“Aaraam” (1951) was a movie where Dev Anand was the hero. but in this movie one can also see a very young Premnath.

In this movie, one can als see a very young talat Mehmood. And here, he not only acts, but also sings a song that is picturised on himself.

This song is a ghazal, and this must be one of the earliest ghazals created in Bollywood movies. And it is this song that brought Talat Mehmood to limelight as a singer.

The picturisation shows Talat Mehmood singing this song in a gathering. Talat Mehmood is not seated on a piano, as was the Bollywood tradition for party songs. Rather he has a harmonium with him and he plays the harmonium while singing this song. Considering that he himself sang the song, and the fact that it is actually possible to sing while playng harmonium- this song must be regarded as one of the few realistically picturised party songs of Bollywood movies.

Anil Biswas, who discoverd Talat Mehmood and gave him him his initial break is the music director.

We tend to praise the singer as well as music director and often forget the contribution of the lyricist ? There is no doubt in my mind that it is the lyrics penned by Rajinder Krishan that deserves lot of credit behind the potency of this song. People love this song because of the words which touch the heart strings of the listeners. Rajinder Krishan, in my opinion , was one of the most influential (even though unhyped) of the lyricists of the golden era of Bollywood movie music. And this song is a very good example of his genius.

Song-Shukriya ae pyaar teraa shukriyaa (Aaraam) (1951) Singer-Talat Mehmood, Lyrics-Rajinder Krishan, MD-Anil Biswas

Lyrics

shukriyaa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar teraa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa, shukriyaa ae pyaar
dil ko kitnaa khoobsoorat gham diyaa, shukriyaa
dil ko kitnaa khoobsoorat gham diyaa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar teraa shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar

aankh ko aansoo diye jo motiyon se kam nahin
aankh ko aansoo diye jo motiyon se kam nahin
dil ko itne gham diye ke ab koyi bhi gham nahin
dil ko itne gham diye ke ab koyi bhi gham nahin
meharbaan jo kuchh kiyaa achchhaa kiyaa, shukriyaa
meharbaan jo kuchh kiyaa achchhaa kiyaa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar teraa shukriyaa
Shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar

zindagi ko dard mein doobe taraane de diye
zindagi ko dard mein doobe taraane de diye
hasraton ko aarzuon ke khazaane de diye
hasraton ko aarzuon ke khazaane de diye
ye navaazish hai teri kyaa kyaa diyaa, shukriyaa
ye navaazish hai teri kyaa kyaa diyaa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa ae pyaar teraa, shukriyaa
shukriyaa

Identifying an O P Nayyar tune is easy for music buffs, but even music buffs will have difficulty believing that this song was composed by O P Nayyar.

People are not aware, but when O P Nayyar started his career, he was not aware that he would soon be associated with racy tunes and that his music would influence Bollywood music in a big way. He had started his career of music direction in a conventional enough manner. In his debut movie, viz “Aasmaan” (1952),he had composed the kinds of songs that were the norm those days, viz slow paced songs with conventional music.

The very first song that O P Nayyar composed as a music director was not with Rafi or Asha Bhonsle, rather it was with C H Atma, who was a devotee of K L Saigal and who sang in K L Saigal even though Saigal style of singing was no longer prevalent. And O P Nayyar was a big fan of C H Atma. So when O P Nayyar landed his first assignment as a music director, his choice for male playback singing was C H Atma.

Here is this song that is the very first song of O P Nayyar as a music director. It is sung by C H Atma and it is written by Prem Dhawan. And I can guess that this song was picturised on Nasir Khan (brother of Dilip Kumar) who was the hero of this movie.

song-Is bewafa jahaan mein wafa dhoondhte rahe (Aasmaan) (1952) Singer-C H Atma , Lyrics-Prem Dhawan, MD-O P Nayyar

is bewafaa jahaan mein wafaa dhoondhte rahe
is bewafaa jahaan mein wafaa dhoondhte rahe
is bewafaa jahaan mein wafaa dhoondhte rahe
naadaan the kitne ham bhi ye kyaa dhoondhte rahe
is bewafaa jahaan mein

har raastaa agarche teraa raastaa na thaa
har raastaa agarche teraa raastaa na thaa
har raaste mein teraa pataa dhoondhte rahe
har raaste mein teraa pataa dhoondhte rahe
naadaan the kitne ham bhi ye kyaa dhoondhte rahe
is bewafaa jahaan mein

ik dil kaa dard thaa ke rahaa ye zindagi ke saath
ik dil kaa dard thaa ke rahaa ye zindagi ke saath
ik dil kaa chain thaa ki sadaa dhoondhte rahe
ik dil kaa chain thaa ki sadaa dhoondhte rahe
naadaan the kitne ham bhi ye kyaa dhoondhte rahe
is bewafaa jahaan mein

I have posted a couple of songs from “Sazaa” (1951) already, but even I was not aware of this song.

