I am fond of Mohammad Rafi; indeed, so fond of him that I consider him the best, the most accomplished, and most versatile singer that the world ever produced. A few years ago, when I started to learn singing at a very late stage in my life (I am 71 years old now and I started to learn singing only about three to four years ago), I realised that there is no better singer to learn from than Rafi saheb. Such is the aura of his singing that if an ordinary, amateur, and untrained singer like me can sing at about five percent of his ability, I can start patting myself on the back. Rafi saheb was the A to Z of good singing. When a great contemporary, Manna Dey, was asked to rank Rafi as a singer, Manna Dey’s prompt and thought provoking response was, “I rank Mohammad Rafi as #1 to #10.” By this, he obviously meant that all other singers were and are ten ranks below.

Raag Pahadi is the raag of my place in the hills, the Himalayas: Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. It is not related to any other hills. It is the most adorable raag of the Hindi films music director, the only raag that is also a dhun. Most of the songs composed in this raag are romantic melodies. But, there are some that are also sad and even melancholic numbers.

Just as it is in all genre’s of songs, Rafi saheb sang the best and the most memorable songs in Raag Pahadi. The first song for which my favourite lyricist, Shakeel Badayuni, received his Filmfare Award was composed by Ravi in Raag Pahadi: Chaudvinh ka chand ho and sung by Rafi saheb.

With this, lets start our journey into a dozen songs sung by Rafi saheb in Raag Pahadi.

Song #1
Zara sun haseena – e – nazneen

I sang this on 03 Aug 2021 on the birth anniversary of my favourite lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. Ravi composed it in Raag Pahadi. Shakeel and Ravi combine made many songs together describing the husn (beauty) of the beloved; indeed, the best in this genre’.

It is from the 1963 Niranjan movie Kaun Apna Kaun Praya starring Vijay Kumar and Waheeda Rehman.

Please enjoy: Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen…

Song #2
Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain

After the romantic melody in Raag Pahadi, lets straightway get to a sad song in the same raag.

One thing that would hit you about it is that even though it is among the difficult songs of Rafi saheb, I sang it at a fairly early stage of my learning to sing.

Khayyam utilised the complete range of Rafi saheb in this song from Mandra to Teevra. These very powerful lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi with the most telling line: Jo bik gaya woh khareedaar nahin ho sakta.

It is from the 1961 Mohan Saigal movie Shola Aur Shabnam starring Dharmendra and Tarla Mehta.

Please enjoy: Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain yeh aankhen mujh mein…

Song #3
Chahunga main tujhe saanjh savere

Satyen Bose’s 1964 movie Dosti was only the second movie (after Parasmani) of a new music director duo: Laxmikant Pyarelal. The movie won six of the seven Filmfare Awards for which it was nominated: Best Movie: Trachand Barjatya and Best Music Director Laxmikant Pyarelal.

This song and Jaanewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe were composed by LP in Raag Pahadi. Indeed, it is among the most unforgettable Raag Pahadi songs in Hindi movies.

The song won Rafi saheb another Filmfare Award and also for Majrooh Sultanpuri, the lyricist.

Please enjoy: Chahunga main tujhe saanjh savere…

Song #4
Parbaton ke pedon par shaam ka basera hai

This was my first duet in Raag Pahadi. Rafi saheb sang it with Suman Kalyanpur.

This is from the 1964 movie Shagun starring Kamaljeet and Waheeda Rehman. Ten years after doing this movie, they got married.

This was penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by Khayyam. At this stage, let me tell you that Pahadi was the pet raag of Khayyam. In the movie Noorie, for example, he composed as many as three songs in Pahadi.

Please enjoy: Parbaton ke pedon par….

Song #5
Chal udd jaa re panchhi

This is from the AVM production, the 1957 Krishnan – Panju movie Bhabhi starring Balraj Sahni, Pandhari Rai, and Nanda.

This is, indeed, an iconic song. It occurred in the movie in various parts. The song was penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed by Chitragupta.

Mohammad Rafi’s alaaps at various parts of the song, especially at the end, are out of this world.

Please enjoy: Chal udd jaa re panchhi…

Song #6
Suhani raat dhal chuki

This is, perhaps the most iconic song of Mohammad Rafi in Raag Pahadi. Last year, being the birth centenary year of Mohammad Rafi, I sang 100 of his songs. This was the first, on 01 Jan 24.

It is from the 1949 AR Kardar movie Dulari starring Madhubala, Geeta Bali, and Suresh.

The song was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad.

