleji`s name as singer of “Sadma” song,
Saanjh aur savera:1964:Shankar jaikishen:Suman kalyanpur:Meena kumari,Gurudutt
“Chaand kamal, mere chaand kamal chupchaap so ja , yoon na machal:I am getting confused about this melodious song. Under which category, I should mention this song, whether this song belongs to , CHAAND or KAMAL(KANWAL)or as LORIE ??
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 11:12 am
Such an haunting lullaby!
Loved the visuals, where one can see the Metro cinema from Bombay! And it is a good combination of chaand and lorie! Thanks for the contribution!
Shilpi Bose
June 17, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Just remembered another ‘Phool’ by one of my favourite poets Neeraj; it is ‘Phoolon ke rang se’ from Prem Pujari
harveypam
June 20, 2011 at 11:14 am
Hey Shilpi! That’s a good ‘phool’ song! Love the children in it!
But when I saw this movie long time back on DD, I wondered how he can sing this song and still flirt with Zaheeda! 😉
pacifist
June 20, 2011 at 1:24 pm
The Mahua song reminds me of another from from the film of the same name.
BTW that song from ‘sadma’ has excellent choreography.
harvey
June 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm
yeah, I thought of this song as well, but since mahua is the name of the character in the film. I didn’t include it in my list. yeah, the song is nice!
And Kamal Hassan is a good dancer!!!!
Ava
June 24, 2011 at 8:01 am
Written in haste, but not a waste.
I love all these songs. I would change only one — the Champa song. I would pick – Champakali dekho jhuki gayi re, pagal kiya tere pyar ne. from Joy-Asha movie Ziddi.
I could mark your paper on Flower Songs in Hindi Films 10/10 .. not even deducting half mark for the song I do not agree with , because it is so good.
I love the song – Gulmohar gar tumhara naam hota. I think what they are trying to say is that if you were like gulmohar, I would give my life to nurture you.
Rajnigandha phool tumhare – is such a pretty song. Well, all the songs except the one I mentioned is exceptional. The crowning glory is of course, Ketaki gulab juhi. The songs of this movie – Basant Bahar were divine. But the movie — ewwww.
sunheriyaadein
June 24, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Finally I’m here with my comment…everytime I would come here to post my comment, I would get distracted by the sheer number of songs being discussed. I hadn’t heard half these songs! And I haven’t finished listening to all of them yet.
@Prakash : U r a genius!
The only songs that come to my mind are :
1. Kisi shayar ki gazhal, kisi jheel ka kanwal
2. Lakhon hai nigahon mein….hothon mein gulab hai
3. Gazhab ki neend hai, zalim shabaab soya hai, chaman ke godh mein jaise gulaab soya hai : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0FenxIymbI
4. Chal chameli baagh mein (I know this doesn’t meet ur criteria but can’t get it out of my head) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sbux8-pG_k&feature=fvst
Came across these songs recently –
5. Neel kanwal muskaye from Chitralekha (1941) :
6. Chompa chameli from Antony Firangi (Bengali) : I had to search for this one as I forgot the mukhda, but luckily the name of the movie was quite catchy and it didn’t take very long to find :
7. Chameli ko phool ma (Nepali : Ok, this has the typical 80’s flavour to it – loud in every way possible. I dont listen much to Nepali songs. Accidentally bumped into this one and I was like – arghhhhhhhhhh! But since fits the context, I thought I’ll share it)
harveypam
June 27, 2011 at 7:54 pm
The song from Chitralekha is great! Is the singer Rajkumari?
I’m sure Richard would love this as well. He is discussing Rajkumari in Pakeezah currently.
Is it Uttam Kumar in the title role in Antony Firangi? Do you know by any chance what is this film about?
Chameli ko Phulma is so much like its Hindi counterparts in late 80s and early 90s. Not a very good introduction to Nepali cinema is it? Can you recommend a good Nepali film? Art cinema would do as well.
You know, I haven’t seen any nepali film till now.
harvey
June 24, 2011 at 9:57 pm
You are ver ykind to me, Ava!
