THE BEST GUITAR SONGS IN THE HINDI MOVIES

These are not merely the songs on guitar. But, these are also the songs in whose scene the guitar is to be seen prominently.

The curious thing about the instrument guitar in the Hindi movies is that the guitar is a fashion statement; the hero or the heroine swings it any which way – across the shoulder, left and right like a man gone berserk with his carbine, or even to rotate it around on the floor a la Zeenat Aman style. Very rarely you come across a song in which the singer actually strums on the guitar throughout the song; most often than not the song starts with the singer strumming the guitar and then forgetting all about either strumming or the guitar itself.

One Music Director who really mastered the acoustic guitar in his songs was Sachin Dev Burman. As soon as you think of the acoustic guitar on the Indian scene, you think of Goa and that’s where Guru Dutt’s 1952 movie Jaal (the Net/Trap) was based; the second movie after Baazi in which Guru Dutt starred Dev Anand.

Dev Anand, as Tony Fernandez, is a good-for-nothing man who comes to a fishing village in Goa with a strange girl Lisa. There Tony seduces a Carlos’s (KN Singh’s) daughter Maria (played by Geeta Bali). Maria is cautioned not to fall for the no-gooder Tony but so strong is the seduction that she cannot help herself. Finally, pure Catholic love of Maria wins over the waywardness of Tony.

Sachin Dev Burman brought the seduction so well through the acoustic guitar that the song is still considered the best that Hindi movies have to offer in this genre. Sahir Ludhianvi, who often penned the lyrics of Guru Dutt movies songs (as in the classic Pyaasa) wrote the lyrics of this song. My favourite singer Hemant Kumar himself sang the song.

Please enjoy the irresistible seduction of acoustic guitar in the iconic song: Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan sun jaa dil ki dastaan……….

ye raat ye chaa.Ndanii phir kahaa.N
sun jaa dil kii daastaa.N
ye raat…

pe.Do.n kii shaakho.n pe soii soii chaa.Ndanii
tere khayaalo.n me.n khoii khoii chaa.Ndanii
aur tho.Dii der me.n thak ke lauT jaaegii
raat ye bahaar kii phir kabhii na aaegii
do ek pal aur hai ye samaa, sun jaa…

laharo.n ke ho.nTho.n pe dhiimaa dhiimaa raag hai
bhiigii havaao.n me.n Tha.nDii Tha.nDii aag hai
is hasiin aag me.n tuu bhii jalake dekhale
zi.ndagii ke giit kii dhun badal ke dekhale
khulane de ab dha.Dakano.n kii zubaa.N, sun jaa…

jaatii bahaare.n hai.n uThatii javaaniyaa.N
taaro.n ke chhaao.n me.n pahale kahaaniyaa.N
ek baar chal diye gar tujhe pukaarake
lauTakar na aae.nge qaafile bahaar ke
aajaa abhii zi.ndagii hai javaa.N, sun jaa…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dBw_JSiNF9c%3F

Yes, this iconic song doesn’t have the singer strumming the guitar; but, then, you can hardly ever come across a better guitar song in the Hindi movies. It is guitar all the way; so much so that it is hard to imagine this song without the guitar.

This has the consistent magic of the combine of Shailendra with Shankar Jaikishen as Lyricist and Music Director. Lata Mangeshkar sang this for the 1960 movie Dil Apna Aur Preet Praayi. Shankar Jaikishen bagged the best Music Director Award for the movie.

The story of the movie takes you to my home-station Shimla where Raaj Kumar as Doctor Sushil Verma is doctor in the hospital. Meena Kumari as nurse comes to the hospital and since they are together in a difficult operation, they come close to each other.

The story takes a turn when Doctor Sushil’s mother organises a trip to Kashmir. Doctor Sushil is to marry Nadira (Kusum) in gratitude to Nadira’s father for having paid Doctor Sushil’s medical studies fees! It is on this occasion that the song is sung.

With the story, now, you will identify with the lyrics, the now happy, now sad notes and the rueful atmosphere in a boat. More than rueful, it is enigmatic.

Please enjoy: Ajeeb dastaan hai ye….

ajiib daastaa.n hai ye
kahaa.N shuruu kahaa.N khatam
ye ma.nzile.n hai kaun sii
na vo samajh sake na ham
ajiib daastaa.n…

(ye roshanii ke saath kyo.n
dhuaa.N uThaa chiraag se) -2
ye Kvaab dekhatii huu.N mai.n
ke jag pa.Dii huu.N Kvaab se
ajiib daastaa.n…

(kisiikaa pyaar leke tum
nayaa jahaa.N basaaoge) -2
ye shaam jab bhii aaegii
tum hamako yaad aaoge
ajiib daastaa.n…

(mubaarake.n tumhe.n ke tum
kisiike nuur ho gae) -2
kisiike itane paas ho
ke sabase duur ho gae
ajiib daastaa.n…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eJLdL5_QkVo%3F

Why do I like this guitar song from the 1968 movie Kismat (Destiny) so much? Is it just because of the enchanting guitar notes brought into the song by OP Nayyar whose music direction ensured that he invariably had the maximum number of hit songs in his movies be it Kashmir Ki Kali or Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. He even made songs that the comedian Johnny Walker sang (including the iconic Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan….ye hai Bombay meri jaan). Yes, that’s there. But, the song also has Biswajeet acting on the guitar in a club/hotel and he is not just effectively strumming the guitar but also has the right body-language throughout the song. SH Bihari, who wrote lyrics for OP Nayyar in Kashmir Ki Kali too, penned these too. The song has been sung by Mahendra Kapoor, which is not surprising at all considering that even Manna De sang guitar songs!