Please enjoy: Suhani raat dhal chuki…

Song #7
Tukde hain mere dil ke

This is from the 1965 Amar Kumar movie Mere Sanam starring Biswajeet and Asha Parekh. The movie was a remake of Come September starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida.

The song was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by OP Nayyar.

The picturisation of the song was widely appreciated.

Please enjoy: Tukde hain mere dil ke…

Song #8
Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat

The 1960 FU Sunny movie Kohinoor was devised to be a happy and lively movie since Dilip Kumar had gone into depression by acting in such melancholic movies as the 1957 movie Devdas. Meena Kumari acted opposite him.

The song was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and coomposed by Naushad. Being a duet, the female part of it was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat…

Song #9
O door ke mussafir hamko bhi saath lele re

This, too, was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad.

It is a sad Pahadi.

It is from the 1955 movie Udan Khatola starring Dilip Kumar and Nimmi.

Please enjoy: O door ke mussafir…

Song #10
Janewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe

This, too, is a sad Pahadi. I mentioned it above in Song #3 from the 1964 Satyen Bose movie Dosti, which won six out of the seven awards it was nominated for.

This, too, was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Please enjoy: Janewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe…

Song #11
Chaudhvin ka chand ho

This is, by far, the best and most popular song in Raag Pahadi. As I said earlier, it won the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni the first of the hat-trick of Filmfare Awards. Ravi composed the song.

This was the title song of the 1960 M Sadiq movie Chaudhvin Ka Chand starring Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman.

Please enjoy: Chaudhvin ka chand ho…

Song #12
Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega

The 1963 movie Taj Mahal was also directed by M Sadiq. It starred Pradeep Kumar as Emperor Shajehan and Bina Rai as Mumtaz.

The song won Sahir Ludhainvi his first Filmfare Award as the Best Lyricist. The composer, Roshan, too, won the Filmfare Award for the sound track of this movie.

I sang this song to Lyn on our anniversary on 12 Dec 2024. Being a duet, the female part was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega…

I hope you liked my rendition of the top twelve songs of Mohammad Rafi in Raag Pahadi.

Please keep accessing this blog for the best in Hindi songs.

Part I (2019 to 2022) of this post was published on 26 Mar 24 with the following introduction:

“In the year 2015, ten years ago, the love of my life, Lyn, started showing signs of losing her memory. On that year’s wedding anniversary, on 24 Mar 2015, I wrote Lyn and I – Scene By Scene and consolidated the story of our lives from our courtship days in the year 1979 until our marriage in Coimbatore on 24 Mar 1981, which led to our marriage by our parents on 12 Dec 1982. This story was up to date as on 24 Mar 2015, our 36th wedding anniversary.

We are, therefore, a couple who have two anniversaries of our wedding: one on 24 Mar 1981, and the second one on 12 Dec 1982 consecrated by our parents.

In Feb 2019, I took her to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) and they confirmed that she was suffering  from Alzheimer’s Disease, Moderate stage.

I made a ten-pointer programme to alleviate her condition and, if possible, to heal her. Music became an essential part of therapy for her. I didn’t know ABC of singing (though quite well-versed in music and songs). I tried to learn singing and make myself better.

The basic reason for my singing is to sing to Lyn. When she smiles, laughs, or gestures encouragingly, it is the biggest reward for me. I shall always sing for and to her.”

Here is then Part II (2022 to Mar 2025) of my songs to her on our two wedding anniversaries:

24 Mar 2023

Song #19
Dekha hai teri aankhon mein pyar hi pyar

This was the title song of the 1968 movie Pyar Hi Pyar starring Dharmendra and Vyjayanthimala.

It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Mohammad Rafi sang for Dharmendra.

Please enjoy: Dekha hai teri aankhon mein…

Song #20
Aye meri zohrajabeen

Many men younger than me have sung it as oldies singing to their wives. So, it was only apt that I should, too.

This song was composed by Ravi in Raag Pilu on the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi. It was sung by Manna Dey as playback for Balraj Sahni singing to his wife Achla Sachdev in a doston ki mehfil at home on their wedding anniversary.

It is from the first of the big multi-starrers in Hindi cinema, the 1965 movie Waqt.

Please enjoy: Aye meri zohrajabeen…

12 Dec 2023

Song #21
Aur kuchh der thehar

This is from superstar Rajesh Khanna‘s debut movie Aakhri Khat, a 1966 movie directed by Chetan Anand. He was offered this role in the movie after winning the All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare. Indrani Mukherjee acted opposite him.

Lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi and composition is that of Khaiyyam.

Of course, the original was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Aur kuchh der thehar…

Song #22
Ae mussavir mere mehboob ki tasveer bana

This is a rare song of Mohammad Rafi.