This song is a duet sung by Lata and Talat Mehmood. I can see Dev Anand in the picturisation, but who is the lady lip syncing in Lata’s voice ? As it is, I am very poor when it comes to identifying old actresses. And she does not look like Kamini Kaushal who is the heroine of this movie as per the cast.
PS- Now, based on Lalitha’s hint, I believe that she is Nimmi.

Rajinder Krishan is the lyricist and S D Burman is the music director. Though I heard this song for the first time only just now, it is clear to me that this song is a gem, and is worth listeneing to time and again.

Song-Aaja aaja tera intezaar hai (Sazaa) (1951) Singers-Lata, Talat Mehmood, Lyrics-Rajinder Krishan, MD-S D Burman

Lyrics

aaa aaa aaa aaa
aaja aaja tera intezaar hai
tujhe dhoondh raha mera pyaar hai
aaja aaja
aaja aaja tera intezaar hai
tujhe dhoondh raha mera pyaar hai
aaja aaja

rokte hain duniyaawaale
pyaar ke ye raaste
rokte hain duniyaawaale
pyaar ke ye raaste
mushqilen hi mushqilen hain
do dilon ke waaste
mazboor mera pyaar hai
mazboor mazboor
aaa
aaja aaja tera intezaar hai
tujhe dhoondh raha mera pyaar hai
aaja aaja

tod sakta hai agar
duniya ke bandhan tod de
tod sakta hai agar
duniya ke bandhan tod de
pyaar karne waale
is duniya se darna chhod de
aaja aaja tera intezaar hai
tujhe dhoondh raha mera pyaar hai
aaja aaja

pyaar ki taqdeer mere(?)
ki hai ye mazbooriyaan
pyaar ki taqdeer mere(?)
ki hai ye mazbooriyaan
haay ye mazbooriyaan
ye do dilon ki dooriyaan
mazboor mera pyaar hai
mazboor mazboor
aaa aaa
aaja aaja tera intezaar hai
tujhe dhoondh raha mera pyaar hai
aaja aaja
mazboor mera pyaar hai
mazboor mazboor
mazboor mazboor

For people like me, who discuss songs from yesteryears all the time, feeling nostalgic about the past is no big deal. But this song is something exceptional even for nostalgia buffs.

This song from “Doctor” is nearly 70 years old, and that makes this song a very old song indeed. And this song is from an era when talkies were just 10 years old and playback singing was in its infancy. It is pioneers like Pankaj Mullick who helped playback singing become what it is today.

This song is a lovely song which in fact talks of the days gone by. So this song was a nostalgic song even in 1941 when it was produced. The voice, the music, the picturisation, all of that is oozing with nostalgic. And Pankaj Mullick is the person who is the singer, actor as well as the composer of this song. That leaves only the lyrics writing, and I have no idea who the lyricist is, but he has certainly come up with a superb song.

This song, though based on classical rag (Gunkali) is so soothing even to the ears of the uninitiated. What a wonderful gem from the past this song is !

Song-Guzar gayaa wo zamaana kaisa kaisa (Doctor) (1941) Singer- Pankaj Mullick,MD-Pankaj Mullick

Lyrics

<strong<Guzar gayaa wo zamaanaa
kaisaa-kaisaa
guzar gayaa wo zamaanaa
kaisaa-kaisaa
hansi-Khushi ki bahaar thi jismein
guzar gayaa wo zamaanaa
kaisaa-kaisaa
guzar gayaa

phool tamannaaon ke jismein
qadam-qadam par khilte the
ab wo hi rastaa ujdaa ban hai
jispe hai aanaa-jaanaa
kaisaa-kaisaa
guzar gayaa

hanstaa huaa ek raaz hai jisase
konaa-konaa roshan thaa
aisaa bujhaa ke
aisaa bujhaa ke dubaaraa jisko
minnaten nahin jalaanaa
kaisaa-kaisaa
guzar gayaa

gayaa zamaanaa phir aayegaa
jaane waale jaanege
gayaa zamaanaa phir aayegaa
jaane waale jaanege
hamako na pahachaanegaa jo koyi
ham bhi
ham bhi
ham bhii kyun pahchaanenge
aa jaa aa jaa

Many of R D Burman’s songs in 1970s were fast paced songs that were loud, party songs. But when the sitauation demanded, R D Burman could come up with soft, sensitive romantic songs too.