Please enjoy: Laakhon hain yahan dilwaale par pyaar nahin milata….

laakho.n hai yahaa.N dila vaale, aur pyaar nahii.n milataa
aa.Nkho.n me.n kisii kii vafaa kaa, iqaraar nahii.n milataa

mahafil mahafil jaa dekhaa, har dil me.n samaa kar dekhaa
har saaz pe gaa kar dekhaa
dil ko kahii.n chain naa milaa – 2
mai.n to duniyaa me.n pyaare akelaa hii rahaa
laakho.n hai yahaa.N …

is dil ko kahaa.N le jaae.n, kuchh aap agar faramaae.n
to aap ke ham ho jaae.n
kah do hame.n ha.nsake zaraa – 2
ajii jo kuchh bhii dil ne tumhaare hai kahaa
laakho.n hai yahaa.N …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lzqA4kjBHK8%3F

Ravi, my namesake’s song too in the 1962 Shammi Kapoor and Shakeela starrer movie China Town, reached iconic proportions. So much so that when they talk about guitar songs, this one of the first songs that comes to one’s mind. Majrooh Sultanpuri was one lyricist who was far ahead of his times and penned songs that reflected the modern era during those times (his numbers in Dev Anand starrer Guru Dutt movie C.I.D., for example, shall come to your mind including the one that was banned due to its “suggestive double entendre”): Jaata kahan hai deewaane, sab kuchh yahan hai sanam. Then there are other Dev Anand starrers such as Kaala Paani, Bambai Ka Babu). His songs for Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Pyaar Ka Mausam, Yaadon Ki Baraat, all reflected the modern spirit.

Sixteen years later, the story of China Town was copied in Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don. In China Town, Shammi Kapoor as Shekhar is a singer in a hotel. He is in love with Rita (Shakila); but her father wants her to marry someone of their own status, that is, rich. They relocate from Darjeeling to Calcutta and Shammi Kapoor follows them. Shakila’s father gets him arrested. It is at this time that the police realise that Shekhar’s face resembles that of China Town gangster Mike in jail with them. The police think of replacing Mike with Shekhar so as to get to China Town.

Baar baar dekho is one of the songs that Shekhar sings in the hotel in the presence of Rita. Please enjoy: Baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho….. 

Baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho
ke dekhane kii chiiz hai, hamaaraa dilarubaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho

(haa.N jii haa.N, aur bhii ho.nge diladaar yahaa.N
laakho.n dilo.n kii bahaar yahaa.N
par ye baat kahaa.N ) – 2
ye bemisaal husn, laajavaab ye aadaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho

(dil milaa, ek jaan-e-mahafil milaa
yaa chiraaG-e-ma.nzil milaa
ye na puuchho ke kahaa.N ) – 2
nayaa nayaa ye aashiqii kaa raaz hai merA, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho

(balle balle, uThake misTar kyo.n chale
pyaar pe mere kaho kyo.n jale
baiTh bhii jaao meharabaa.N ) – 2
duaa karo mile tumhe.n bhii aisaa dilarubaa, Taalii ho
Taalii ho, Taalii ho

https://youtube.com/watch?v=k6pYkSh2NcA%3F

Now imagine Majrooh Sultanpuri writing twenty-six years after China Town song Baar baar dekho; he was still writing for the young, the modern, the romantic. The generation had changed and Majrooh kept pace with the times. The film was the 1988 movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Taq. It was the debut film for three important people: Mansoor Khan who directed the film following in the footsteps of his father Nasir Hussain who wrote the story; Nasir Hussain’s nephew Aamir Khan who was later to emerge as the actor who set new standards in acting excellence; and finally Juhi Chawla who emerged as a bubbling and fresh star. The movie was the first grand hit for Music Director Anand, Milind and singer Udit Narayan.

This guitar song became a craze with the younger generation. Please enjoy: Papa kehte hain bada naam karega…..

Paapaa kahate hai.n ba.Daa naam karegaa
beTaa hamaaraa aisaa kaam karegaa
magar ye to, koii nA jaane
ke merii ma.nzil, hai kahaa.N

baiThe hai.n milake, sab yaar apane
sabake dilo.n me.n, aramaa.n ye hai
vo zindagii me.n, kal kyaa banegaa
har ik najar kaa, sapanaa ye hai
koii ##engineer## kaa kaam karegaa
##business## me.n koii apanaa naam karegaa, magar ye to …

meraa to sapanaa, hai ek cheharaa
dekhe jo usako, jhuume bahaar
gaalo.n me.n khilatii, kaliyo.n kaa mausam
aa.Nkho.n me.n jaaduu, hoTho.n me.n pyaar
bandaa ye khUbasUrat kaam karegaa
dil kii duniyaa me.n apanaa naam karegaa, magar ye to …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=FEvBiayarlc%3F

The 1973 Nasir Hussain movie Yaadon Ki Baraat had the oft repeated theme of siblings separated by destiny but meeting in later years through the same destiny.

Shankar (Dharmendra), Vijay (Vijay Arora), and Ratan (Tariq Khan) are three brothers. In their childhood, on their father’s birthday, their mother taught them a song titled Yaadon Ki Baaraat. One day, their father witnessed a robbery by Shakaal (Ajit Khan) and his henchmen and is hence killed by Shakaal together with his wife. The boys watch this and flee.

After they grow up, they cannot forget the nightmarish memories of their parents’ murder. Shankar is haunted by it and is now joined by his friend Usman on a crime spree around the city. Vijay was adopted by a fairly wealthy man who is the groundskeeper to the love of his life, Sunita (Zeenat Aman). Ratan was raised by the boys’ maid, who changed his name to Monto. With his new identity, Monto starts a band and does gigs at hotels for a living and is also in love with a co-singer (Neetu Singh).