Its lyrics are by Tajdar Taj and composition is that of Ratandeep Hemraj.

It is from the 1970 unreleased movie Insaan Aur Insaan.

Please enjoy: Ae mussavir mere mehboob ki tasveer bana…

Song #23
Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan andhera

In the condition in which she is, this is an inspirational song. Indeed, it is one of the most inspirational songs ever made. Both the Raag and Tal chosen by OP Nayyar are difficult: Raag Jogiya, Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).

This was a beautiful 1958 Shaheed Latif movie Sone Ki Chidiya (penned by Ismat Chugtai who later wrote Garam Hawa). The movie is about Nutan who is an impoverished orphan. A relative’s family adopts her. Everyone in the family treats her like a servant. And then, she comes into money with her talent. Now, everyone treats her as a Sone Ki Chidiya. She wants to commit suicide being ill treated by the family both when she is poor and then when she becomes rich. Balraj Sahni inspires her with this song.

Once again, the original singer was Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan andhera…

Song #24
Hamko to jaan se pyaari hain tumhari aankhen

This song has lot of personal value for Lyn and I. It was shot in St Mark’s Square in Venice where Lyn’s first cousin held a special mass for her during our visit to Italy in 1983. I was sent there to accept an Electronic Warfare equipment for the Indian Navy and I took her with me on a shoe-string budget.

It is from the 1973 movie Naina based roughly on Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. It starred Shashi Kapoor, Maushmi Chatterjee and Rajshree.

Lyrics are by Hasrat Jaipuri, composition is by Shankar Jaikishan, and the original singing was by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Hamako to jaan se pyaari hain tumhari aankhen….

Song #25
Hum to mohabbat karega

Lyn is happiest when I sing comic or light-hearted songs to her. Here in this, I tried to be like Kishore Kumar who both enacted and sang this song, on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and composition of Ravi for the 1958 movie Dilli Ka Thug starring Kishore Kumar and Nutan. In the same movie, they have the immortal duet between them: Ye raaten ye mausam nadi ka kinaara ye chanchal hawa.

Please enjoy: Hum to mohabbat karega…

Song #26
Kisi raah mein kisi mod par

I am very fond of this Mukesh-Lata duet singing for Jeetendra and Sharmila Tagore in an open truck.

The song was penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Kalyanji Anandji in Raag Charukeshi.

It is the title song of the 1970 Dulal Guha movie Mere Humsafar.

Song #27
Tu jungle ki morni te main baagan da more

Another couple who had a lot of chemistry between them was Shashi Kapoor and Nanda. Indeed, Shashi Kapoor, in an interview, stated that Nanda was the best actress that he worked with.

This duet is from their 1969 movie Raja Saab. Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur sang for them. Both the lyrics by Anand Bakshi and the tune by Kalyanji Anandji have a Punjabi touch about it.

Please enjoy: Tu jungle ki morni te main baagan da more…

Song #28
Mohabbat hi na jo samajhe woh zalim pyar kya jaane?

I took this Talat Mahmood song from the 1952 V Shantaram movie Parchhain starring himself and his wife Jayshree.

Noor Lakhnavi penned the lyrics and C Ramchandra composed them.

I chose these lyrics to indicate her Alzheimer’s condition.

Please enjoy: Mohabbat hi na jo samajhe…

24 Mar 2024

Song #29
Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par

And now we have songs during the Birth Centenary Year of the greatest singer on earth: Mohammad Rafi.

It is a beautiful composition of Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Kalyan on the lyrics of Hasrat Jaipuri for the 1961 movie Junglee starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bano.

Please enjoy: Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par…

Song #30
Gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhin

Rajesh Khanna re-ushered the era of Kishore Kumar into Hindi movies. However, even he would have acknowledged that the songs Rafi saheb sang for him were classic, popular, and added to the success of the movies.

This was from the super-hit movie, the 1970 movie The Train starring Nanda opposite Rajesh Khanna.

Lyrics were by Anand Bakshi and composition was that of RD Burman.

Please enjoy: Gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhin…

Song #31
Is rang badalti duniya mein

This is from the 1964 movie Rajkumar with Shammi Kapoor in the title role opposite Sadhana.

This song scene had set many a heart of the viewers aflame.

It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Please enjoy: Is rang badalti duniya mein…

12 Dec 2024

Song #32
Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega

And here I am again with my favourite Raag Pahadi.

This won the lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi a Filmfare Award.

The composition is that of Roshan. The duet is between Mohammad Radi and Lata Mangeshkar.

It is from the 1963 movie Taj Mahal with Bina Rai as Mumtaz and Pradeep Kumar as Shahjehan.

