Music transcends all geographic barriers. It has no cultural, religious and ethnic boundaries- and depending on one’s taste, it touches the very inner core of our souls.
This musical montage with melody as the leitmotif will bring you sweet memories of bygone years . It is sheer delight to hear these songs even today.
Here are my 20 melodies down the lane!
1) Abhi To Main Jawaan Hoon’:Written by Hafeez Jallandhari( he wrote Pakistan’s national anthem) and sung by Ghazal queen Malika Pukraj, the compelling voice and depth of words stir your sentiments and the whole nazam simply grows on you. I particularly like the way it starts with charming musical utterances,
“ Havaa bhii Kushagavaar hai, gulo.n pe bhii nikhaar hai
tarannume.n hazaar hai, bahaar purabahaar hai “
(The air is fragrant, the flowers are blossoming.
A thousand lyric melody fills the air, the spring is in full bloom….
2)'Jawan Hai Mohabatt –Haseen'… . by NoorJahan: The luscious voice and soulful singing in this song make it unforgettable listening.
3)”Jane Kya Tune Kahin” by Geeta Dutt.Geeta Dutt’s voice was as seductive as nuanced, and as peppy as Snappy. She was blithe spirit of our popular music. Geeta had the God given gift of sounding sensuous without sounding salacious.
4)” Kahin pe nigahein.’(C.I.D.) Shamshad Begum: Her earthy voice in this song is punchy and stirs your emotions. Her “Bachpan ke din “….is another masterpiece.
5) “Tu Mera Chand”, equally good “ Murliwaale Murli Bajaa”(Dillagi) by Suriya.This singing star with her lilting voice generated hysteria during her hey days. Legend has it that actor Dharmendra walked 40 miles to watch her Dillagi 40 times!
6)”Ankhiyan Milake” by Zohra Bhai, music by Naushad .This is a an all time beautiful song sung by Zohra Bhai…….
7)”Gunghat ka pat Khol, Sakhee, tujhe pia milenge sung by Juthika Roy with her super-supple throat is another rare gem. .The sublime beauty of this bhajan transcends all cultural and religious barriers.
8)”Tum Apna Ranj-o-gham “by Jagjit Kaur.This sad song, so epitomised by Jagjit Kaur in that antithetic idiom that sets her vim and vitality as a joie-de-vivre performer. Imagine Waheeda Rehman’s visage in this song!.
9)”Hum ne dekhi hai” by Lata Mangeshkar, A singer with moonlight in her throat. I like Lata’s sweet timbre singing in this song. I also like “O basanti pawan pagal ‘ a free-flowing classical song .
10)”Aage bhi Jane na tu “– Asha Bhonsle. The ebullient, flexible and inimitable Asha has no comparison. It was like virtuosity that Asha brought to the rendition of'Mera Kuchch saamaan tumhaare paas pada hai', the R.D. Burman composition for Gulzar's.(This is one of my favo’s.)'Ijaazat' that won her the National Award as Best Singer.
For those who think Lata is Lata, For me Asha is Asha!
11)”Na hum tume Jano “ By Hemant Kumar. Salil Choudhary once said that if God could sing he would have a voice like Hemanta. ' Yeh raat yeh chaaNdni phir kahaN - Sun jaa dil ki daastan'is another favorite song. His deep voice and lilting melodies enthralls everyone with a ear for music.
12)”Phir wohi sham wohi gam wohi tanhai hai” by Talat Mahmood. I love the silken smooth and stylized voice in this song. His voice sounds like wine poured into a goblet. I would love to listen to Talat on one of those lonely nights, hitting the bottle with
the rain lashing outside.
13)”Chule ne do Nazuk” by Mohd Rafi is my all time favorite. I am not a big fan of his “fun” kar ‘sukoo sukoo type of songs. I love the fervent raga based prayer like songs of Rafi like, “Duniya ke rakh wale “
14)” Maine tere liye”( from Anand) by Mukesh: Mukesh’s exquisite voice and soulful melancholy make this song inimitable. It is a uphill task to single out one single song of Mukesh, most of his songs haunt with undermined pain. But I chose this one coz of Gulzar, whose lyrics are a deadly combination of simplicity and sensitivity capturing the complexities of living in his unique style.
15)Phoolon ki Rang se” by Kishore Kumaris one of my favorite songs. Kishore doesn’t just sing, he feels, savours and experiences the songs. A peerless singer, one who has left a burning trail.
16)The unforgettable prayer song, 'Tu pyaar ka sagar hai'by Manna Dey. His “Sur na saje kyaa gaoon main “ is my another favorite song.He is the king of melody. His low profile singing career is because he was unwilling to croon vulgar ditties to the accompaniment of an unwieldy orchestra.
17)'Tu jo mere sur mein' by Yesudas. His soul-stirring voice lends itself admirably to memorable renditions inducing a tranquil state of mind revealing the timeless beauty of bliss.Period
Gori teri aankhen kahen.'
18)Jagjit Singh’s'Woh Kagaz Ki Kashti'. is my all time favorite .His deep voice holds the key in delivering tranquility in many of the ghazals he renders.
19)'Hangama Hai Kyon Barpa' by Ghulam Ali is an exceptional ghazal singer.The effortless phirat of his voice ranges through many octaves and elevates the listeners to muscical ecstacy.The Mount Everest of Classical music.
20)'Dil Dhoondhta Hai Phir Wohi Fursat Ke Raat Din' by Bhupinder.I like his
mellifoulus, hauntingly'hummable' voice.Many may not be aware that he was a great guitaist.Bhupinder’s great guitar renditions is in'Tum jo mil gaye ho' from'Hanste Zakhm' with music by Madan Mohan. Also” Churaliya .“