The brothers meet several times, yet do not recognize each other; until their song Yaadon Ki Baraat brings them together. This too is a lovely guitar song. However, the guitar song that scores over this in my list of Best Guitar Songs in Hindi movies is certainly the one between Zeeant Aman and Vijay Arora. Now, here is one heroine who looked class with a guitar even if she only rotated it on the floor and hardly strummed it. Majrooh Sultanpuri who never disappointed with his modern era lyrics, penned the lyrics for this too. And, RD Burman’s music is simply superb. Mohammad Rafi who has sung all types and genres of songs in the movies including children’s songs, ushered in the era of pop music in Hindi movies and was totally at home singing it. Asha Bhosle, singing for Zeenat Aman was sensuous indeed.

Please enjoy: Chura liya hai tum ne jo dil ko…….

Churaa liyaa hai tum ne jo dil ko
nazar nahii.n churaanaa sanam
badal ke merii tum zi.ndagaanii
kahii.n badal na jaanaa sanam

le liyaa dil, haay meraa dil
haay dil lekar mujhako naa bahalaanaa
churaa liyaa… churaa liyaa hai …

bahaar ban ke aauu.N kabhii tumhaarii duniyaa me.n
guzar na jaae.n ye din kahii.n isii tamannaa me.n
tum mere ho, haa.N tum mere ho
aaj tum itanaa vaadaa karate jaanaa
churaa liyaa … churaa liyaa hai …

sajaauu.Ngaa luT kar bhii tere badan kii Dolii ko
lahuu jigar kaa duu.Ngaa ha.nsii.n labo.n kii laalii ko
hai vafaa kyaa, is jahaa.N ko
ek din dikhalaa duu.Ngaa mai.n diivaanaa
churaa liyaa… churaa liyaa hai …

le liyaa dil, haay meraa dil
haay dil lekar mujhako naa bahalaanaa
churaa liyaa… churaa liyaa hai …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=HvY9nHIAneg%3F

This song would have jumped several steps up and would have rubbed shoulders with the top-most guitar songs in Hindi movies, except that it was spoiled by bad picturisation by the director T Prakash Rao. Its lyrics by Anand Bakshi, music by Kalyanji Anandji and singing by Kishore Kumar are all top-notch though. It is from the 1970 movie Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani with Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in title roles. They have three school going children Ravi, Roopa and Raja. The three go into a hunger strike because the parents are not able to meet their  demands, what with the father’s income being only Rupees 630 per month. It is at this time that Balraj Sahni tries to teach them budgeting by giving them reign of household expenses for the next six months. A beautiful story follows, literally ghar ghar ki kahani.

The song is played on guitar in the movie by Jalal Agha, a college student whilst Rakesh Roshan and Bharati are seen loving in the backdrop. How one wishes, the scene was built up better in the movie.

Anyway, enjoy: Samaa hai suhaana suhaana, nashe mein jahaan hai……

Samaa hai suhaanaa suhaanaa
nashe me.n jahaa.N hai
kisii ko kisii kii khabar hii kahaa.N hai
har dil me.n dekho
mohabbat javaa.N hai
##hmm##…

kah rahii hai nazar nazar se afasaane
##hmm##…
kah rahii hai nazar nazar se afasaane
ho rahaa hai asar ke jisako dil jaane
dekho ye dil kii ajab daastaa.n hai
nazar bolatii hai, dil bezubaa.n hai
##hmm##…
samaa hai suhaanaa suhaanaa…

ho rahaa hai milan dilo.n kaa mastaanaa
##hmm##…
ho rahaa hai milan dilo.n kaa mastaanaa
ho gayaa hai koii kisii kaa diivaanaa
jahaa.N dilarubaa hai, dil bhii vahaa.N hai
jise pyaar kahiye, vahii darmiyaa.N hai
##hmm##…
samaa hai suhaanaa suhaanaa…

Now that I have introduced you to a guitar song by the composers Kalyanji Anandji, I am tempted to give you another beautiful one by the same duo; this one with even better guitar notes. It is from thew 1983 movie Kalaakar starring Sridevi and Kunal Goswami. Lyrics are by Indeevar.

Please enjoy: Neele neele ambar par chand jab aaye……..

nIle nIle ambar par, chA.Nd jab aaye
pyaar barasaae, hamako tarasaaye
aisaa koii saathii ho
aisaa koii premii ho
pyaas dil kii bujhaa jaae
nIle nIle …

(ho, uu.Nche uu.Nche parvat
jab chuumate hai ambar ko
pyaasaa pyaasaa ambar
jab chuumataa hai saagar ko ) – 2
pyaar se kasane ko
baaho.n me.n basane ko
dil meraa lalachaaye
koI to aa jaaye
aisaa koI saathii ho
aisaa koI premii ho
pyaas dil kii bujhaa jaae
nIle nIle …

(ho, Tha.nDe Tha.nDe jho.nke
jab baalo.n ko sahalaae.n
tapatii tapatii kiraNe.n
jab gaalo.n ko chhU jAe.n ) – 2
saa.Nso.n kii garamii ko
haatho.n kii naramii ko
dil meraa tarasaae
koI to chhU jAye
aisaa koI saathii ho
aisaa koI premii ho
pyaas dil kii bujhaa jAe
nIle nIle …

(chham chham karataa sAvan
bU.ndo.n ke baaN chalAe
satara.ngii barasaato.n me.n jab
tan man bhIgaa jaae ) – 2
pyaar me.n nahAne ko
DUb hii jaane ko
koI to aa jAe
khvaab jagaa jAye
aisaa koI saathii ho
aisaa koI premii ho
pyaas dil kii bujhaa jae
nIle nIle …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZUlDWcik6dg%3F

After the success of 1952 movie Jaal’s guitar based song Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan, Sahir Ludhianvi, SD Burman and Hemant Kumar did it again, in another Dev Anand movie, the 1955 film Munimji in which Dev Anand acted with Nalini Jaywant and Pran. However, this time, singing for the heroine wasn’t Lata Mangeshkar but Geeta Dutt.