Please enjoy: Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega…

Song #33
Tumhen dekha hai maine gulsitaan mein

Many a times you come across a Mohammad Rafi song that didn’t become as popular as others, but nevertheless with superb rendition, lyrics and composition.

This is one of them.

Lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and composition is that of RD Burman.

It is from the 1967 Ismail Memon movie Chandan Ka Palna starring Dharmendra and Meena Kumari.

Please enjoy: Tumhe dekha hai maine…

Song #34
Nain ladh jayin hain to manwa main kasak

It is a classic composition of Naushad Ali on the lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni for the only production of Dilip Kumar: Gunga Jumna starring him with Vyjayanthimala.

Naushad Ali based the composition on a Poorbi qawwali about a Maslim’s desire to visit Medina.

It is a very difficult song to sing because of high tempo and being in Poorbi language.

Please enjoy: Nain ladh jayin hain…

24 Mar 2025

Song #35
Ye jo chilman hai

Once again, with the magic of Mohammad Rafi singing for Rajesh Khanna.

This is from the HS Rawail movie Mehboob Ki Mehndi, which didn’t do as well as Mere Mehboob. The movie starred Leena Chandavarkar opposite Rajesh Khanna. The movie’s songs became quite popular.

The lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and the composition is that of Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Please enjoy: Yeh jo chilman hai…

Song #36
Maine poochha chand se

This is a beautiful composition of RD Burman for Sanjay Khan’s movie Abdullah starring him in the title role with Zeenat Aman as the object of his love.

Lyrics are by Anand Bakshi.

Mohammad Rafi sang for Sanjay Khan.

Song #37
Tere husn ki kya tareef karun

As always, the main song on our anniversary is penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad Ali.

This is from the 1964 super-hit movie Leader starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar sang for them.

Please enjoy: Tere husn ki kya tareef karun…

I hope you liked my songs sung to Lyn for our wedding anniversaries from the year 2023 to Mar 2025 in Part II of this post.

It is some time to go for the Part III.

In the year 2015, ten years ago, the love of my life, Lyn, started showing signs of losing her memory. On that year’s wedding anniversary, on 24 Mar 2015, I wrote Lyn and I – Scene By Scene and consolidated the story of our lives from our courtship days in the year 1979 until our marriage in Coimbatore on 24 Mar 1981, which led to our marriage by our parents on 12 Dec 1982. This story was up to date as on 24 Mar 2015, our 36th wedding anniversary.

We are, therefore, a couple who have two anniversaries of our wedding: one on 24 Mar 1981, and the second one on 12 Dec 1982 consecrated by our parents.

In Feb 2019, I took her to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) and they confirmed that she was suffering  from Alzheimer’s Disease, Moderate stage.

I made a ten-pointer programme to alleviate her condition and, if possible, to heal her. Music became an essential part of therapy for her. I didn’t know ABC of singing (though quite well-versed in music and songs). I tried to learn singing and make myself better.

The basic reason for my singing is to sing to Lyn. When she smiles, laughs, or gestures encouragingly, it is the biggest reward for me. I shall always sing for and to her.

Here is then Part I (24 Mar 2019 to 12 Dec 2022) of my songs to her on our two wedding anniversaries:

Song #1 
Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge

I sang it to her on 24 Mar 2019, the very first anniversary of our wedding after NIMHANS broke the devastating news to us.

It is from the 1954 movie Shart starring Deepak and Shyama. SH Bihari‘s lyrics both for the Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt versions actually say everything that I wanted to tell her: we shall be together and even death won’t do us apart.

On 03 May 2019, during  the fifth edition of Kandaghat Live Fest (a Music Fest of our Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne), for the first time I presented this song in a Fest.

Please enjoy: Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge…

COVID – 2019

At the end of the year 2019, the same year in which she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, our situation got worse. The world was faced with a pandemic: COVID 2019 and we were left to fend for ourselves, just the two of us without any help available. During this period, I developed an advanced stage inguinal hernia and the hospitals nearby declined to take me as a patient (such was the mortal scare of COVID during those early days in the first few months of the year 2000). Finally, when it became excruciatingly painful, I left Lyn at my son’s house and went to the Navy’s hospital for the surgery.

During this period, therefore, I missed posting any anniversary songs for her, both on 12 Dec 2019 and on 24 Mar 2020.

Song #2
Ek pyar ka nagma hai

As I said, we were married on 12 Dec 1982 at Kandaghat by our parents. On 12 Dec 2000, therefore, was our 38th Wedding Anniversary. The following video is in five parts: One, pre-wedding to wedding; Two, today’s prayer with Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji; Three, cake cutting; Four, our song Baby I’m a want you; Five, another song Ek pyar ka nagma hai. Despite, her Alzheimer’s and COVID, Love and Togetherness won.

