Category Archives: My Lists

“Rain duets” 90s Songs

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It is the rainy season again and time for a post on this theme. I had written on the rain duets from the pre-90s  era a couple of years back. The post can be found here. Rain songs have their own charm. Most of the time they are used in romantic situations but sometimes they speak about longing and separation too. Today’s post is about rain duets all from the 1990s and beyond. Each song presents a different flavour of this much awaited season. Which songs do you remember?

1) Song: Saawan Jo Aag Lagaye
Film: Kasam Teri Kasam (1993)
Credits: Sameer | Naresh Sharma | Mano and Anuradha Paudwal

This was a forgettable film courtesy Gulshan Kumar and T-Series. But the film had good songs. It starred his brother Krishan Kumar along with Kanchan and Neeta Puri. He is married to Neeta but attracted towards his employee (Kanchan). This rain filled number is one of the better songs of the movie. The tune is melodious and is well sung. The male singer is Mano whose voice resembles S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

2) Song: Pehle Pyaar Ki Pehli Ye Barsaat Hai
Film: Dil Hai Betaab (1993)
Credits:  K. K. Verma| Laxmikant Pyarelal | Udit Narayan and Kavita Krishnamurthy

This is probably another forgettable film of the 90s starring Ajay Devgan, Vivek Mushran and Pratibha Sinha. But this song was popular during its time. Ajay Devgan imagines he is singing this duet with his first love. This is probably one of the few songs where Ajay Devgan is made to dance! There is a lot of jumping around in the rain by the actors which looks funny.

3) Song: Rimjhim Rimjhim
Film: 1942: A Love Story
Credits: Javed Akhtar | R. D. Burman | Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy

What can we say about this song! It is subtle, melodious and leaves its impact. The picturization is lovely as we see the blossoming of love between the lead actors Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala. Many feelings are conveyed though they are not said openly.

4) Song: Tip Tip Barsa Paani
Film: Mohra (1994)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Viju Shah | Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik

This list cannot be complete without this song. The music pattern, singing and the picturization have made it an iconic song. A sensous Raveena Tandon woos a reluctant Akshay Kumar. He cannot resist her appeal and moves closer to her. There is a display of sizzling chemistry onscreen.

5) Song: Chhatri Na Khol Barsaat Mein
Film: Gopi Kishan (1994)
Credits: Sameer | Anand Milind | Kumar Sanu and Poornima

This is a typical song from Anand Milind. The picturization is actually amusing to watch. Shilpa Shirodkar is trying to convince Sunil Shetty to leave the umbrella aside and enjoy the rain,. But he is not interested and asks her to leave him alone. The song is sung impressively by the underrated Poornima.

6) Song: Koi Ladki Hai
Film: Dil To Paagal Hai (1997)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Uttam Singh | Udit Narayan, Lata Mangeshkar and chorus

This is a delightful song and stands out for its catchy tune and infectious rhythm. Right from the intro lines Ghode jaisi chaal haathi jaisi dum, o saawan raja kahaan se aaye tum? to the rhythmic lyrics Chaak dhoom dhoom, Chaak dhoom dhoom, it hooks you completely. Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor add their charm on screen with a bunch of kids frolicking in the rain.

7) Song: Jo Haal Dil Ka
Film: Sarfarosh (1999)
Credits: Sameer | Jatin Lalit | Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik

This is a well picturized duet song on Aamir Khan and Sonali Bendre. The song begins with a surprise birthday celebration and the scene transforms to a dreamy rainy setting. Love is finally admitted. Interestingly, the lyrics do not have a direct reference to the rainy weather or the feelings invoked because of it.

8) Song: Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala
Film: Koi Mil Gaya (2003)
Credits: Ibrahim Ashk | Rajesh Roshan | Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik

This is a cute song between the unlikely pair of Rohit (Hrithik Roshan) and Nisha (Preity Zinta) as depicted in the movie. It starts raining suddenly and Rohit starts singing and dancing. Hrithik gets a chance to display his impressive dancing skills. It is well choreographed by Farah Khan (she won the Filmfare Award).

9) Song: Saason Ko…Hum Tum
Film: Hum Tum (2004)
Credits: Prasoon Joshi | Jatin Lalit | Babul Supriyo and Alka Yagnik

This is a soft romantic duet starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. The lead couple are caught in the rain. She sees the people around them engaged in romantic situations. She imagines herself and the hero in place of those people. The rain does its job of bringing them together.