There will be some who will consider this song as a little comical because of Pran’s farcical attempts at singing. However, it is still a very beautiful guitar based song, well deserving of being included in the Best Guitar Songs compilation.

Please enjoy: Dil ki umange hain jawan, rang mein dooba hai samaa…..

he : dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa
mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
haar ke dono.n jahaa.N

gii: aap bhii gaa_ie naa?
kyaa mushkil hai? saragam bataa_uu.N

pa ma pa dha pa ga sa pa
dil kii uma.nge.n hai.N javaa.N
gaa_ie

praa: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
gii: bahut achchhe
praa: ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa
gii: vaah vaah vaah

he: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
aa haa haa haa haa haa haa
gii: gaa_ie gaa_ie gaa_ie
praa: o ho ho ho ho ho ho
gii: kyaa kahane

he: o~ o~ o~ o~ o~
sadiyo.n puraanii ye zamiin
hai aaj kitanii hasiin
aataa nahii.n hai yakiin
hotaa nahii.n hai bayaa.N

gii: aap bhii gaa_ie
praa: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa
gii: jiyo jiyo
praa: mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
he: uu.N huu.N, mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
haar ke dono.n jahaa.N
dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N

bhiige nazaaro.n se kaho
gaatii havaao.n se kaho o o
jaatii bahaaro.n se kaho
ruk jaaye aaj yahaa.N

dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N

gii: gaa_ie naa
kyaa mazaa aa rahaa hai
huu.N huu.N huu.N
praa: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa
he: mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
haar ke dono.n jahaa.N
dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N

he: o~ o~ o~ o~ o~
gii: huu.N huu.N huu.N
bechain tanhaa_iyaa.N
letii hai.n anga.Daa_iyaa.N
halkii sii shahanaa_iyaa.N
bajatii hai.n jaane kahaa.N

gaa_ie na ek baar aur

praa: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa

he: mai.n_ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
haar ke dono.n jahaa.N

gii: aa_ie na aap bhii naachiye

he, gii: dil kii uma.nge.n hai.n javaa.N
ra.ng me.n Duubaa hai samaa
he: mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
gii: uu.N, huu.N mai.n ne tumhe.n jiit liyaa
he, gii: haar ke dono.n jahaa.N

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5rRt2jt5Aw

Lets now turn to some of the latter day movies and the guitar based songs in them. The title song of the 1990 Mahesh Bhatt movie Aashiqi. The film was a total success because of the music given by Nadeem Shravan and because of Kumar Sanu’s singing. Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal also debuted in the movie and came in as whiffs of fresh air. In the title song, Nadeem Shravan used the electric guitar notes so well that these stay with you long after you have finished listening to the song. Lyricist is Ravi Malik and the song has been sung by Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal.

Please enjoy: Saanson ki zaroorat hai jaise zindagi ke liye……

saa.Nso.n kii zaruurat hai jaise – (2)
zi.ndagii ke liye – (2)
bas ek sanam chaahiye, aashiqii ke liye

(jaam kii zaruurat hai jaise – 2), bekhudii ke liye
haa.N ek sanam chaahiye, aashiqii ke liye
bas ek sanam chaahiye, aashiqii ke liye

vaqt ke haatho.n me.n sabakii taqadiire.n hai.n – (2)
aaInaa jhuuThaa hai sachchii tasaviire.n hai.n
jahaa.N dard hai vahii.n giit hai
jahaa.N pyaas hai vahii.n miit hai
koI naa jaane magar jiine kii yahii riit hai
(saaz kii zaruurat hai jaise -2), mausiqii ke liye
bas ek sanam chaahiye, aashiqii ke liye

ho ho ho ho ho ho ho – (2)

ma.nzile.n haasil hai.n phir bhii ek duurii hai
binaa hamaraahii ke zi.ndagii adhuurii hai
milegii kahii.n koI rahaguzar
tanhaa kaTegaa kaise ye safar
mere sapane ho jahaa.N
DhuunDhuu.N mai.n aisii nazar
(chaa.nd kii zaruurat hai jaise -2), chaa.ndanii ke liye
bas ek sanam chaahiye, aashiqii ke liye

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YCuhzjK11iA%3F

I love this song from the 1998 movie Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kyaa starring Salman Khan and Kajol. The singer Kamal Khan became an overnight success with this song. The guitar notes are really good; though, it is a shame that Salman Khan gets rid of the guitar like he does of his shirt.

The song is also a success story for the lyricist Sameer and composers Jatin Lalit.

Please enjoy: O o jaane jaana, dhoonde tujhe deewana…..

I love you all
Doston  na koi manzil hai
No koi saathi hai
Phir bhi nikal pada hoon ghar se
Shaayad wohi saathi hai wohi manzil hai
Hit it !!!