Please enjoy this video:

Song #3
My Own Composition on the tune of Punjabi Tappe’

More than one year of being cooped up for COVID, and it came to our 40th Wedding Anniversary, on 24 Mar 2021.

I did something special: I penned a song for her and composed it on the tune of Punjabi tappe’.

Have a look at it:

Song #4
Hum ek hamari ek

On the same wedding anniversary, six days later, I made a song entirely by myself, its lyrics, composition, and music.

Here is my own effort:

Song #5
Ye nayan dare dare

By this time, I was singing somewhat regularly to and for Lyn. As is the case with most of us, this then was one of the first songs sung to Lyn. It is from the 1964 movie Kohra starring Biswajeet and Waheeda Rehman. Kaifi Azmi‘s lyrics were composed and sung by Hemant Kumar:

Please enjoy: Ye nayan dare dare:

Song #6
Husn e jaana idhar aa

COVID was still on and I was looking after Lyn all by myself.

I knew it won’t be long before I shall be singing Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad song to her. Shakeel happens to be my favourite poet and lyricist. All these years, I have known that Shakeel said exactly what I want to say to Lyn in her condition.

This song was originally sung by Mukesh for Rajendra Kumar singing to Vyjayanthimala, my favourite actress, in the 1968 movie Saathi. Her situation in the movie was similar to Lyn’s.

Anyway, see it for yourself:

Song #7
Jaane bahar husn tera bemissal hai

Having sung a Shakeel Badayuni song to Lyn, my passion for his songs resurfaced periodically. Indeed, from this point onwards, my main songs to her for our wedding anniversaries invariably happened to be that of Shakeel.

I told you that the basic reason for my learning singing was to sing to her. In addition to my favourite Shakeel Badayuni, I am also fascinated by Raag based songs, something that was ushered into Hindi movies by Naushad Ali.

This is from the 1963 movie Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, the title of the movie taking its name from the mukhada of the 1960 K Asif movie Mughal-e-Azam, put together by Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad Ali.

This was composed by Ravi in Raag Malkauns. The song has this wedding night scene between Shammi Kapoor (a North Indian man) and B Saroja Devi (a South Indian actress) and has similarity between Lyn and I.

I sang to her on our wedding anniversary 12 Dec 2021, still by ourselves during COVID.

Please enjoy: Jaane bahar husn tera bemissal hai….

Song #8
Yeh hawa ye raat yeh chandni

Our 41st Wedding Anniversary, on 24 Mar 22, seemed to turn the tables on COVID situation. After much havoc, deaths, and misery, the light across the tunnel appeared.

We rejoiced by my singing as many as five songs for and to her on this day.

The first one was a Talat Mahmood song composed by Sajjad Hussain. The maestro, Madan Mohan, was so fascinated by Sajjad’s composition that he used the same for his Tujhe kyaa sunayun main dilruba.

This was from the 1952 movie Sangdil starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala (at one time, reel and real life lovers). Rajinder Krishan penned the lyrics.

Please enjoy: Yeh hawa ye raat yeh chandni:

Song #9
Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hai

This was the second of the five songs for our anniversary on 24 Mar 2022.

This is from the 1953 iconic movie Anarkali starring Bina Rai in the title role with Pradeep Kumar as Salim, prince to emperor Akbar.

Lyrics are by Rajinder Krishan and the composition is that of C Ramchandra. Hemant Kumar is the singer and the song tells about how a few moments spent in love is better than an entire lifetime.

Please enjoy: Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hai…

Song #10
Chhalke teri aankhon se

The third of the five songs for that wedding anniversary was from the 1965 super-hit movie: Arzoo. Rajendra Kumar in disguise as an old man sings in the party thrown by Sadhana‘s father.

Lyrics were by Hasrat Jaipuri and composition was that of Shankar Jaikishan. I found that Hasrat Jaipuri’s lyrics were well suited for me to sing to Lyn since these are always romantic melodies. No wonder Hasrat Jaipuri has been crowned as Shehanshah-e-Rumaniyat (the Emperor of Romance).

And then, most of his romantic songs were sung by Mohammad Rafi. I am one of the millions who believe that Mohammad Rafi was simply the best singer that the world had ever seen.

Please enjoy: Chhalke teri aankhon se…

Song #11
Husn waal tera jawab nahin

The fourth of the five songs for that wedding anniversary was by Shakeel Badayuni. He has the only hat-trick of Filmfare awards, ie, from 1961 (the second ever Filmfare award for a Lyricist) to 1963. The first two of these were composed by Ravi. This was the second one.