10) Song: Lagaa Lagaa Laaga Re Laaga Premrog
Film: Maine Pyaar Kyu Kiya (2005)
Credits: Sameer | Himesh Reshammiya | Kamaal Khan and Alka Yagnik

This is a random song in this messy comedy film. The rain is incidental to the situation. The wind is blowing, there is a hint of rain and Sushmita Sen starts performing the song. Salman Khan is embarrassed but he joins later after it starts raining heavily. The tune is catchy and Sushmita dances well.

“Songs Addressed to the Wind”

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Songs depicting the wind in various forms have been popular in Hindi cinema. Hawaa or its variations pawan, purwai, purwaiyya, saba, vaat are used by lyricists to create memorable songs. They evoke a wide range of emotions including romance, separation, mischief, pathos etc as per the situation.

Today’s post features songs where the onscreen performer is addressing the wind. It is either a request, a pleading or an invitation. In spite of being invisible, the hawaa makes its presence felt enabling the actor to converse with it freely. It becomes a means to voice out their feelings. So, over to 10 songs on this theme.

1) Song: Ae Baad-e-Saba Ahista Chal
Film: Anarkali (1953)
Credits: Rajendra Krishan | C. Ramchandra | Hemant Kumar

This is a nice song which is less talked about compared to other hit songs of this movie. The song plays during the titles. The singer is narrating the love story of Salim and Anarkali. He requests the gentle breeze (baad-e-saba) to blow softly as this is the resting place of Anarkali. The eternal wind blows over the mazaar (shrine or tomb) which is a mark of their romance.

Ae baad e saba ahista chal…
Yahan soyi hai Anarkali…
Ankho me jalwe Salim ke
Liye khoyi huyi hai anarkali

2) Song: Hawaa Dheere Aana…Nanhi Kali Sone Chali
Film: Sujata (1959)
Credits: Majrooh Sultanpuri | S. D. Burman | Geeta Dutt

There was a time when lories were popular in Hindi cinema. This is a beautiful lullaby where the mother (Sulochana) tells the wind to be mindful as her young one is about to sleep. The lyrics begin with the phrase hawa dheere aana. The picturization is interesting as an orphan baby girl is crying nearby and she calms down after listening to the lullaby. The girl grows up to be the protagonist “Sujata.”

Hawaa dheere aanaa…
Neend bhare pankh liye jhoolaa jhulaa jaanaa,
Nanhi kali sone chali hawaa dheere aanaa,
Neend bhare pankh liye jhoolaa jhulaa jaanaa

3) Song: O Basanti Pawan Paagal
Film: Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar

Basanti pawan is the term used in this song. It is not clear whether the heroine is referring to the wind or using it as a metaphor for the hero. It is difficult to stop the flow of the wind. Whatever, it is a great song where Padmini pleads Raj Kapoor to stay back for the sake of love.

O basanti pawan pagal,
Na ja re na ja roko koi,
O basanti…

4) Song: Dheere Dheere Chal Ae Bheegi Hawaa
Film: Boyfriend (1961)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi

A rare film starring Shammi Kapoor and Madhubala. Madhubala is pretending to be asleep and enjoying the hero’s attention. He sings and requests the moist wind to blow softly as his beloved is sleeping. Strangely, it is a fast faced song which makes it irritating to listen and watch! A softer approach would have created a winner of a song.

Dheere chal dheere chal ae bheegi hawaa,
Ke mere bulbul ki hai neend jawaan,
Ke kahin laage naa kisi ki use badnazar,
Ke meethe sapnon mein khoyi hai wo bekhabar,
Ke dheere chal dheere chal ae bheegi hawaa..

5) Song: San Sanan Jaa Ri O Pawan
Film: Sampoorna Ramayana (1961)
Credits: Bharat Vyas | Vasant Desai | Lata Mangeshkar

This is a film based on Ramayan and this song depicts the period when Sita is held captive by Raavan. Sita desperately pleads to the wind to pass on her message to Lord Ram. This is arguably one of the best songs of Lata Mangeshkar with its piercing high pitch rendition. It is based on raag Chandrakans (rare in Hindi films) which is effective in bringing out the emotions. Great composition by Vasant Desai.

San sanan sanan sanan jaa ri o pawan,
Door desh leja sandesh jahan mere sajan,
Jaa ri o pawan

Chhu ke charan kehna pawan, birha agan ab ho na sehen,
Tan hai yaha aur praan waha, meri puja yaha aur bhagwan waha,
Ye doori sahe kaise man ki mayuri, baraste hai naino ke ghan,
O o san sanan…

6) Song: Jaa Ri Pawaniya
Film: Do Boond Paani (1971)
Credits: Kaifi Azmi | Jaidev | Asha Bhosle

Feeling wise the song is similar to the earlier song. Simi Garewal requests the wind to deliver a message to her husband. Her husband has left the drought ridden village and gone to work far way on a canal construction site. She is left alone and remembers him.