O O Jaane Jaana
Dhoondhe Tujhe Deewana
Sapnoo Mein Roz Aaye
Aa Zindagi Mein Aa Na
O O Jaane Jaana
Dhoondhe Tujhe Deewana
Sapnoo Mein Roz Aaye
Aa Zindagi Mein Aa Na Sanam

Mere Khaab Mere Khayaloon Ki Rani
Kisi Din Banegi Humari Kahani
Mere Khaab Mere Khayaloon Ki Rani
Kisi Din Banegi Humari Kahani
Aye meri Bekhudii
Ye Kasam Maine Li
Pyaar Mein Ek Din
Meri Jaan Tujhe Hai Paana

Sapnoo Mein Roz Aaye
Aa Zindagi Mein Aa Na

O O Jaane Jaana
Dhoondhe Tujhe Deewana
Sapnoo Mein Roz Aaye
Aa Zindagi Mein Aa Na Sanam

Kisi Khoobsurat Paari Jaisi Hogi
Mujhe Kya Pataa
Dilruba Kaisi Hogi
Kisi Khoobsurat Paari Jaisi Hogi
Mujhe Kya Pataa
Dilruba Kaisi Hogi
Sochta Hoon Tujhe
Chahata Hoon Tujhe
Tujhe Choom Loon Sajan
Dil Mera Keh Raha
Saare Fasley Mitaana

O O Jaane Jaana
Dhoondhe Tujhe Deewana
Sapnoo Mein Roz Aaye
Aa Zindagi Mein Aa Na

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nX_34QEVHSk%3F

If Rakesh Roshan was the second fiddle (good expression there, considering that we are talking of Guitar Songs!) in the Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani song (he didn’t act singing it; but, was somewhere in the backgrounsd), in this song too, he was the second fiddle; in that whilst he played the guitar and sang it, it was actually for the lovers Jeetendra and Neetu Singh. But, the song is so good that once again, like the Sama hai suhaana suhaana song, you will be lost in the dream world. Yogesh, Rajesh Roshan and Kishore Kumar have put this together as Lyricist, Music Director and Singer for Rakesh Roshan in the 1977 movie Priyatama.

Please enjoy: Koi rook naa deewaane ko Man machal raha kuchh gaane ko…..

ko_ii roko naa diivaane ko
man machal rahaa kuchh gaane ko -2

ye bhiigaa-bhiigaa mausam ye bhiigii-bhiigii raahe.n
chale do ham raahii baa.Nho.n me.n Daale baahe.n
to phuulo.n ne khil ke kahaa ye dil se
haa.N din suhaanaa mausam salonaa
daaman se baa.NDh lo pyaaraa samaa.N
ko_ii roko naa …

umar ke safar me.n jise jo yahaa.N bhaa_e
usii ke sapano.n me.n ye man ra.ng jaa_e
to ra.ngo.n me.n priit ke ra.nge ra.ngiilaa
gaa le taraanaa jo ye rasiilaa
alabelaa giit vo bhuule kahaa.N
ko_ii roko naa …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=7iK4trzUR7c%3F

The atmosphere of Sama hai suhaana suhaana was copied in a later day Shah Rukh Khan 1997 movie Pardes. As it happens so many times in Shah Rukh Khan movies, he is not the one wooing the heroine, in this case Mahima Chaudhary, but helping her get a good husband in Apurva Agnihotri. Her entire family would like this very much since Apurva has made himself successful in America. Now, it is up to her, Mahima, to win Apurva over and hence, Shah Rukh steps in providing the helping hand. It is only much later in the movie, when Apurva manages to show his true and evil colours that Sha Rukh and Mahima realize how much they themselves love each other. Once again, as in Sama hai suhaana suhaana song, Anand Bakshi is the lyricist. Nadeem Shravan is the composer and the song has been sung by Kumar Sanu.

Please enjoy: Do dil mil rahe hain, magar chupake chupake….

ko: gup-chup gup-chup chup-chup

ku: do dil mil rahe hai.n
do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake -2
sabako ho rahii hai
haa.N sabako ho rahii hai Kabar chupake-chupake
ho do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake

saa.Nso.n me.n ba.Dii beqaraarii, aa.Nkho.n me.n ka_ii ratajage
kabhii kahii.n lag jaye dil to, kahii.n phir dil naa lage
apanaa dil mai.n zaraa thaam luu.N
jaaduu kaa mai.n ise naam duu.N
jaaduu kar rahaa hai
jaaduu kar rahaa hai asar chupake-chupake
do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake

aise bhole ban kar hai.n baiThe, jaise ko_ii baat nahii.n
sab kuch nazar aa rahaa hai, din hai ye raat nahii.n
kyaa hai, kuchh bhii nahii.n hai agar
ho.nTho.n pe hai Kaamoshii magar
baate.n kar rahii.n hai
baate.n kar rahii.n hai nazar chupake-chupake
do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake

kahii.n aag lagane se pahale uThataa hai aisaa dhu_aa.N
jaisaa hai idhar kaa nazaaraa o vaisaa hii udhar kaa samaa.N
dil me.n kaisii kasak sii jagii
dono.n jaanib baraabar lagii
dekho to idhar se
dekho to idhar se udhar chupake-chupake
do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake
sabako ho rahii hai
haa.N sabako ho rahii hai Kabar chupake-chupake
ho do dil mil rahe hai.n magar chupake-chupake

ko: gup-chup gup-chup chup-chup

ku: magar chupake-chupake -2

I would be amiss if I don’t include this song in the list of Best Guitar songs in the Hindi movies. And please notice how as late as in 1995, Majrooh Sultanpuri was still going strong. The song and the guitar playing are important since Aamir Khan in the movie Akele Ham Akele Tum is teaching Manisha Koirala guitar and singing. Anu Malik’s music is refreshing indeed. The song has been sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik.