Mohammad Rafi sang it for the 1961 movie Gharana starring Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.

Please enjoy in my voice: Husn waale tera jawab nahin…

Song #12
Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe

And the final song of that anniversary, ie, fifth one of five, was this duet between Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur singing for Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala for the 1966 super-hit movie Suraj.

This was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Please enjoy: Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe…

12 Dec 2022

And that brings us to the second anniversary of that year, on the 12th Dec. I sang as many as six songs to her.

Song #13
Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

The first of the six songs was this gem by Madan Mohan in Raag Jhinjhoti. It was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri by using (by permission) a line of a nazm by Faiz Ahmad Faiz made famous by Noorjehan singing it: Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang.

The song was sung by Mohammad Rafi for the 1969 Raj Khosla movie Chirag starring Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh.

Please enjoy: Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

Song #14
Mere mehboob tere dam se hai duniya mein bahar

This is from the 1970 movie Bhai Bhai starring Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh. It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan. It was sung by Sunil Dutt singing to Asha Parekh in a party.

Mere mehboob tere dam se hai duniya mein bahar…

Song #15
Aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai

The third of the six songs sung on the Dec 2022 anniversary has special meaning for me. This is from the first movie (released on 01 Jan) of the year 1966: Nai Umr Ki Nai Fasal. This R Chandra movie starred Rajeev and Tanuja and has some of the best songs sung by Mohammad Rafi. I saw the movie on a portable screen in our colony in Jawahar Nagar in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Indeed, I feel that this ghazal has the best ever lyrics by Neeraj. These were composed by Roshan in Raag Pilu and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai…

Song #16
Tum bin jayun kahan

I have always been impressed with this song sung on separate occasions in the 1969 movie Pyar Ka Mausam starring Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Kishore Kumar sang it for Bharat Bhushan and Rafi saheb sang it for Shashi Kapoor.

The lyrics were by Majrooh Sultanpuri and the composition is that of RD Burman.

Please enjoy: Tum bin jaayun kahan?

Song #17
Ab kya misaal doon main tumhare shabaab ki?

The 1962 movie Aarti starring Pradeep Kumar, Meena Kumari, and Ashok Kumar has some of the most unforgettable songs penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Roshan.

This was composed by Roshan in Raag Khammaj and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

You would notice that by this time I had decided to sing more and more songs of my favourite singer: Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Ab kya misaal doon…

Song #18
Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se

The final day of our wedding anniversary on 12 Dec 2022 saw yet another Shakeel Badayuni song from the 1962 movie Umeed starring Joy Mukherjee and Nanda. 

It was composed by Ravi and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

You would see, in this song, Lyn enjoying my singing to her more than in any other song as if she knows how important Shakeel is to me.

Please enjoy: Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se…

I hope you liked my songs sung to Lyn for our wedding anniversaries from the year 2019 to 2022 in Part I of this post.

Please await Part II of songs from the year 2023 to 2025.

This tribute to Madan Mohan is in continuation of my Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing and Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing – Part II.

Madan Mohan was born on 25 Jun 1924 at Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, where his father Rai Bahadur Chunilal was working as an Accountant General with the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces. Madan Mohan spent the early years of his life in the Middle East. After 1932, his family returned to their home town of Chakwal, then in Jhelum district of Punjab, British India. He joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the year 1943. He served there for two years until end of World War II, when he left the Army and returned to Bombay to pursue his musical interests. In 1946, he joined the All India Radio, Lucknow as Programme Assistant, where he came in contact with various artists such as Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Begum Akhtar, and Talat Mahmood.

He was very fond of singing, and so in 1947 he got his first chance to record two ghazals penned by Behzad Lucknawi, Aane Laga Hai Koi Nazar Jalwa Gar Mujhe and Is Raaz Ko Duniya Jaanti Hai. Soon after, in 1948 he recorded two more private ghazals penned by Deewan Sharar, Wo Aaye To Mahfil Mein Ithlaate Huye Aaye and Duniya Mujhe Kahti Hai Ke Main Tujhko Bhoolaa Doon. In 1948, he got his first opportunity to sing a film duet Pinjare Mein Bulbul Bole and Mera Chhotasa Dil Dole with Lata Mangeshkar under composer Ghulam Haider (composer) for the film Shaheed (1948 film), though these songs were never released or used in the film. Between 1948 and 1949, he assisted music composers SD Burman for Do Bhai, and Shyam Sundar in Actress and Nirdosh.

