My ten favourite kaun aayaa songs
I’m sure it must have happened to you as well. Sometimes you meet a person and the mere presence of this man/woman makes you feel good. You need not talk about overtly intelligent topics. You might not laugh heartily, but just being in the presence of that particular person makes you feel wonderful. It makes you feel as if you have experienced inner growth. Few days back, I again had such an experience, where I was left wondering: What was that? I was so elated, that I posted the song yeh aaj meri zindagi me kaun aa gaya on a forum I frequent, which gave me the idea for this post.
Unlike my last experience, the encounters making the characters of Hindi film exclaim “yeh kaun aayaa” are mostly of romantic nature. Some feel that spring has come, while others feel the moon has risen. Everybody has his or her own of exclaiming and rejoicing in this emotion. I personally think that a good song can convey more than the words themselves. So, enjoy my ten favourite kaun aayaa songs and tell me about yours.
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Tags: Anand Bakshi, Anoop Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Parekh, Baazi [1951], Deepti Naval, Dekh Kabira Roya [1957], dekho yeh kaun aayaa, Dil Deke Dekho [1959], Farooque Sheikh, Geeta Dutt, imi Garewal, Imtihaan [1974], Indu Jain, Jawani Diwani [1972], Jaya Bhaduri, Kalpana Karthik, Katha [1983], kaun aayaa kaun aayaa, kaun aayaa ki nigahon me chamak jaag uthi, kaun aayaa mere man ke dwaare, kaun yeh aayaa mehfil me, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Look who’s here!, Madan Mohan, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manna Dey, Mohd. Rafi & Usha Khanna, Munshi Aarzoo, my ten favourite kaun aayaa songs, Nartaki [1939], Naseeruddin Shah, Naushad, Pankaj Mullick, Poonam Dhillon, R. D. Burman, Raaj Kumar, Raj Kamal, Rajendra Krishan, Rajendra Kumar, Randhir Kapoor, Ravi, rosha maati, roz shaam aati magar aisi na thi, S. D. Burman, saamne ye kaun aayaa dil me huyi hulchal, Saathi [1968], Sadhana, Sahir Ludhianvi, Savere Wali Gaadi [1986], Shakeel Badayuni, Shammi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Suresh Wadkar & Asha Bhosle, tambadi maati, Tanuja, Usha Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Waqt [1965], yeh kaun aaj aayaa sawere sawere, yeh kaun aayaa, yeh kaun aayaa ke mere dil ki duniya me bahaar aayi, yeh kaun aayaa roshan ho gayi mehfil kisake naam se
My ten favourite songs on clouds and separation
Mid-June, the rains used to arrive in Bombay when I was a kid. The black clouds would hold the promise of change. This would mean relief from the heat and dust of the preceding summer months and a burst of new life. The dreary plain near our house would promise to turn into a pond with lots of small streams arising and emptying in it. These small streams would then become alive with small and big crabs and tadpoles! Coinciding with the arrival of the black clouds, the new school year would also arrive. This would mean new textbooks! The dark messenger would also bring the hope, that I would share the class room with my friends from last year, but at the same time also the anxiety if I would again have to spend this new school year with class bully.
These dark water-bearers of sky, who brought so many emotions in my being were and are also the bearers of hope over the centuries in India for separated lovers. The earliest mention is found in Meghduta (the cloud messenger) by Kalidasa (most probably 4th century CE). It tells the story, how a yakṣha (a supernatural being), after being exiled, asks a passing cloud to take a message to his wife. In Hindi cinema though, we find mostly women singing to the clouds. They call upon them to be their messengers, to take a message to their far-off beloveds, asking them to return back.