Here is a lovely romantic song from “Mere Jeewan Saathi” (1972). If someone is familiar wit this song and he goes through the lyrics, he may wonder what the fuss is all about and how a song with this kind of lyrics can ever become popular. But this song did not just become popular, it stayedpopular and went on to become a timeless classic.

This song is picturised nicely on Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja. This movie is full of superb songs, and this song is perhaps the most popular of them all, and deservingly so.

Song-O mere dil ke chain (Mere Jeewan Saathi) (1972) Singer-Kishore Kumar ,Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, R D Burman

Lyrics

hmm hmm hmm
o mere, dil ke chain,
o mere, dil ke chain,
chain aaye mere dil ko duaa kijiye
o mere, dil ke chain,
chain aaye mere dil ko duaa kijiye

apnaa hi saayaa dekh ke tum jaane jahaan sharmaa gaye
abhi to ye pahli manzil hai, tum to abhi se ghabraa gaye
meraa kyaa hogaa, socho to zaraa
haay aise naa aahen bharaa kijiye
o mere dil ke chain
chain aaye mere dil ko duaa kijiye

aapkaa armaan aapkaa naam, meraa taraanaa aur nahin
in jhukti palkon ke siwaa, dil kaa thikaanaa aur nahin
janchtaa hi nahin aankhon mein koyi
dil tumko hi chaahe to kyaa kijiye
o mere dil ke chain
chain aaye mere dil ko duaa kijiye

yoon to akelaa bhi aqsar, gir ke sambhal saktaa hoon main
tum jo pakad lo haath meraa, duniyaa badal saktaa hoon main
maangaa hai tumhen duniyaa ke liye
ab khud hi sanam faislaa kijiye
o mere dil ke chain
chain aaye mere dil ko duaa kijiye
o mere dil ke chain
o mere

In Bollywood, actors tend to be typecast, and most people tend to have a preconceived notions about the roles played by various actors.

For example, the mention of Ajit conjures up visions of a suave villain , who boasts that the entire town acknowledges him as “Loin” and who would bring smuggled gold in Versova beach and who would finally trying to flee out of India to Birmingham in his “Helly”caapter.

Meena Kumari likewise is typecast in public mind as a tragic figure forever seen dressed in white, suffering in silence and singing tragic songs.

In reality, both Ajit and Meena Kumari had begun their careers differently. Ajit in fact used to act as hero till early 1960s. Meena Kumari acted in happy roles till about 1960 or so. It was only afterwards that these two began to act in roles that became their trademarks.

Here is a song that picturised on Ajit and Meena Kumari from their pre typecast days.This song is from “Halaaku” (1956), an Arabian nights kind of a mythological movie.

This song is sung by Lata. Shailendra is the lyricist and Shankar Jaikishan composed the music.

song-Ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa meraa (Halaku) (1956) Singer-Lata,Lyrics- Shailendra,MD- Shankar Jaikishan

Lyrics

ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa
ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa

dil ki tamannaa aayi labon par
dil ki tamannaa aayi labon par
aaj ki raat pe umr nichhaawar
aaj ki raat pe umr nichhaawar
ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa
ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa

aankhon mein aankhon mein daal ke hamdam
aankhon mein aankhon mein daal ke hamdam
kah do kabhi naa honge judaa ham
kah do kabhi naa honge judaa ham
ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa
ye chaand ye sitaare ye saath teraa-meraa
shab-e-zindagi kaa naa ab ho saweraa
aa dilrubaa o dilrubaa

The first movie of O P Nayyar as a music director was “Aasmaan” (1952). In this movie he had created songs that were diferent from his music of later movies. In this movie , he used the voices of Geeta Dutt, Raj Kumari and C H Atma.

Here is a lovely song from “Aasmaan” (1952). It is written by Prem Dhawan and sung by Geeta Dutt. I am not aware who sang this song on screen, but considering that Nasir Khan and Shyama were the lead actors of this movie, one can guess that this song must have been picturised on Shyama.