As Music Director, he scored his first big break with the film Aankhen in 1950. He was soon to emerge as a music director par excellence especially for ghazals. Indeed, music director OP Nayyar once said about Madan Mohan that two of his ghazals were better than all that OP Nayyar composed. Some of the best songs of Lata Mangeshkar (she fondly called him “Madan Bhaiyya”) were composed by him on the lyrics of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Rajinder Krishan.

Some of my favourite songs of Madan Mohan are: Aaj soch to aansu bhar aaye, Betaab dil ki tamanna yehi hai, Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakham 1973), Aapke pehlu mein aa ke ro diye, Naino mein badra chhaye, Jhumka gira re, Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya 1966), Aapki nazaron ne samajha, Hai isi mein pyaar ki aabru, Vo dekho jala ghar kisi ka (Anpadh 1962), Aapko pyaar chhupane ki buri aadat hai, Tere paas aake mera waqt nikal jaata hai (Neela Akash 1965), Agar mujhase mohabbat hai, Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise (Aap Ki Parchhayiyan), Ai mere dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai 1946), Ari vo shokh kaliyon muskara dena vo jab aayen (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai 1967), Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi aayi, Haal-e-dil youn unhe sunaya gaya, Jab jab tumhe bhulaya tum aur yaad aaye, Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko jhain bhulaye huye, Main teri nazar ka saroor hoon, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayi hai, Teri aankh ke aansu pi jaayun, Wo chup rahen to mere dil ke daag jalate hain (Jahan Ara 1964), Hamare baad mehfil mein (Baghi 1953), Bainya na dharo O balma, Ham hain mataa-e-kuchcha-e-bazaar ki tarah, Mai ri main kaase kahun, Tumse kahun ik baat (Dastak, 1970), Bairan neend na aaye mohe (Chacha Zindabad 1959), Basti basti parbat parbat gaata jaaye banjara, Chand madham hai aasman chup hai, Dekh tere Bhagwan ki haalat (Railway Platform 1955), Bhooli hui yaado mujhe itna na satayo, Vo bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi (Sanjog 1961), Chanda ja re ja re, Main to tum sang nain mila ke (Manmauji 1962), Chhadi re chhadi kaise gale mein padhi, Dil dhoondata hai fursat ke, Ruke ruke se kadam (Mausam 1975), Chhod kar tere pyar ka daaman, Jao hamane dastaan apni sunaayi, Lag jaa gale ke phir, Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, Shokh nazar ki bijliyan  (Woh Kaun Thi 1964), Do dil toote do dil haare, Doli chadate hi Heer ne bain kiye, Milo na tum to ham ghabraayen, Ye duniya ye mehfil mere kaam ki nahin (Heer Ranjha 1970), Ham chal rahe the wo chal rahe the (Duniya Na Maane 1959), Ham pyar mein jalane waalo ko chain kahan (Jailor 1958), Hamsafar saath apna chhod chale, Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba (Aakhri Dao 1958), Hamse aaya na gaya, Kaun aay mere man ke dwaare, Meri veena tum bin roye, Tu pyar kare ya thukraye (Dekh Kabira Roya 1957), Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, Hai tere saath meri wafa main nahin to kya (Hindustan Ki Kasam 1973), Hoke majbuur mujhe usne bhualaya hoga, Kar chale ham fida, Khelo na mere dil se, Main ye soch kar uske dar se, Zara si aahat hoti hai (Haqeeqat 1964), Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki saza paane ko, Is reshmi paazeb ki jhankar ke sadake, Tere dar pe aaya hoon (Laila Majnu 1976), Ik haseen raat ko dil mera kho gaya, Kabhi ai haqeeqat-e-muntazar, Sapano mein agar mere (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki 1966), Ishq ki garmi-e-jazbaat kise pesh karun. Mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhase, Naghma o sher ki saugat, Rang aur noor ki baraat (Ghazal 1964), Jaa jaa re jaa saajna, Jaana tha hamse door, Unako ye shikayat hai, Youn hasaraton ke daag (Adalat 1958), Kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin koi na koi to aayega, Mujhe le chalo aaj us jagah, Sawan ke mahine mein (Sharaabi 1964), Koi shikwa bhi nahin koi shikayat bhi nahin (Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhaare 1966), Main paagal mera manwa paagal (Aashiyana 1952), Meri yaad mein tum na aasnu bahana (Madhosh 1951), Na tum bewafa ho na ham bewafa hain (Ek Kali Muskaaye 1958), Sapne mein sajan se do baaten, Do ghadi wo jo paas aa baithe (Gateway Of India 1957), Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai (Chirag 1969), Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein shaam kar loonga (Naunihaal 1967), Tu mere saamne hai teri zulfen hain khuli (Suhagan, 1964), and Vo jo milate the kabhi hamsase deewano ki tarah (Akeli Mat Jaiyo 1963).