Please enjoy: Raja ko rani se pyaar ho gaya…..

raajaa ko raanii se pyaar ho gayaa pahalii nazar me.n pahalaa pyaar ho gayaa
dil jigar dono.n ghaayal hu_e tiir-e-nazar dil ke paar ho gayaa
raajaa ko raanii se …

ho raaho.n se raahe.n baaho.n se baahe.n milake bhii milatii nahii.n
ho hotaa hai aksar aramaa.n kii kaliyaa.n khil ke bhii khilatii nahii.n
o phir bhii na jaane kyuu.n nahii.n maane diivaanaa dil bekaraar ho gayaa
raajaa ko raanii se …

raanii ko dekho nazare.n milii.n to aa.Nkhe.n churaane lagii
ho karatii bhii kyaa vo sar ko jhukaa ke ka.nganaa ghumaane lagii
ho raajaa ne aisaa jaaduu chalaayaa na karate karate ikaraar ho gayaa
raajaa ko raanii se …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z4BhFQiX3xE%3F

I have taken you on quite a roller-coaster ride starting with the older songs and then brought you to some of the newer songs that had not just the guitar notes but, guitar was prominently there in the video of the songs.

To end, I shall give you a song representative of the older era. In this, the music directors had got sufficient hang of the guitar but, in the movie, the hero or the heroine merely carried the guitar as some sort of a fashion statement without playing it even once. It is from the 1963 movie Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon. The songs of this movie penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri with remarkably bubbly music composed by OP Nayyar, are amongst the most refreshing songs in Hindi movies. Mohammad Rafi sang for Joy Mukherjee carrying his guitar as a piece of baggage.

Please enjoy the last song in this article: Laakhon hain niggah mein, zindagi ki raah mein, sanam haseen jawaan….

laakho.n hai.n nigaah me.n, zi.ndagii kii raah me.n
sanam hasiin javaa.N
hoTho.n me.n gulaab hai, aa.Nkho.n me.n sharaab hai
lekin vo baat kahaa.N

(laT hai kisii kii jaaduu kaa jaal
ra.ng Daale kisii pe kisii kaa jamaal) – 2
taubaa ye nigaahe.n, ke rokatii hai raahe.n
le leke tiir kamaan
laakho.n hai.n nigaah me.n …

(jaanuu.n naa diivaanaa mai.n dil kaa
kaun hai khayaalo.n kii malikaa) – 2
bhiigii bhiigii rut kii chhaao.n tale
man ko kahii.n vo aan mile
kaise pahachaanuu.N, ki naam nahii.n jaanuu.N
Dhuu.NDhe mere aramaan
laakho.n hai.n nigaah me.n …

(kabhii kabhii vo ek maha-jabii.n
Dolatii hai dil ke paas kahii.n) – 2
ke hai.n jo yahii baate.n
to ho.ngii mulaakaate.n
kabhii vahaa.N nahii.n to yahaa.N

haay, laakho.n hai.n nigaah me.n …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eoiOG0a1jNw%3F

NEW YEAR EVE AND DIRTY JOKES

This incident happened half-way through my tenure on INS Himgiri, the first time I served on that ship, as an Acting Sub Lieutenant for my Watch-keeping certificate.

We had a prim n propah CO: Cdr NN Anand, also known as Baby Anand since he was way ahead of his contemporaries. What they would achieve several years hence, he had already achieved.

During those days COs gained reputation by how cool they were on the Bridge and Baby Anand was a cool one, indeed. I recall that he trained us well and gave us ample opportunity to have independent charge of the ship in harbour as well as at sea.

The Command Headquarters never plan out your sea sorties keeping such important dates in mind as New Year, Diwali, Holi and Raksha Bandhan. Indeed, it appears to me that they actually keep these dates in mind and ensure you don’t waste time and money spending such dates with your families.

So, it was with the New Year Eve of 31st Dec 1975. We were on passage from Cochin to Bombay and the New Year of 1976 was to be ushered in on our helo deck.

There was an entertainment programme by the ship’s company. We, the Sub Lieuts, presented yet another spoof on the movie Sholay, for example:

G.S.: Are’ o bison, how many tablets are there in this pistol?
S.: Government, six.
G.S.: Tablets six and men only three? Big injustice……

Frankly, it had gone a wee bit flat despite our innovation. CO had a guest on board. One Commander Awasthi who was taking passage with us to Bombay. We didn’t know about it; but, the sailors knew his reputation for ribaldry.

Soon, there were several cat calls to finish with the Sholay spoof of ours just when we had come to what we thought was the juicy item:

Veeru: Springy, in front of these dogs, don’t dance….

And, then, the sailors had Awasthi to regale them with his earthy wit and humour in the language of the streets.

Awasthi was used to calling a spade as spade and uttered with a straight face, Hindi equivalents of English four letter words.

This was much to our CO’s discomfiture. Every-time Awasthi related a juicy one, CO was seen closing his eyes in silent prayer to God to let that be the last one! However, Awasthi’s repertoire was rather large and he had us lapping up his rustic jokes for close to an hour.

Finally, at the stroke of midnight, all other nautical activities took place as in my other anecdote ‘Goddamn Happy New Year!’.

Our CO was the happiest steering Awasthi towards his cabin after that.

P.S. For those of you who entertain the hope that I would relate at least one of them here, I can only say that my blog policy doesn’t permit me to squeak even a single one. How filthy were they? Well, in comparison, Rugby jokes can be told to a bishop’s daughter!

