The Magical Voice of the Singing Genius. Review on Ten Best Songs of Hemant Kumar

Hemant Mukherjee, a.k.a Hemant Kumar was one of the magical geniuses of Hindi film music. In an industry where Lata, Kishore, Rafi and Asha dominated, it was natural that a singer like Hemant Kumar was highly underrated. But Hemantda had another side to his ability – his talent as a music director.

Remember the golden oldies like Nagin, Bees Saal Baad, Anupama – yes all these musical hits had music by Hemant Kumar. It was his musical mastery that ensured that he made a niche for himself in the film industry.

Hemant Kumar started his career in Bengali music and entered the Hindi film industry in 1944. He was well-versed in Rabindra Sangeet. Initially Hemant Kumar had a strong association with S D Burman, who was the preferred composer for Dev Anand. This ensured that in the face of stiff competition from Kishore and Rafi, Hemant Kumar would get a song or two in many Dev Anand movies.

His militant version of Vande Mataram in Anand Math brought him accolades. This was followed by Nagin, a musical superhit. Many other well-known movies followed including Bees Saal Baad, Kohra all of which had music by Hemantda. In the meanwhile Hemant continued to sing for other composers.

But by the 60s, SD Burman decided that Hemantda’s voice had deteriorated and he thus no longer had any use for him. Ironically, this was the year when Hemantda’s music and singing in Bees Saal Baad won him acclaims. Probably, a case of professional jealousy!! But wearing two hats of singer and composer probably affected Hemantda’s career and by late 60s and in 70s his presence was reduced.

He continued to compose music for Bengali films till his death in 1989.

He was a singer with a very unique voice, a heavy thickset voice that was full of emotion.

Here is my selection of top ten songs of Hemantda. I have arranged it in chronological order:

1. Yeh raat ye chandni phir kaha
   Sun Ja Dil Ki Dastaan from Jaal (1952) is one of the early songs of Hemantda for the Dev Anand-SD Burman team. An example of how Hemantda was comfortable with romantic songs too.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dBw_JSiNF9c

1. Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kahan Ho Tum
   Jhoomti Bahar Hai Kahan Ho Tum
   Pyar Se Pukalo Jahan Ho Tum from Patita (1953) is a sweet duet with Lata Mangeshkar, with music composed by Shankar Jaikishan. Yet again it is the dashing Dev Anand on whom the song is picturised.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2ibKUzrJo

1. Na Yeh Chand Hoga
   Na Taare Rahenge
   Magar Hum Hamesha
   Tumhare Rahenge This classic song filled with emotion and pain is from the movie Shart (1954). Music is composed by Hemant Kumar himself.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_0UF1dztKs4

1. Jaane wo kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar Mila
   Humne tho jab kaliya mange kaaton ka haar mila

This classic song is without doubt one of the greatest Guru Dutt songs from the legendary movie. Pyaasa (1957). It won’t be wrong to say that the soul of this classic movie is captured in this song. S D Burman’s music and Hemantda’s booming baritone fills this song with life.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nAs2wiCqQlI

1. Hai Apna Dil to Awara
   Na jaane kis pe aayega This evergreen S D Burman song is from Solvah Saal (1958). Picturised on the irrepressible Dev Anand, this song was one of the greatest hits of its time. On Ameen Sayani’s Binaca Geet Mala, this song had scored the highest number of points to be Sartaj – no other song in the history of Hindi film music could exceed this song’s score on the program.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=w9qnOkbnNoc

1. Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hain
   Chahe thodi bhi ho ye umr badi hoti hain is a Hemant classic from Anarkali (1953). Picturised on Anarkali (Bina Rai) and Salim (Pradeep Kumar), the music for this golden oldie is composed by CRamchandra.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JXOHN0bp9gg

1. Bekarar karke hame yun na jaiye
   Aap tho hamare kasam laut aiye One of Hemant Kumar’s super hit songs, this is from the movie Bees Saal Baad (1962). Picturised on Biswajeet and Waheeda Rahman, the music for the classic song is by Hemantda. Incidentally, Hemant Kumar also produced this super hit movie. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ENZWM8ZnI60

   
   




2. Na tum hame jaano
   Na hame tum jaane
   Magar lagta hain kuch aisa
   Mera humdum mil gaya Yet another Hemant Kumar classic, this Dev Anand-SD Burman-Hemant collaboration is from Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) The song also features the voice of Suman Kalyanpur. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ol4gsE4DxfE

   
   




3. Yeh nayan dare dare yeh jam bhare bhare
   Zara peene do Kal ki kis ko khabar
   Ik raat hoke nidar Mujhe jeene do This is without doubt one of Hemantda’s most soulful songs and my favourite too. Picturised on Biswajeet and Waheeda, this song from Kohra (1964) has music by Hemant Kumar, who produced the movie too.

   
   

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TVq6wCkZ9_o

1. Tum Pukar lo tumhara Intezar hain is from the movie Khamoshi (1969). Hemant Kumar has also composed the music for this movie, which he himself produced. Never had Hemantda sounded more mellifluous. This song is another of my favourites and picturised on Dharmendra and Waheeda Rahman.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LQGMIFnIlWw

I have tried to cover all his hit songs in my selection. Here are five other equally famous songs:

1. Zara Nazron Se Kehdo Ji from Bees Saal Baad (1962) music by Hemantda

https://youtube.com/watch?v=x4l7r3qJkBw

1. Tere Dwar khada ek jogi from the superhit movie Nagin (1954), music is by Hemantda himself. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pLS8HbXPn4w

   
   




2. Chup Hain Dharti from House No. 44 (1955), a the Dev-SD-Hemant song.

   
   

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ikJ6c0BhLk

1. Ya Dil Ka Suno from Anupama (1966), music again by Hemantda

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q7SCrsnAv7A

1. Rahi tu Mat Ruk Jaana from Door Gagan Ke Chaoon Mein (1964). Interesting that Kishore Kumar was the composer, but used Hemantda's voice for the title track.