When I learnt singing, I soon got to sing Madan Mohan. Here I present six more of his songs that I sang:

Song #13
Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain

Just like J Om Prakash made many his movies’ titles starting with the letter ‘A’, Chetan Anand made many movies starting with the letter ‘H’: Haqeeqat made after the 1962 Indo China War was the first with the letter ‘H’. It ws followed by Heer Ranjha, Hanste Zakhm, and then Hindustan Ki Kasam. The last one is the 1973 movie from where I have taken this song. The movie depicts the role of Indian Air Force in the 1971 Indo Pak War, in the Western Sector.

Chetan Anand’s preferred actress Priya Rajvansh was the heroine opposite Raaj Kumar who was an IAF pilot in the movie.

As in Haqeeqat, Heer Ranjha, and Hanste Zakhm, Kaifi Azmi was the lyricist, Madan Mohan the composer.

This song was superbly sung by Manna Dey.

Please enjoy: Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain…

Song #14
Teri Aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

This is the kind of song that I would like to sing to Lyn.

Madan Mohan composed it in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Dadra.

The director of the 1969 movie Chirag, from where this song is taken, made the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri take permission from Faiz Ahmad Faiz to use this line from Faiz’s nazm Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang made immortal by the singer Noorjehan.

Mohammad Rafi, as he always did, sang the song so well that it became unforgettable.

Please enjoy: Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai…

Song #15
Tum jo mil gaye hao

Ultra Entertainment has blocked this song (containing snippets of original video) to be displayed here. But, you can click on ‘Watch on YouTube’ and it will take you there to watch.

This is from the 1973 Chetan Anand movie Hanste Zakhm starring Naveen Nischol and Chetan Anand’s favourite heroine Priya Rajvansh.

It is one of the most unique compositions of Madan Mohan on the lyrics of Kaifi Azmi.

The singer, once again, is Mohammad Rafi. Just one line has also been sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Tum jo mil gaye hao…

(In case you read the message Video unavailable, please click on Watch on YouTube. Thank you)

Song #16
Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon, tujhe yaad ho ki na yaad ho

The 1964 Vinod Kumar movie Jahan Ara had some of the best songs (ghazals) of Madan Mohan. These were on the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan. Indeed, the success of this movie was largely due to these songs. Mala Sinha in the title role nearly got the Filmfare Award. She enacted emperor Shahjahan’s daughter through his most beloved of four wives: Mumtaz, in whose memory he erected one of the seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal.

When Mumtaz was dying, she took a promise from Jahan Ara that she would look after the father and not marry. She was in love with Mirza Yusuf Changezi (played by Bharat Bhushan). But, their love couldn’t go further because of Jahan Ara’s promise to Mumtaz.

Hence, this song and many others in the movie portraying their predicament and sob-story; eg, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai, and Teri aankh ke aansu pi jayun.

In this movie, Madan Mohan favoured Taal Mahmood to sing these songs. Mohammad Rafi sang only one: Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko hain bhulaye huye in Raag Kedar.

Please enjoy: Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon…

Song #17
Yahi hai tamanna tere dar ke saamne

This is from the 1964 Mohan Kumar movie Aap Ki Parchhaiyan starring Dharmendra and Supriya Choudhury.

Madan Mohan stunned us by composing two songs of the movie in the same Raaga and Tal: Darbari Kanada and Dadra. The songs were: Rafi’s Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise and Lata’s Agar mujhse muhabbat hai mujhe sab apne gham de do.

Mohan Kumar’s Aap Ki Parchhaiyan suffers from the same malaise that most of the movies of that era did: the second half used to drag on and on without the end in sight. Indeed, whilst watching most of the movies now, one can see the second halves in fast-forward mode. Another such movie was DD Kashyap’s 1961 movie Maya starring Dev Anand and Mala Sinha.

Anyway, most of these had excellent songs.

This was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Yahi hai tamanna tere dar ke saamne….

Song #18
Tum bin jeevan kaisa jeevan

This was penned by Kaifi Azmi and composed by Madan Mohan in Raag Hemant, Tal Punjabi Theka (Sitarkhani) for the 1972 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Bawarchi with superstar Rajesh Khanna in the title role.

The singer was Manna Dey.

It is one of Madan Mohan’s difficult songs attempted by me.

Please enjoy: Tum bin jeevan kaisa jeevan….

So that this post won’t become too long, I shall end here today. Next time I shall give you another six songs of Madan Mohan sung by me in Part IV.