P.P.S. I was reminded of the inimitable Khushwant Singh. He was a rare guest speaker at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Nilgiris (Tamilnadu) when I was undergoing the staff course in the year 1990. He recounted to us an anecdote about meeting the Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. Apparently, Bhajan Lal was used to surfeit of Hindi expletives in his conversation. When he seemed to cross his limit, Khushwant gently reminded him, “Sir, please gaali mat deejiye” (Sir, please don’t use expletives. At this, if Khushwant Singh was to be believed, Bhajan Lal countered with a straight face: “Kaun behen___ gaali deta hai?” (Who is the sister-f—-r who is using expletives?)

(Cartoon courtesy: www.aisfm.edu.in)
(Cartoon courtesy: www.aisfm.edu.in)

GODDAMN “HAPPY NEW YEAR”!

Happy New Year?

I have lost count of the number of times I have been on duty in my ship or establishment on the New Year Eve. Somehow, my friends – my ‘good friends’, that is – have talked me into paying the price of having them as ‘good friends’ in a manner not dissimilar to what Eklavya (of Mahabharta) had to pay having Guru Drona (or his statue) as his mentor in archery. Eklavaya, the low-caste, lost his thumb only once; whereas, yours truly, the bottom-most (gullible) caste, had lost my liberty and entertainment on several new year eves.

One such New Year Eve was to be on Himgiri, under the command of Captain R Patel (Jerry Patel) at Cochin. On this occasion, honestly speaking, not even lots were drawn. Most of the wardroom officers made yours truly people’s choice #1 and departed in the evening with great back-slapping etc with hefty promises such as: “Don’t you worry, old chap, you shall not miss out on the fun; as every-time we have a drink or dance, we shall think of you.”

A few stayed back on the ship and busied themselves in having drinks in the ante-room and then later join in the general revelry on the ships (blowing of ship’s siren and firing of Very pistols (signalling pistols giving out red, green or white flares) at the stroke of midnight, when the ship’s bell too is rung.

ship's bell

I finished taking my rounds of the ship and found that all was well in God’s world in general and on Himgiri in particular. And then I entered the Wardroom to have my dinner. One look at the would-be-revellers brought out that the mood was rather sombre. A direct enquiry from me brought out that they wanted to usher in the New Year with champagne and the wine steward had told them that there were only two bottles of good French champagne Moet (Brut Imperial) but these had been reserved for the Captain.

I asked for the Wine Steward and told him that the Regs Navy made me, the Officer of the Day (OOD), as Captain for the time being and that I was going to release for the thirsty souls what had been reserved for me as Captain. The Wine Steward saluted and used the wonderful naval expression that has won many a heart the world over: “Aye aye, Sir”. Anon, two of the best of the bubblies stood before me, bowing to my authority as the OOD.

It would take time to chill these and hence in the meantime, enjoying my power to bring cheer in their otherwise d and d lives, I invited the caboodle in the ante-room to Captain’s cabin. The stewards were given the surprise-test-of-professional-abilities to produce the best for the best in the world; that is, the jing-bang from the wardroom.

Ladies and gentlemen, this old chap called Albert Einstein, like many Germans, knew exactly what he was talking about when he came up with the Theory of Relativity of Time. It appeared to us that in the time it takes one to read E=mc2, several bottles of liquor flowed down the Ganges in Captain’s cabin and soon I, and not poor Albert E, was being nominated for the Nobel Prize.

Soon, when it came to ringing out the old year and ringing in the new year on the ship that I had charge of as Captain-for-the-time-being, it appeared to me that a fair amount of ringing had already been done in the Captain’s cabin itself.

After a brief ceremony on the helo-deck, wherein we witnessed sounding of siren, ringing the ship’s bell and firing of Very pistols; when the j-b returned to Captain’s cabin to further usher in the New Year, yours truly had sobered down quite a bit and wanted it to end abruptly like Dhoni’s test career. However, now that I had aroused a sleeping giant (the last such “arousing of the sleeping giant”, if you recall, was on 7th Dec 1941 with Admiral Yamamoto’s fighters wreaking havoc on Pearl Harbour with the war-cry of “Tora! Tora! Tora!”), it was well-nigh impossible to let them sleep until they had completely ransacked the Captain’s bar. It was at around 1:30 AM, when my constant endeavour to restore ‘Good Order and Naval Discipline’ had some effect and the wild lot departed, loudly singing, “Ravi’s a jolly good fellow….so say all of us”.

rocket-parachute-flare-red

It took me another one hour to get the Captain’s cabin ship-shape and that’s about the time the party from US Club landed on board led by Captain Jerry Patel. As I saw him off to his cabin, Jerry asked me to have a drink with him to ‘usher in the new year properly‘. I declined saying that it wasn’t proper for me to drink on duty!

I was quite sure, in the night, that I had removed from his cabin the last traces of a drunken soiree or mayhem. But, next day, after breakfast, frantic announcements for me to report to Captain’s cabin told me something was amiss.

I reported there breathlessly and there was our beloved CO staring at an object on his table in a manner similar to the police looking at the dead body in  James Hadley Chase novels. It turned out to be CO’s Visitors Book and there, et tu Brutus, my good friends, in their stupor had all signed one by one with melodramatic messages of “Happy New Year, Sir”, “You and your OOD are the bestest guys this side of Suez” etc.

It is the ruddy Visitors Book that did me in.

I hate New Year; Goddamn Happy New Year!

P.S. Later in (what-was-left-of) the night, I had to send the Fire and DC Party to extinguish a slow smouldering harmless fire in a sulphur dump next to our commercial berth; this fire being caused by the firing of Very pistols to – you guessed it right – usher in the New Year properly.

