My most difficult review so far(and after quite some time too).Choosing just a handful from the melody of ocean. I have my own biases, maybe not as exclusive as the ones by Rohit, but hopefully you like them.
And by the way, a very prosperous 2005 to everyone out there.
20. Ek pyaar ka naghma hai(Shor, 1972), Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyrics: Santosh Anand
The appeal of this song is impeccable, comes as a flashback in the story line as Manoj Kumar remembers his dead wife, Nanda. Very sensitive movie, best work of Manoj Kumar and a wonderful composition by LP.
19. Prabhu tero naam jo dhyaye(Hum Dono, 1961), Music: Jaidev, Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
I like this one over the more popular'Allah tero naam'. Picturised over the serene Sadhana(she somehow had the best Lata songs, atleast in my list), the tempo and the mood is built up very slowly as you suddenly feel the magic of the voice causing goose bumps beneath your skin.
18. Rahe na rahe hum(Mamta, 1962) Music: Roshan, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
A simple but elegant composition, by one of the most melodious but choosy composers, late Roshan. Picturized on Meena Kumari(what an actress, her screen presence especially in songs is superb), the song has some beautiful https://lyrics.
17. Naino me badra chaye(Mera Saaya, 1966) Music: Madan Mohan, Lyrics: Raja Mehndi Ali Khan
A semi-classical song, wonderfully portrays the mood of the expectant paramour, somehow giving similes to cloud, and the rain. Pure poetry(usage of words Badraa and Garwa), magical tune by Madan Mohan, and Sadhana again(remember she had double roles in the movie, her expressions in this song are sublime).
16. Chhod de sari duniya(Saraswatichandra, 1968), Music: Kalyanji Anandji, Lyrics: Indeevar
Tough choosing over'Chandan sa badan'. Nutan epitomized grief in Hindi cinema and no wonder, the rendering is made eternal by some great acting and https://lyrics. Indeevar was famous for using chaste Sanskrit words, but here he goes very simple and the result is amazing:
Chhod de sari duniya kisi ke liye liye, ye munasib nahi aadmi ke liye
Pyaar se bhi jaroori kai kam hai, pyaar hi sabkuch nahi jeene ke liye
15. Tumhi mere mandir tumhi mere puja(Khandan, 1966 Music: Ravi, Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
A nice, cutely rendered song, highlighting the various aspects of affection. Simple orchestration, simple words, and sung with absolute astuteness, you start wondering if anybody other than Lata could have done justice to the song.
14. Na jaane kya hua( Dard, 1980), Music: Khayyam, Lyrics: Nida Fazli
Again tough choosing over'Ae-dil-e-nadan', but then this one has that real serene feeling. One starts getting exposed to the unique triple pitched voice of the singer as she effortlessly juggles between high pitched antara to the low pitched mukhada.
13. Ye Zindagi usiki ki hai, (Anarkali, 1954), Music: C Ramchandra, Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan
Somewhat in between the categories of Semi-Classical to a courtroom song, Ramchandra Chitalkar gave Lata Mangeshkar some sublime hits. Notice the way she pronounces the word'Dhadak' in the second mukhada, a nice nakhra that showcases the epitome of musical mastery.
12.Tumhe yaad karte karte(Amrapali, 1966), Music: Shankar Jaikishan, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
The pangs of separation and longing for the love is evident in this nice composition of SJ. Vaijayantimala looked superb as Amrapali and I remembered the song because of her.
11.Ruk ja raat, thehar ja re chanda(Dil Ek Mandir, 1964), Music: Shankar Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra
I remember this film had the usual story of ex-lover of wife coming back to haunt, but then some excellent acting by Meena Kumari, and few immortal songs of Lata di. This one in particular is my fave because of the intensity of the expression in the words.
10.Gudiya kab tak na hasogi(Dosti, 1964), Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
This gem of a song is often overshadowed by other popular Rafi numbers, but then every bit of this song will surprise you with its mellow impetuosity, bowling you over with the freshness.
9. Ae malik tere bande hum(Do Aankhen Barah Haath, 1959), Music: Vasant Desai, Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Sample these words: Bada kamjor hai aadmi, ab bhi lakho hai isme kami
Par tu hai jo khada, hai dayalu bada
Teri kripa se dharti thami
I can't help having goose bumps every time I hear this song, there's something beyond words which possesses you with a passive grip and my mind becomes calmer.
8. Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kiya(Mughal-e-Azam, 1958) Music: Naushad, Lyrics: Shakil Badauni
Whoa, the big one. Naushad Ali had an ear for melody and so did K Asif. The only memory I have of it is the mirror fragments inside the Sheesh Mahal and thousand Madhubala?s singing in the gusto of rebellion
7. Tere bina jiya jayena(Ghar, 1978), Music: R D Burman, Lyrics: Gulzar
Pancham and Gulzar together and there's breezy romance in the air. The long strumming of Lead guitar followed by some great orchestra, picks up the tempo very quick and there after Lata di takes over. The interludes sound very sweet, indeed a very romantic number. In my top 10 any day.
6. Naghma-o-Sher ki saugat(Ghazal, 1964), Music: Madan Mohan, Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Madan Mohan indeed makes Lata Mangeshkar sound special. The song has some interesting start as there?s some low-pitched humming'Kise pesh karoo' and an unusual mukhada with even more unusual breathing in between words; it soon catches up with you and you start hearing it again and again.
5. Aja piya tohe pyaar doo(Baharo Ke Sapne, 1967), Music: R D Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri.
One of the early works of Pancham, there's a strange melancholy in her voice which breathes more life into the song. Asha Parekh, deglamorised and a raw suave Rajesh Khanna make up for a picture perfect song.
4. Ab to hai tumse(Abhiman, 1973), Music: S D Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Heard somewhere that A K Hangal had initially found the lyrics of this song smacking the borders of vulgarity. My judgment after 30 years: few better decent love songs have been written so far. Lata di breathed life into onscreen Jaya Bhaduri, perfectly evoking memories of marital bliss.
Top 3 contd in comments.