Jaa ri pawaniya, piya ke des jaa,
Itna sandesha mora kahiyo jaa,
Piya so sandesha mora kahiyo jaa..

7) Song: Sun Jaa Ae Thandi Hawaa
Film: Haathi Mere Saathi (1971)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Laxmikant Pyarelal | Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

This is a catchy, romantic song from the blockbuster Haathi Mere Saathi. The picturization is unique as the hero and heroine are swinging in hammocks throughout the song. They invite the wind to visit them but warn her not to gossip about their romance. They remind her that she too goes to meet the cloud who is her companion.

Sun jaa ae thandi hawaa,
Tham jaa aye kaali ghataa,
Kuchh pyaari pyaari baatein hamaari,
Aa jaate jaate tu bhi sun jaa

8) Song: Sun Ri Pawan, Pawan Purwaiyya
Film: Anuraag (1972)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | S.D. Burman | Lata Mangeshkar

Anuraag was the story of a young blind girl who falls in love. In this raag Bhairavi based song, the heroine Moushumi Chatterjee talks about her life by speaking to the pawan purwaiyya. She talks about being alone and if the wind can become her companion.

Sun ri pawan pawan purwaiyya,
Mai hoo akeli albeli,
Tu saheli meri ban ja sathiya..

9) Song: Chupke Chupke Chal Ri Purwaiyya
Film: Chupke Chupke (1975)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | S.D. Burman | Lata Mangeshkar

The well known title song from Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s classic is picturized on Jaya Bhaduri and Amitabh Bachchan. She addresses the eastern wind or purwaiyya. The reference is obviously to the young woman’s feelings, about blossoming of love and the accompanying hesitation.

Chupke chupke chal ri purawaiyya…
Baansuri bajaaye re, raas rachaaye dayya re dayya,
Gopiyon sang Kanhaiya,
Chupke chupke chal ri purawaiyya

Pagal pawan se, kaise koi bole,
Gori ke mukh se, ghunghata na khole, dole,
Haule se man ki naiyya, gopiyon sang Kanhaiyya..
Chupke Chupke…

10) Song: Ae Ri Pawan Dhoondhe Kise
Film: Bemisaal (1982)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | R. D. Burman | Lata Mangeshkar

Picturized in scenic Kashmir, the song stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee and Vinod Mehra. In a literal sense, Rakhee converses with the wind, but deeper, a woman is thinking about her loneliness, relationship, and her purpose.

Baadal se tera kya hai kuchh naata,
Ho, baadal se tera kya hai kuchh naata,
Kaahe jhoome naache gaaye aaye jab saawan,
Baanwari si tu phire, Kaun hai tera sajan,

Ho, ae ri pawan dhoondhe kise tera mann
Chalte chalte

“Raag Bhimpalasi” 90s Songs

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This is my second post involving classical music in Hindi cinema after an attempt at raag Shivaranjani last year. You can see that post here. To reiterate(!) I have not learnt classical music or the shastra (science) involving it. But I do have an ear for it.

Today’s post is about raag Bhimpalasi. Like Shivaranjani, this is a popular raag used in many film songs across decades. Probably because it has a certain flexibility and is easy to set to tune. I noted that a number of music directors from the 1990s have made use of this raag many times. Given these are film songs, the structure of the raag may not be pure but that liberty is allowed in light music. A similar sounding raag is Dhaani. In Carnatic music, the raags are called Abheri and Suddha Dhanyasi respectively.

A bit about Bhimpalasi, courtesy Wikipedia. This raga originates from the Kaafi thaat. Re and Dha are not used in the ascending scale, and all the notes are used in the descending scale. Therefore, its Jati is considered to be Audava-Sampoorna. Ga and Ni are soft in it. The Vadi note is Ma and the Samvadi note is Sa.

The time for singing and playing is the third quarter of the day. It evokes feelings of romance, peace, compassion and devotion.

Aaroha-ni_ S, G_, M P Ni_ San.

Descending–Sam, Ni_, Dha Pa, Mag_ Re S.

Catch-ni_sam m, m g_, p m, g_ m g_ res.

So, here is a list of 10 songs which seem to be based on this enchanting raag. I would defer to the experts to share their opinion.