You are right, Champakali dekho jhuk gayi is nice as well. It was a tie between that and ‘champakali dal’, but since the former song has a hue of taming the shrew, I took the latter and also because I have a soft corner for beta Burman! 😉
Wow, ten marks out of 10! First time after my 4th standard in Bombay! 😉
Re.: gulmohar gar tumhara naam hota
that means he is saying that he would like to be the manure to her gulmohar! Only Gulzar can write such lyrics! Love him!
In my childhood days, I didn’t at all like the Rajnigandha song, but with years it grew up on me. I know that sounds as if it were a fungal infection, but the song is equally stubborn!
Basant Bahar songs are great, can’t remember the film though!
thandapani
June 25, 2011 at 4:14 am
Haha – gulzaar can do anything and make it sound like poetry. I love him mucho.
harveypam
June 27, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Love him too! gulzar has such a way with words. He can even make an ’empty pot’ sound like poetry!
sunheriyaadein
June 25, 2011 at 12:58 pm
I dont know why my comments are not coming up 😦 I’ve been trying for the last couple of days. Let me try posting it in parts now.
Finally I’m here with my comment…everytime I would come here to post my comment, I would get distracted by the sheer number of songs being discussed. I hadn’t heard half these songs! And I haven’t finished listening to all of them yet.
Prakash : U r a genius!
The only songs that come to my mind are :
1. Kisi shayar ki gazhal, kisi jheel ka kanwal
2. Lakhon hai nigahon mein….hothon mein gulab hai
3. Gazhab ki neend hai, zalim shabaab soya hai, chaman ke godh mein jaise gulaab soya hai : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0FenxIymbI
4. Chal chameli baagh mein (I know this doesn’t meet ur criteria but can’t get it out of my head) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sbux8-pG_k&feature=fvst
harveypam
June 27, 2011 at 7:41 pm
I’m extremely sorry for that inconvenience, sunehri!!!!!!
I have been extremely busy the last few days and didn’t check my pending mails, though I still don’t know why wordpress didn’t allow your comments to appear. *shakes the fist at wordpress*
You are right, Prakash is a genius. I think I should consult him before making any list now! 😉 He is surely an asset here!!!
Kisi shayar ki ghazal is also one of the first songs, which occur to me when I think of kamal in hindi songs, though I wouldn’t dream of including it in my fav list. When the film was released in the 70s, it featured quite often on Chhaya Geet and it was discussed in the school class next day mainly for its special effects!
Lakhon hai nigahon me is indeed a gulabi song!
Loved the albela song. Love the indignant look when she wakes up after hearing ‘chaman ke god me gulab soya hai’
I also don’t like chal chameli baag me, but it is hard to get it out of your head. It is such an ear-worm!
Karthik
July 11, 2011 at 11:43 am
My take-
A lovely Mahendra Kapoor song composed by Madan Mohan (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati hai), most probably Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0VXKhjyhmI)
harveypam
July 12, 2011 at 2:58 pm
A nice song, this!
Mohd. Rafi would have done wonders with it!
Madan Mohan often paired with Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, didn’t he?
Karthik
July 13, 2011 at 2:42 am
This was Rafi’s song! One of the reasons why I chose this song was the flowers in the picturisation, beautiful colours.
harvey
July 13, 2011 at 11:56 am
Yeah the flowers are nice in it. They look like almond blossoms!
Karthik
July 11, 2011 at 2:27 pm
This classic from Rani Rupmati
(ud jaa bhanwar maaya kamal ka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRjUhwvioE)
harveypam
July 12, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Welcome, Karthik!
What a great song! Wow!
Totally enthralled by it!
I think I’ll be listening to it quite oftne today!
Thanks. It is a good start for today’s afternoon.
Do you know by any chance, who the actor is?
