Raat (night) – appears in so many forms in cinema. It can be a frightening aspect. A night of separation, longing. One that brings negativity. On the other hand, it can be a night of togetherness and romance. It makes way for the positive tomorrow. Hindi cinema has made use of raat in many songs. Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni, Suhani raat dhal chuki, Raat ka sama, Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi, Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan, Raat akeli hai, Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan are some of the interpretations resulting into great songs. They make use of the night and its accompanying elements like the moon, moonlight, the sky, the stars to bring out the emotions of the onscreen character.

Today’s post is about duet songs all talking about “raat.” All from different music directors. Which songs would you add here?

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1) Song: Ye Raat Bheegi Bheegi
Film: Chori Chori (1956)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar

A rich heiress (Nargis) and a reporter (Raj Kapoor) become fellow travelers and are forced to spend the night together. Its about to rain. He starts singing describing the moist atmosphere and she joins in. The lyrics are suggestive, is love in the air….or the weather?

Ithlati hawa nilam sa gagan, kaliyo pe ye behoshi ki nami,
Aise me bhi kyun bechain hai dil, jivan mein na jane kya hai kami,
Kyun aag si laga ke gumsum hai chandani,
Sone bhi nahi deta mausam ka ye ishara,
Ye raat bheegi bheegi ye mast fizaye,
Utha dheere dheere wo chaand pyara pyara…

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2) Song: O Raat Ke Musafir
Film: Miss Mary (1957)
Credits: Rajendra Krishan | Hemant Kumar | Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar

Miss Mary is a story of 2 people who are forced to behave as a married couple in order to get a job. They keep bickering a lot. One night, after another fight, the hero Gemini Ganeshan steps out and addresses the moon to help him out. The heroine Meena Kumari mellows down and joins him with her perspective.

O chaand aasman ke dam bhar zameen pe aaja,
Bhula huaa hai raahi tu raasta dikha jaa,
Bhataki hui hai naiyaa saahil ise dikha de
Mera qusur kya hai, tu faisla suna de

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3) Song: Ye Raatein Ye Mausam
Film: Dilli Ka Thug (1958)
Credits: Shailendra | Ravi | Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle

This is one of the softer songs of Kishore Kumar. Here he romances with Nutan as they describe the night and their romantic feelings.

Ye kya baat hai aaj ki chaandni mein,
Ke ham kho gaye pyaar ki raagini mein,
Ye baahon mein baahen, ye behaki nigaahen,
Lo aane laga zindagi ka maza,
Ye raatein ye mausam nadi ka kinaara ye chanchal hawa…

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4) Song: Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi
Film: Navrang (1959)
Credits: Bharat Vyas | C. Ramchandra | Mahendra Kapoor and Asha Bhosle

This is a dream song sequence set in the night. Halfway in the night, the film’s protagonist poet (Mahipal) meets his imaginative muse Mohini (Sandhya). The overall song talks about incompleteness and parting. This is probably one of the most difficult choreographed songs with the heroine balancing multiple pots on her head, singing and dancing in sync.

Piyaa aadhi hai pyaar ki bhaashaa,
Aadhi rahne do man ki abhilaashaa,
Aadhe chhalke nayan aadhe dhalke nayan,
Aadhi palkon ki bhi hai barsaat aadhi,
Aadhaa hai chandramaa…

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5) Song: Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par Hai Milan Aaj Ki Raat
Film: Kohinoor (1960)
Credits: Shakeel Badayuni | Naushad | Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar

The two stars (sitaare) here are Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari who are converging together slowly towards their meeting place. The heavenly night setting and the feeling of anticipation is beautifully described and enacted here.

Husnwale teri duniya mein koi aaya hain,
Tere deedar ki hasarat bhi koi laya hain,
Tod de tod de parde ka chalan aaj ki raat,
Muskurata hain ummeedo ka chaman aaj ki raat,
Do sitaron ka zameen…

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6) Song: Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat
Film: Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)
Credits: Sahir | Roshan | Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar

The solo version is more famous but the duet has its own charm too. Madhubala has run away from her home to meet Bharat Bhushan. He asks her to return home. She starts singing the song, he completes the duet and they agree to stay together come what may. This is one of those songs where it is difficult to decide whether its the lyrics, music or the singing that outshine each other. And Madhubala (!)

Haay jis raat mere dil ne dhadakna seekha,
Shokh jazbaat ne seene mein bhadakna seekha,
Meri taqdeer se nikli wahi sadmaat ki raat,
Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi…

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7) Song: Dhalti Jaaye Raat
Film: Razia Sultana (1961)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Lachchiram | Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle

Jairaj and Nirupa Roy are the lovers in this song but two unknown(?) singers are singing the song and bringing out the emotions of the lead pair. Definitely, a musical gem from one of the lesser known composers.

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8) Song: Aaj Ko Junili Raat Maa
Film: Talash (1969)
Credits: Majrooh Sultanpuri | S. D. Burman | Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar

This melodious song is set in a village. Junli raat means the night of the full moon. This is a celebratory song. The lead pair Rajendra Kumar and Sharmila Tagore have decided to get married and voice out their joy together.

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9) Song: Raat Suhani Jaag Rahi Hai
Film: Jigri Dost (1970)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Laxmikant Pyarelal | Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur

Jeetendra and Mumtaz get romantically involved in a fantasy song. The song is a weird combination of set pieces, dance steps and costumes considering it is meant to be a romantic song!

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10) Song: Hum Tum Gumsum Raat Milan Ki
Film: Humshakal (1974)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | R. D. Burman | Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle

And to end the list, a romantic song with a haunting quality. Newly weds Rajesh Khanna and Moushumi are in a fishermen’s colony, they sing the duet and come closer.

Jhoke pawan ke khidki se jhake chedo na tum balma,
Sunle na koi zalima, zalima re,
Bajne lage hai mere kangna jhun jhun,
Jhumna Jhumna Jhumna Jhumna….
Hum tum gumsum raat milan ki…