…..AUR KUCHH NAHIN

मेरी शाम से उसकी तन्हाईयाँ ना चुराओ
इसके पास इसके इलावा और कुछ नहीं
मैं यहाँ खुश हूँ मुझे वहां ना बुलायो
ना शौक, ना ख्वाइश, और कुछ नहींI

बेकसी की चादर ओढ़े सो रहा हूँ मैं
बुझे अरमान तले राख है, और कुछ नहीं
ये दौलत कभी कम न हो रो रहा हूँ मैं
अश्क़ों का खज़ाना है, और कुछ नहींI

मेरा हसीन आशिआना मुझे अब भी है याद
अब बर्बादी का आलम है, और कुछ नहीं
अब कौन सुनेगा मुझ गरीब की फ़रियाद
फ़टे दामन में दाग है, और कुछ नहींI

बुझा दो शमा, तोड़ डालो शीशा-ऐ-दिल
उम्मीद-ऐ-गम की दुनिया में और कुछ नहीं
इस ज़िन्दगी की शाम में कुछ तो हो हासिल
मुझे ख़ाक में मिला दो, और कुछ नहींI

हसरतों के सहारे कब तक चलेंगे हम
गर्दिश-ऐ-सफर में अब और कुछ नहीं
एक ही चिंगारी से देखना खूब जलेंगे हम
सूखी हड्डियां हैं, यादें हैं, और कुछ नहींI

Burnt Out Lamp
Meri sham se usaki tanhaayiyan na churaayo
Isske pass isske siwaye aur kuchh nahin
Main yahan khush hoon, mujhe wahan naa bulaayo
Naa shauk, naa khwaaish, aur kuchh nahin.

Bekasi ki chaadar ode so raha hoon main
Bujhe armaano tale raakh hai, aur kuchh nahin
Ye daulat kabhi kam naa ho, ro raha hoon main
Ashqon ke khazaane hain, aur kuchh nahin.

Mera hasin aashiyana mujhe ab bhi ha yaad
Ab barbaadi ka aalam hai, aur kuchh nahin
Ab kaun sunega iss gareeb ki fariyaad
Fate daaman mein daag hai, aur kuchh nahin.

Bujha do shamaa, tod daalo shisha-e-dil
Umeed-e-gam ki duniya mein aur kuchh nahin
Iss zindagi ki sham mein kuchh to ho haasil
Mujhe khaak mein mila do, aur kuchh nahin.

Hasraton ke sahaare kab tak challenge ham
Gardish-e-safar mein ab aur kuchh nahin
Ek hi chingaari se dekhana aise jalenge ham
Sookhi haddiyan hain, yaaden hain, aur kuchh nahin.

ZINDAGI AB BHI HAI LEKIN…..

ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है
तब नया सूरज उगा था
तब जलते चिरागों की लौ में
अँधेरे दूर भागते थे
अब रौशनी को तरसते रात के साये
बढ़ते ही जा रहे हैं
सबेरा दूर है, बहुत दूर
ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है

ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है
चमन में फूलों की खुशबु से
फ़िज़ाएं मदहोश थी तब
अब मुरझाये फूल गिरते हैं मज़ार पे
सूखे पत्तों के संग
लहर आई थी चले गयी
हम साहिल पे अब भी खड़े हैं इंतेज़्ज़ार में
ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है

ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है
तेरे क़दमों की आहट से
बंधे थे मेरे दिल के तार
तेरी साँसों में तब था
मेरे ही प्यार का खुमार
अब खाली पैमानों की बज़्म में
हम प्यासे खड़े हैं
ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है

ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है
तब हम मुन्तज़िर थे
तेरे अहद-ओ-पैमान से
अब नींद से जागी हमारी आँख
मौत का नज़ारा ढूंडती है
काश उस ज़िन्दगी को रोक लेते वहीँ
जो अब हर कहीं जिन्दगी का सहारा ढूंडती है
ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है

ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है
फरक सिर्फ इतना है:
तब सब कुछ हमारे आगे था
अब सब कुछ हमारे पीछे है
तब हम कहते थे, “यही है ज़िन्दगी”
और अब? अब सवाल ही सवाल है:
“बस यही है ज़िन्दगी, क्या?”
ज़िन्दगी तब भी थी
ज़िन्दगी अब भी है

forest-swing-autumn-dry-leaves-tree_13108

Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi ab bhi hai
Tab naya suraj uga tha
Tab jalate chiraagon ki lau mein
Andhere door bhaagte the
Ab raushni ko tarsate raat ke saaye
Badate hi ja rahe hain
Sabera door hai, bahut door
Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai

Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai
Chaman mein phoolon ki  khushbu se
Fizayen madhosh thi tab
Ab murjhaye phool girte hain mazaar pe
Sukhe patton ke sang
Lehar aayi thi chale gayi
Hum saahil pe ab bhi khade hain intezzaar mein
Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai

Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai
Tere kadmon ki aahat se
Bandhe the mere dil ke taar
Teri saanson mein tab tha
Mere hi pyaar ka khumaar
Ab khaali paimaano ki bazm mein
Ham pyaase khade hain
Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai

Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi ab bhi hai
Tab ham muntazir the
Tere ahad-o-paimaan se
Ab neend se jaagi hamaari aankh
Maut ka nazaara dhoondati hai
Kaash us zindagi ko roke lete wahin
Jo ab har kahin zindagi ka sahaara dhoondati hai
Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi aaj bhi hai.

Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi ab bhi hai
Fark sirf itana hai:
Tab sab kuchh hamaare aage tha
Ab sab kuchh hamaare peechhe hai
Tab ham kehte the, “Yehi hai zindagi”.
Aur ab? Ab sawaal hi sawaal hai:
“Bus yehi hai zindagi, kyaa?”
Zindagi tab bhi thi
Zindagi ab bhi hai.

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