1) Song: Waada Raha Sanam
Film: Khiladi (1992)
Credits: Anwar Sagar | Jatin Lalit | Abhijeet and Alka Yagnik

This is a soft romantic song and I was surprised it has a hint of Bhimpalasi. The lead couple (Akshay Kumar and Ayesha Jhulka) are disturbed as their college friend has been murdered. The situation has a serious undercurrent but the song helps to soften it and bring things to normal. They sing this song to pacify each other and admit their commitment towards each other.

2) Song: Samay O Dheere Chalo
Film: Rudaali (1993)
Credits: Gulzar | Bhupen Hazarika | Asha Bhosle

Rudaali had all great songs. This particular song presents Bhimpalasi in a serious mode. It has a feel of longing and emptiness as the protagonist feels she is losing everything in life. The lyrics, singing and tune leave you spellbound. The film version is song by Asha Bhosle which appears twice in the movie. But the cassette (or album) had versions by Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupen Hazarika too.

3) Song: Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast
Film: Mohra (1994)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Viju Shah | Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Chorus

This song was very popular and featured for multiple weeks in the popular Top 10 programs of the time. It is “inspired” from a Sufi qawwali and works its magic on the big screen in its highly commercial avatar! Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon team up with many side dancers. It is well picturized and choreographed. The tune is catchy. It also demonstrates the flexibility or adaptability of the raag where the same tune can be used to create two songs with totally opposite moods.

4) Song: Tu Mile Dil Khile
Film: Criminal (1994)
Credits: Indeevar | M. M. Kreem | Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik and Chitra

Some films are identified for that one memorable song which stays with you for years. Criminal was a forgettable film but this song became an iconic song of the 90s. The original song is in Telugu probably set in raag Abheri, the Carnatic equivalent of Bhimpalasi.

5) Song: Kismat Se Tum
Film: Pukar (2000)
Credits: Javed Akhtar | A. R. Rahman | Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal

This raag seems to be a favourite of A R Rahman. He has used it many times in films like Rangeela, Daud, Dil Se, Lagaan and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. This is a masterpiece of a song with the singing, composition and picturization blending beautifully. Its a visual delight. Shot in Alaska, the snowy landscape can be felt throughout the musical composition. The tune showcases the emotions of the lead pair who have been (finally) brought together in extremely trying circumstances. They vow to never separate from one another. Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit sizzle on screen.

6) Song: Mujhe Kehna Kehna Tujhse Hai Kehna
Film: Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001)
Credits: Sameer | Harris Jayaraj | Sonu Nigam and Kavita Krishnamurthy

I came to know about Harris Jayaraj due to this movie. He hasn’t composed much for Hindi films. RHTDM was a remake of a Tamil film Minnale for which Harris had won the Filmfare award. It is a melodious composition presenting Bhimpalasi in a romantic form and it sounds fresh. The southern influence is evident.

7) Song: Eli Re Eli Kya Hai Ye Paheli
Film: Yaadein (2001)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Anu Malik | Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Hema Sardesai and Chorus

Trust Anu Malik to come up with this marvellous tune. Not sure if it’s inspired but the song is effective with it’s singing and arrangement. Arguably, Kavita Krishnamurthy steals the show. The song is one of the saving graces in an otherwise boring film. It is mainly picturized on the 3 sisters’ characters in the film. The song begins with a mischievous tone and ends on a mood filled with sadness when one of the sisters gets married and leaves the house with a heavy heart.

8) Song: Bol Na Halke Halke
Film: Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
Credits: Gulzar | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Mahalaxmi Iyer

When it’s Shankar Ehsaan Loy, we can expect some semi classical touches in the compositions. This song presents the raag in it’s full splendour and can be easily one of their best compositions. The slow tempo matched by the slow motion picturization adds to the effect. The singing is top notch. Overall there is a retro feel. Such songs have indeed become a rarity.

9) Song: Pani Da Rang
Film: Vicky Donor (2012)
Credits: Ayushmann Khurrana | Rochak Kohli | Ayushmann Khurrana

Another song demonstrating how Bhimpalasi can pop up unexpectedly. The story goes that Ayushmann wrote the song during his college days. It was liked and adapted by director Shoojit Sircar in the film. Whether it was specifically based on the raag or it happened naturally is perhaps immaterial. The song is easy on the ears and leaves it’s impact.

10) Song: Aaj Se Teri
Film: Padman (2018)
Credits: Kausar Munir | Amit Trivedi | Arijit Singh

We started with Akshay Kumar and end with him! The last song is a romantic number but of a different sort. Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte are a newly married couple. The husband describes how their lives are entwined going forward. He will make all efforts to make her feel blessed. Amit Trivedi makes ample use of the shehnai and other instruments create the feel of the marriage celebrations and the events in the daily life of the couple. Bhimpalasi shines.