Coming to the song itself, what a superb song it is ! I first listened to this song only just now, some 57 yeras after its creation, and this song sounds so fresh, as if it has just come off the minds. It is a gem that was lying forgotten, but it deserves to be better known.

Song-Dekho jaadu bhare more nain (Aasmaan) (1952) Singer-Geeta Dutt, Lyrics-Prem Dhawan, MD-O P Nayyar

Lyrics

dekho jaadu bhare more nain
dekho jaadu bhare more nain
arre jaadu bhare arre jaaduu bhare
arre jaadu bhare arre jaaduu bhare
dekho jaadu bhare more nain
itraayen kabhi sharmaayen kabhi
itraayen kabhi sharmaayen kabhi
muskaayen kabhi tan jaayen kabhi
muskaayen kabhi tan jaayen kabhi
tadpaate rahen din rain
more nain more nain more nain
dekho jaadu bhare
dekho jaadu bhare more nain
dekho jaadu bhare more nain

deewaanaa karen mastaanaa karen
deewaanaa karen mastaanaa karen
jise ek baar dekhen nishaana karen
jise ek baar dekhen nishaana karen
kisi ko na lene de chain
more nain more nain more nain
dekho jaadu bhare
dekho jaadu bhare more nain
dekho jaadu bhare more nain
arre jaadu bhare arre jaaduu bhare
arre jaadu bhare arre jaaduu bhare
dekho jaadu more nain

It has been pointed out to me that this song was missing from this blog. In fact there are so many nice songs that are yet to be posted, and it will take time before I am able to do justice to all these songs. One can only try and post as many of these songs as one can, and hope that time takes care of the rest.

Here is this lovely song from “Mr and Mrs 55″. The song is sung by Rafi and Geeta Dutt. Majrooh Sultanpuri is the lyricist and O P Nayyar is the music director.

The song is picturised on Guru Dutt and Madhubala. Guru Dutt was not yet into tragic roles and that is nice to note. Madhubala looks quite restrained and subdued in this song, unlike what she was in subsequent movies such as “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi”. In fact I had to look at her closely in this picturisation to finally convince myself that it was indeed Madhubala and no one else in this song.

This song is a timeless classic. I know, I know that I say this about so many songs. But then I tell the truth every time. There are just too many timeless classics lying there, waiting to be posted.

Song-Udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai (Mr and Mrs 55) (1955) Singers-Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-O P Nayyar

hmm hmm hmm
hmm hmm hmm
udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
ye rangeen raaton ki ek daastaan hai
udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
ye rangeen raaton ki ek daastaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa ye kyaa daastaan hai
bataa ae mohabbat meraa dil kahaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa

mere ghar mein aayi huyi hai bahaar
qayaamat hai phir bhi karoon intzaar
mere ghar mein aayi huyi hai bahaar
qayaamat hai phir bhi karoon intzaar
aa
mohabbat kuchh aisi sadaa de rahi hai
mohabbat kuchh aisi sadaa de rahi hai
ki khud raat angdaayiyaan le rahi hai
jidhar dekhti hoon nazaaraa jawaan hai
udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
ye rangeen raaton ki ek daastaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa ye kyaa daastaan hai
bataa ae mohabbat meraa dil kahaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa

sulagti hain taaron ki parchhaayiyaan
buri hain muhabbat ki tanhaayiyaan
sulagti hain taaron ki parchhaayiyaan
buri hain muhabbat ki tanhaayiyaan
aaa
mahakne lagaa meri zulfon mein koyi
lagi jaagne dhadkanen khoyi-khoyi
meri har nazar aaj dil ki zubaan hai
udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
ye rangeen raaton ki ek daastaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa ye kyaa daastaan hai
bataa ae mohabbat meraa dil kahaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa

tarastaa hoon main aise dildaar ko
jo dil mein basaa le mere pyaar ko
tarastaa hoon main aise dildaar ko
jo dil mein basaa le mere pyaar ko
aaa
tere khwaab hain meri raaton pe chhaaye
tere khwaab hain meri raaton pe chhaaye
mere dil pe hain teri palkon ke saaye
ke mere labon pe teri daastaan hai
udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawaan hai
ye rangeen raaton ki ek daastaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa ye kyaa daastaan hai
bataa ae mohabbat meraa dil kahaan hai
ye kaisaa hai naghmaa

“Aapke Deewaane” (1980) is a movie that had some nice songs in it. This is one of the few movies I recall where Rafi and Kishore Kumar sang together. It was perhaps for the last time that the two sang together, since Rafi died shortly thereafter.