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Tags: Ameeta, Anil Biswas, Asha Bhosle, Azaad [1955], Bahana [1960], Bharat Vyas, C Ramchandra, Chashm-e-Baddoor [1981], Chhote Nawab [1961], clouds, D. N. Madhok, Dar Laage Garaje Badariyaa, Deepti Naval, Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke [1969], Dilip Kumar, Gaban [1966], Ghar Aaja Ghir Aaye Badaraa Sanvariyaa, Gulzar, Haimanti Shukla, Indu Jain, Ja Re Kare Badra, Jaa Re Badara Bairi Jaa Re, Jaa Ri Jaa Ri O Kaari Badariya, Jab Kaari Badariyaa Chhaayegi, Jeetendra, Kahan Se Aaye Badaraa, Kalidasa, Karan Deewan, Lajawab [1950], Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Meena Kapoor, Meena Kumari, Meghduta, Mehmood, Mohammed Rafi, monsoon, My ten favourite songs on clouds and separation, Namkeen [1982], Nanda, Naushad, Of Clouds and Separation, Phir Se Aiyo Badaraa Bidesi, Prem Dhawan, R. D. Burman, rain, Rajinder Krishan, Rajkamal, Ram Rajya [1967], Rattan [1944], Sadhana, Sawan Ke Badalon Unse Yeh Jaa Kaho, Shabana Azmi, Shailendra, Shankar-Jaikishan, Sheila Vaz, Sunil Dutt, Swarnlata, the cloud messenger, Tum Bin Sajan Barase Nayan, Vasant Desai, yakṣha, Yesudas, Zohra Bai
My ten favourite Dev jodis
I got the news at fellow blogger Madhu’s site about Dev Anand’s sad demise. I just couldn’t believe it. The tag of ever-green hero suited him so well, that one thought that he was immortal. Just two days back, I wrote at Greta’s blog that Dev’s films from the 50s and 60s hardly let one down.
Dev was a good actor dominating the film industry for three decades. He had his own school of natural acting which endeared him to the masses as well as the critics. He remained for most part true to his genre of a slick urban hero, but he was versatile as far as the different fields of film production was concerned. He was producer, director, actor and once even a singer!
Dev, I think, must have had the most number of female co-stars in the history of the Hindi film industry. He acted with many new faces but also with established actresses. And he looked good with everyone of them. Here is to Dev and his female co-stars
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Tags: aajaa pancchi akela hai, abhi na jaavo chhod kar, accha ji me hari chalo man jawo na, Asha Bhosle, de bhi chuke ham dil nazrana dil ka, dev anand, dil ka bhanwar kare pukar, geeta bali, Geeta Dutt, Hema Malini, Hum Dono [1962], Jaal [1952], Kala Bazar [1960], Kala Pani [1958], Kalpana Karthik, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, layi khushi ki duniya hasti hui jawaani, Madhubala, Mala Sinha, Manna Dey, Maya [1961], Mohd. Rafi, Mukesh, Nau Do Gyarah [1957], neend churake raaton me tumne baaton baaton me, Nutan, R. D. Burman, ruk jaana ruk jaana humse do baatein karte chali jana, S. D. Burman, Sadhana, Salil Choudhury, sanj dhali dil ki lagi thak chali pukar ke, Shareef Badmash [1973], Suraiya, tasveer teri dil me jis din se utari hai, Tere Ghar Ke Samne [1963], Vidya [1948], Waheeda Rehman, Warrant [1975], Zeenat Aman
My ten favourite songs on not wanting to let go.
As I was humming abhi na jao chhodkar few days back, I realised that, not wanting to let the lover go is an oft-repeated motif in Hindi film songs. Well, from this thought to the thought of making list was a short hop.
Letting go, is a difficult task in life and not only the lover but also many other things in life. So here is to the process of relinquishing and surrender!
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Tags: Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar, Anand Bakshi, Anil Biswas, Asha Bhosle, Asha Parekh, Bade Dilwaala [1983], Bees Saal Baad [1962], Beqaraar Kar Ke Hume Yun Na Jaiye, Biswajeet, Bulo C. Rani, dev anand, Dharmendra, Do Badan [1966], Don't go... !, Geeta Dutt. Nargis, Hemant Kumar, Hum Dono [1962], Jaidev, Jogan [1950], jogi jab se tu aayaa more dwaare, Kahin Na Jaa Aaj Kahin Mat Jaa, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manoj Kumar, Mat Jaa Mat Jaa Mat Jaa Jogii, Mat Jaiyo Naukariya Chhodke, mat jaiyon nagariya chhod ke, Meerabai, Mere Hamdam Mere Dost [1968], Mohammad Rafi, Mujhe Jeene Do [1963], Na Jaa Kahin Ab Na Jaa Dil Ke Sivaa, Na Jaa... !, Na Jaiyo Radhe Cheedenge Shyam, Naa Dir Diim ... Naa Jaa Naa Jaa Balam Balam Mere Naa, Naa Jaa O Mere Humdum, Nadii Naare Na Jaao Shaam Paiyaan padu, Nasir Husain, Padmini, Pardesi[ 1957], Prem Dhawan, Pyar Ka Mausam [1969], R. D. Burman, Ravi, Rishi Kapoor, Sadhana, Sahir Ludhianvi, Sardar Jafri, Sau Saal Baad [1966], Shakeel Badayuni, Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Tina Munim, Waheeda Rehman
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.