Karthik
July 13, 2011 at 2:41 am
Thanks a lot Harvey!My pleasure to be here.I dont know who the actor is, but he had a bright countenance. You seem to enjoy classical music too, is it the case?
harvey
July 13, 2011 at 11:53 am
I do enjoy classical music, but I have to admit, I have little to no knowledge of it. I think yesterday I listened to ‘ud ja bhanwar maya kamal ka’ at least ten times. It has such an intense quality to it. Thanks for that! 🙂
Violet
July 30, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Interesting post! Wonder why nobody mentioned the eternal flower song —
Then there are 2 more that I like, ‘phoolon ka taaron ka, sab ka kehna hai’, and the one in MILI.
harveypam
August 1, 2011 at 7:24 am
Welcome to my blog, Violet!
Phool tumhe bheeja hai khath me is indeed a nice song! But the line ‘pyaar chuppa hai kath me itna, jitne sagar me moti’ made me always wonder how many pearls are there in the ocean. Not much really and thus also doubt his love for her!
‘Maine kaha phoolon se, haso to woh khil khil a ke has diye’ also made me picturise the scene where flowers are roaring with laughter! *shudder*
This dispostion of mine to visualise the song spoils properly good songs for me!
Violet
August 1, 2011 at 8:10 pm
LOL.. I almost fell off my chair. Awesome analysis… I also do similar stuff at times, though not with such accuracy 😛 keep up the good work!
harveypam
August 2, 2011 at 5:09 am
“LOL.. I almost fell off my chair. ”
You see what I mean? Poor you, reading the blog innocently and tehn I make you fall off your chair. Someday I should just take sanyas, I think!
But hey, your daughter is great, me thinks, she makes you fall off your chair more often than I ever can do, so you must be having practice!
Violet
August 2, 2011 at 9:54 pm
🙂 Yes she does, when we are together. Sadly, that is very rare these days.. but you do have a wicked sense of humour 😛 Me likes!
harveypam
August 24, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Just discovered this song on you tube which would fit in quite well here. It has rose, daffodil, jasmine (bela and chameli).
(lelo phooldaani from jadoo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Url5D3ctODM)
Prakashchandra
March 28, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I think of adding this favourite song of mine,also to this post, today I have made it.
Phool Khile hain gulshan gulshan1978:Laxmikant Pyarelal:
(Song: sab khil gaye galon; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mt7ZRqsBI8)
I think after 2 years,I may add one more song to this post. Haaaa…..
regards
prakash
harveypam
March 28, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Unfortunately I couldn’t see the song. the reason stated was that the “The uploader has not made this video available in your country.”
maybe sometime later.
You are welcome to bring in songs even hundred years from now!
I really have to thank you for the wonderful songs, which you contribute and many of them are unknown to me leading to surprising and pleasant discoveries, Thanks again!
Prakashchandra
March 29, 2012 at 6:43 am
Hope this video link works for you:
(Song: main to bagiya beech; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2kqBW-Kzb8)
harveypam
March 29, 2012 at 8:52 am
This doesn’t work as well. 😦 It says “this video contains content from Eros Entertainment, who has blocked itin your country on copyright grounds”.
But you know what? I will search for an audio file of this song and listen to it.
Roshan
October 16, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Dear, this list will ever remain incomplete without Baharoon Phool Barsao and Ae Gulbadan. Sorry to offend you, but first song MUST be there.
harveypam
October 29, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Thanks for your comment, Roshan! I wasn’t in town, that is why I couldn’t reply earlier.
Well both songs don’t fulfil the criteria of my list, that is why I didn’t include it dear Roshan.
I took songs in my list, which specifically mention a particular species of flower and that is not true for both the songs.
And to tell you the truth both are not particularly my favourite songs. They are nice, but just not the ones to which I listen to often.
coolone160
February 22, 2013 at 6:18 am
The reason why Rajendra Kumar calls Sadhana a “Daffodil” is perhaps because “In classical Persian literature, the narcissus is a symbol of beautiful eyes, together with other flowers that equal a beautiful face with a spring garden, such as roses for cheeks and violets for shining dark hair”———–courtesy Wikipedia
BTW, the screenshot of daffodil matches quite a bit with her beautiful sweater ………………