On her birthday, my favourite Lata Mangeshkar duets. She has sung with practically everyone and his cousin in her eons that she has ruled the roost of Hindi Film Music
Chod Gaye Balam – Lata and Mukesh voicing for a very young Nargis and Raj Kapoor. Film – Barsaat. The pangs of separation done beautifully well. Music Shankar Jaikishen, lyrics Shailendra
Itna na Mujhse Pyaar Bada – Film Chhayawith [tag]Talat Mahmood[/tag]. Music by Salil Choudhary and Lyrics by Rajinder Kishen.Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh on screen. One of the sweetest love songs ….
Yeh Raat Bhighi Bhigi – film Chori Chori – possibly my favourite Raj Kapoor & Nargis duet. Lyrics by Hasrat Jaipurand Music by Shankar Jaikishen. An adaptation of [tag]’It Happened one Night [/tag], the film has an incredible set of songs – including the other Lata / Manna De duet – Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandini Mein Hum…
Jhoole Mein Pawan Ki Aayi Bahar – a very young Bharat Bhushan and an even younger Meena Kumari in this classic from Baiju Bawra. Music Naushad lyrics Shakeel Badayuni
Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi woh Barsaat ki Raat – Mohd. Rafi & Lata and sheer magic. Music by Roshan, Lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi . Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan and one of the best music in films. the whole album is a trip.
Chupa Lo yo Dil Mein Pyaar Mera – film Mamta – music Roshan, lyrics Majrooh. Suchitra Sen in a double role. The older one a courtesan loved by Ashok Kumar, and the younger one a lawyer loved by Dharmendra. Fabulous songs
Mein Chali, Mein Chali – with Mohd. Rafi – A great, flirty, young song picturised on Shammi Kapoor& Kalpana . A great fun film with a fabulous sound track. It contains the other Lata Rafi classic – Awaaz Dekhe Hume Tum Bulao .
Tasveer Tere Dil Mein, Jis Din se Utara Hai – with Mohd. Rafi – for Mala Sinha & Dev Anand. A very tender, sweet song. [tag]Salil Choudhry[/tag] & Majrooh Sultanpuri get together to create magic.
Aaja Re, Ab Mera Dil Pukare – with Mukesh for the film Aah. Nargis & Raj Kapoor Star. Shankar Jaikishen & Hasrat Jaipuri compose the music and lyrics. Soulful, melodious and terribly sad
Ajee Chale Aoo – Film Halaku[, with sister Asha Bhonsale. Music Shankar Jaikishen, lyrics Shailendra. Lata did a fair few number of duets with both her sisters in songs as diverse as Aplam Chaplam (Azad) and Sare Shehar mein ek hasin hai (Alibaba aur 40 chor).
Loote Koi Man ka Nagar – with Manhar . The film is Abhimaan. [tag]Amitabh Bachchan[/tag] and [tag]Jaya Bahduri[/tag] star in this fabulous film about a man who becomes jealous of his wife’s success. Other great Lata duets in this film are Teri Bindiya Re (with Rafi) and Tere Mere Milan ki yeh Raina (with Kishore Kumar0. Music by the great [tag]S.D.Burman[/tag] and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri
Dil Ki Girah Khol Do
- – with Manna De. The film [tag]Raat aur Din[/tag]. Nargis’ last role. Music Shankar Jaikishen & Lyrics Shailendra. The song is picturised on Nargis and a very young Feroze Khan. The film is a classic.
Aaj Madhosh Huva Jali Re -with Kishore Kumar in the film Sharmilee. Rakhee plays twins, one good and one bad – and Shashi Kapoor plays the man who is in love with one of them. But which one ? Music – S.D.Burman, lyrics by Neeraj
Is Mod Se Jate Hainwith Kishore Kumar. for the film Andhi -with Sanjeev Kumar & Suchitra Sen – lyrics by Gulzar and music by R.D.Burman. One of the best ‘relationship films ever made. And there is something about this song that puts it above the other two classics – Tere Bina Zindagi, and Tum Aa Gaye Ho.