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Tags: Aaj Raat Ko, Ai Nargis-E-Mastaanaa, Ajit, Amol Palekar, Arzoo, Ashok Kumar, B. S. Kalla, Baant Bahar, Bahut Din Huwe, Basu Chatterji, Bharat Bhushan, Chaman ke Phool Bhi Tujh Ko Gulaab Kehte Hai, Chameli, Champa, Champa Khili Daar, Champakali, Delonix regia, Devta, Dil Ek Mandir, Dooj ka Chand, dustedoff, English Name: Daffodil, Faisla, Farooq Qaiser, Flower Power, flowers, G. S. Kohli, Genda, ghar jayegi, Gulaab, gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhi, Gulmohar, Gulmohar Gar Tumhara Naam Hota, Gulzar, Hasrat Jaipuri, Hum Dil Ka Kanwal, Jasmine, Jasminum auriculatum, Jasminum sambac, Juhi, Kamal, Ketaki, Ketaki Gulaab Juhi Champak Ban Phoole, Kewra, Kishore Kumar, Kyu Chameli Khil Khilati Hai Bataa, Lata Mangeshkar, LotusJuhi Ki Kali Meri Laadli, Madhubala, Magnolia, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manna Dey, Marigold, Meena Kumari, Michelia champaca, Mohammad Rafi, Narcissus, Nargis, Nelumbo nucifera, Pandanus, Phool Gendawaa Naa Maaro, Polianthes tuberosus, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Indra, R. D. Burman, Raaj Kumar, Ragini, Rajanigandha, Rajanigandha Phool Tumhare, Rajendra Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, Rosa, Rose, Roshan, Royal Poinciana, Sadhana, Sahir, Saira Banu’s Magnolia champaca, Salil Chaudhary, Sanjeev Kumar, Sarika, Screw Pine, Shailendra, Shankar-Jaikishan, Shikari, Suman Kalyanpur, Tagetes, Tuberose, Vidya Sinha, Vinod Mehra, Vyjayanthimala, Yogesh, Zindagi
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.
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Tags: A R Rahman, Aarti Mukherji, Ameerabai Karnataki, Angulimaal, Anil Biswas, Asha Bhosle, Ashok Kumar, Awaara, Aye chaand zaraa chup jaa, Bharat Bhushan, Bharat Vyas, Bhartruhari, Chanda jaa chanda jaa re jaa, Chanda re chanda kabhi to zameen par aa, Chandaa desh piya ke jaa, Chandaa re jaa re jaa re, Dam bhar jo udhar munh phere, dev anand, Dheere dheere chal chaand gagan me, Dheere dheere dhal re chanda, Dil Ek Mandir, Dilip Dholakia, Hariharan, Hasrat Jaipuri, Jaa jaa re chanda jaa re, Javed Akhtar, Jayshree Gadkar, Kamini Kaushal, Khemchand Prakash, Laatsaab, Lata Mangeshkar, Love Marriage, Madan Mohan, Mala Sinha, Manmauji, Meena Kumari, Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Nargis, Nimmi, Nutan, Prem Dhawan, Private Secretary, Pt. Indra Chandra, Raaj Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Rajinder Krishan, Ruk ja raat theher jaa re chandaa, Sadhana, Sadhna Sargam, Sapnay, Shailendra, Shammi Kapoor, Shankar-Jaikishan, Ziddi