20 Best Hindi Film Songs Ever-Outlook survey. Review on Outlook India

OUTLOOK has come out with a special issue dated 26th June, commemorating 75 years of Cinema with the cover story on 20 Best Hindi Film Songs ever.

While the list is debatable, Chandan Mitra’s article is an excellent trip down the memory lane. It contains a few errors: OP Nayyar is Omkar Prasad Nayyar. Tu mere saamne hai is composed by Madan Mohan not by OPN. Mere Sanam did not have any song with Hoof beat. Dharamputra had N Dutta not Ravi as the Music director, Chandan ka palna song is not from Chhote Nawab, Beqarar dil is not from film-Door ka rahi.I am sure the readers will come out with right answers.

Now to the list;

The list has SD Burman leading with 5 compositions, , 3 of RDB, 2 each of Roshan & Madan Mohan, 1 each of Naushad, Salil Chaudhri, Hemant Kumar, Khaiyam and Shanker Ehsan Loy.

Surprisingly OPNayyar, AR Rehman, Shanker Jaikishen, Kalyanji-Anandji, & even LP don’t make it to the list. Among the singers: Rafi & Lata lead with 5 songs each, Kishore follows with 2, and 1 each of Hemant, Saigal, Asha, Mannadey, Geet dutt & Sonu Nigam. Talat, Mukesh, Udit, Mahendra Kapoor, Suman Kalyanpur did not make it. There two duets both by Rafi, one with Lata and other with Asha.

1. No.1 is Man re- from Chitralekha by Rafi. This superb composition from Roshan is a gem. I agree with the choice. .

No.2 has 3 entries: Tere mere sapne by Rafi from Guide is excellent choice.

1. Din Dhal Jaye also from Guide is a good song, but I would rather prefer “ Main nigahen tere chehre se by Rafi from Aapki Parchhaiyaan.

   
   




2. Kuch to log kahenge from Amar Prem is not right choice. I would put Chingari koi Bhadke from same film in it’s place.

   
   




3. There are 3 songs for No.3 position. I agree with the choice of Waqt ne kiya, kya haseen sitam. What beautiful song, excellent poetry, superb composition and superb rendering by Geet Dutt, her best song of lifetime.

   
   




4. Next is Jo wada kiya from Taj Mahal, I would rather opt for, Do sitaron ka jameen from Kohinoor. Such a sweet , melodious duet has never since been composed. A masterpiece of Naushad.

   
   

7. Pyar kiya to darna kya is not much of a great music composition, but it is a great poetry which shows women coming of age and defying the traditional leashes of authority and subjugation.

1. There are 13 songs for 4th position thus making the list of 20. I don’t agree with KL Saigal’s number at all. If at all Saigal is to be remembered, he should be for “ Ik Bangala bane payara”, a sincere yearning for an independent Indian common man emerging out of years of slavery!

   
   




2. Ayega aanewala was a big hit and a turning point in Lata’s career. I can live with it, but am not happy.

   
   




3. Piya tose from Guide, is a good song, but not worth including in the list. I would opt for “ Yoon hasraton ke daag” from Adalat by Madan Mohan.

   
   




4. Main yeh soch kar from Haqeekat is a good choice. The lilting melody with an underlying melancholy sung with so much of feeling and sincerity by Rafi is an excellent song deserving a higher rank.

   
   




5. O sajna by Lata of Salil da does not deserve it. I would rather opt for Aaajare by Lata from Madhumati , also by Salilda.

   
   




6. Kuch dil ne kaha from Anupama is unique because it has no orchestration or percussion , but does not deserve to hit the list. I would rather opt for “ Chupa lo yun dil mein pyar” from Mamta by Roshan.

   
   




7. Zindagi ke safar mein from Aap ki kasam is a waste. There are much better songs. I would rather opt fro “ Ik haseen shaam ko” by Rafi composed by Madan Mohan.

   
   




8. Tum jo mil gaye ho better be substituted by Tasveer teri dil mein from Maya by Salilda.

   
   




9. Dil cheez kya hai from Umrao Jan is a run of the mill gazal. I would have opted for “ yeh kya jagah hai doston” from same movie. 1

   
   




10. Chura liya hai does not deserve to hit the list. I would prefer, Aaapke haseen lab pe by Rafi from Baharein phir bhi aayengi by O P Nayyar.

    
    




11. Tum Pukar lo by Hemant da is a good choice.

    
    




12. Har ghadi from KHNH does not deserve. Rather Taal se Taal Milaof Rehman should have been there.

    
    




13. Poocho na kaise of Manna Da is a great song. He deserves more. At least one more song” Tu pyar ka sagar hai from Seema would have done justice both to Manna & to SJ.

    
    

For a 75 year history of Indian Cinema and Lakhs of songs, 20 is too small a number. I think it should be at least a list of 100 best.

What goes into your list of 100?