Aapke Aankhon Mein Kuch – with Kishore Kumar. The golden team of R.D.Burman and Gulzar team up for Ghar. This is a duet between Vinod Mehra and Rekha. More conversation than song – a great example of the Gulzar and RD partnership. The movie looked at how rape impacts the relationship of a happily married couple.
Kya Yahi Pyar Hai – with Kishore Kumar. Film Rocky. A gangly Sanjay Dutt and a gaucheTina Munim wondering about love. Music – R.D.Burman and lyrics by Anand Bakshi
Gir Gaya Jhumka – with Kishore Kumar – Film Jugnu. Music S.D.Burman, lyrics Anand Bakshi . A radiant Hema Malini and a rugged Dharmendra, flirt (like crazy) in this song.
Aur Chabi Kho Jaaye – with Shailendra Singh – Film Bobby. The debut film of both Rishi Kapoor & Dimple Kapadia. Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal, check out their other great duets including one in this movie – Jhoot Bhole Kaava Kate,
Beeti Na Bitaye Raina – with Bhupinder. Film Parichay. R.D. & Gulzar. this combination got together again for Kinara – for the brilliant Meethe Bole Bol and Naam Gum Jayega; and Mausam – the fabulous Dil Doondtha Phir Wahi
Zihale Masti Makum Barnajish– FilmGhulami – a great folk number with a whole host of stars and Rajasthan looking incredible. With Shabbir Kumar. MusicLaxmikant Pyarelal]
I have been unfortunate to be born as late as 1984 cos the songs Lata Mangeshkar recorded in my time were utterly unbearable, to the point where u wanted to strap her to a chair in her home, not letting her record any songs for 20 year old heroines. but everybody loves her. and i have heard her stuff from her peak and its real good. unfortunately i will never be able to apprecate her as much as what most people would. or maybe someday.
This is a great list, which sent me scrambling to my directory to see which are on my iPod already. 🙂
I have not ventured far into your blog but did you do a similar one for Asha Bhonsle? I am relatively cool towards Lata Mangeshkar but positively more enthusiastic about Asha Bhonsle.
Hi Shefaly
not for Asha… not so far… but i am thinking of going through all the singers and music directors before the 80’s…. and simply write about the music that gave me – and still gives me joy….
That will be great! 🙂
I have to buy some more music in India next time…
I wish to place a counter-thought, not quite a counter-argument, visavis what Mr Sriram Venkitachalam says: There are a few people among musically talented people, in films or in classical circuits, who maintain their voice at its vibrant and energetic melodious peak right up to their eighties, may be even older. It is true they is extremely rare, due to several reasons, like, once a high-performing musician gets older, demand for their music gets reduced due to prejudices re: their old age which is not good for publicity of the programs. Reason for the rarity of such people is the abuse of one’s natural endowments by distractions, leghargy, laxity in self-discipline required for maintaining vocal nimbleness at peak, etc. A STRONGER reason is that musicians sing, at least in the films, what is composed by the music directors who may be mediocres. It is very true that mere assembling of a large orchestra mainly comprising Western instruments and producing some harmonies and chords which are irrelevant to Indian genius and idiom of music as called for to satisfy the Indian psyche. One wonders whethere there even a couple of film music directors who have NOT fallen for the profligate use of orchestra and a neglect of the real essence and pliability of our native musical genius. The blare of media hype is used by present day film music composers to mask their failure to understand how to the right of orchestra with the best of Indian music, classical, folk, light.
Regret inadvertent errors, of which I correct one as important, unlike the others which can be understood even without my correction. I have a weakness of writing long sentences and submitting the draft without a check:
It is very true that mere assembling of a large orchestra mainly comprising Western instruments and producing some harmonies and chords which are irrelevant to Indian genius and idiom of music as called for to satisfy the Indian psyche – CAN EVER MAKE SOUL-TOUCHING MUSIC, WHETHER LIGHT OR CLASSICAL.