Here is a lovely song from this movie where Rafi and Kishore Kumar both sing. Anand Bakshi is the lyricist and Rajesh Roshan is the music director. The song is picturised on Rishi Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan and Tina Munim. From the picturisation of this , as well as other songs, the movie appears to be a love triangle which was a popular formula in Bollywood movies those days (the movie “Dostana” of those days readily comes to mind).

Let us forget the story line and enjoy the song. What a nice song to listen to !

Song-Tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa (Aapke Deewaane)(1980) Singers-Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lyrics-Anand Bakshi, MD-Rajesh Roshan

Lyrics

tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
ye aankh bhar aayi to phir kyaa huaa
phir kyaa huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa

kaun si shaakh par kaun saa gul khile
kaun si shaakh par kaun saa gul khile
yaaron ye to naseebon ke hain faisle
kisliye phir kyun karen koyi shikwaa gilaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
ye aankh bhar aayi to phir kyaa huaa
phir kyaa huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa

tumne kyaa kah diyaa hamne kyaa sun liyaa
tumne kyaa kah diyaa hamne kyaa sun liyaa
uljhanen mit gayin aa gayaa chain saa
dard ko mil gayi jaise koyi dawaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
ye aankh bhar aayi to phir kyaa huaa
phir kyaa huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa

saari duniyaa se ye zindagi hai badi
saari duniyaa se ye zindagi hai badi
zindagi se magar dosti hai badi
doston dosti ke liye shukriyaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
ye aankh bhar aayi to phir kyaa huaa
phir kyaa huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa
tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush huaa

When one listens to old Bollywood songs, then one tends to form an idea about the actor on whom the song must have been picturised. If the movie has a song sung by say Rafi, then one expects it to be sung by the hero of the movie.

But I find that this assumption often turns out to be incorrect. I have found that in many cases Rafi would sing for more than one actor in the same movie. Thus he would sing for the hero, as well as for other actors. Now with the benefit of hindsight, one may find this a bit pre posterous, but this “one voice fits all” philosophy worked in those days.

O P Nayyar was one music director who would often the use the voice of Rafi for more than one actors in the same movie. He in fact once made Rafi sing for Kishore Kumar too. O P Nayyar was a big name in those days, so he could get his way when it came to getting singers of his choice to sing for him. Someone who made it big without needing to use the voice of Lata even once, he obviusly had something special in him.

Here is a song from C I D (1956). This song in fact is one of the better known songs from this movie. That is saying something because every song from this movie is well known even today.

This song is a duet, sung by Rafi and Shamshad Begam. All these days I thought that the song must have been picturised on Dev Anand and Shakeela, the lead actors of the movie, but it turns out that I was wrong. The lead actors are there in the picturisation, but this song is picturised on some bit actors. I am not familiar with the names of these bit actors. Can any learned reader throw some light on who they could be ?

The song is written by Majrooh Sultanpuri who wrote all but one songs of this movie. The one song that he did not write was written by Jaan Nissar Akhtar.

song-ho leke pahla pahla pyaar (CID) (1956) Singers-Rafi,Shamshad Begam, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-O P Nayyar

Lyrics

ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar

mukhde pe daale huye zulfon ki badli
chali balkhaati kahaan ruk jaa o pagli
aaa
mukhde pe daale huye zulfon ki badli
chali balkhaati kahaan ruk jaa o pagli
haay nainon waali tere dwaar
leke sapne hazaar
jaadu nagari se aaya hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar

chaahe koyi chamke ji chaahe koyi barse
bachnaa hai mushkil piyaa jaadoogar se
aaa
chaahe koyi chamke ji chaahe koyi barse
bachnaa hai mushkil piyaa jaadoogar se
haay degaa aisaa mantar maar
aakhir hogi teri haar
jaadu nagri se aaya hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar

sun sun baaten teri gori muskaayi re
aayi aayi dekho dekho aayi hansi aayi re
ho o
sun sun baaten teri gori muskaayi re
aayi aayi dekho dekho aayi hansi aayi re
haay kheli hothon pe bahaar
niklaa gusse se bhi pyaar
jaadu nagri se aaya hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar
bharke aankhon mein khumaar
jaadu nagri se aayaa hai koyi jaadoogar
ho leke pahlaa pahlaa pyaar