Most of the songs in the movies being churned out by Bollywood happen to portray feelings of love. One often wonders as to how the heroine and the hero keep changing their outfits in each of the stanzas, keeping the wardrobe designers and producers laughing all the way to their respective banks. The high walls of manmade borders melt away, as they are seen wandering about on different continents of the world without any visa/immigration hassles, proving the age-old adage of Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam. Not to speak of the bevy of choreographers and a 100-piece orchestra which keeps following them scrupulously, without missing a single beat.
But once in a blue moon, we get treated to a love song which is more spontaneous in its depiction. The lyricist and the music director obviously work harder on creating such songs which appear as if these are getting composed by the couple in real time on the screen.
Consider the following songs which fall in this category.
One of the very few love songs which has an office setting as a background.
Jaane kahaan mera jigar gaya ji…
Movie: Mrs and Mr 55 (1955)
Singers: Mohd. Rafi, Geeta Dutt
Music Director: O P Nayyar
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Here is a flirtatious song from an otherwise serious movie. The back-and-forth chat between the heroine and the hero is a sheer delight.
Hum aapki ankhon mein…
Movie: Pyasa (1957)
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt
Music Director: S D Burman
Lyricist: Sahir Ludianvi
What happens when a lovers’ tiff results into a lovelorn backchat between the pair?
Achha ji main haari chalo…
Movie: Kala Pani (1958)
Singers: Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
A mischievous heroine puts the poor hero through an ordeal and then has the cheek to teasingly ask as to how he is feeling!
Haal kaisa hai janaab ka…
Movie: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: S.D.Burman
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Claiming some dues from the party of the other part can happen even during a stage performance!
Paanch rupaiya barah anna…
Movie: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: S D Burman
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
How did you fall in love with me, asks the heroine coyly!
Sach bata tu mujh pe fida…
Movie: Sone ki chidiya (1958)
Singers: Asha Bhosle, Talat Mehmood
Music: O P Nayyar
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Yet another song where bickering between a couple takes place during a stage performance.
Tere pyar ka aasra chahta hoon…
Movie: Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
Singers: Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: N. Datta
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
A romantic poem gets composed as the hero plays a muse to the heroine.
Chupke se mile pyaase pyaase…
Movie: Manzil (1960)
Singers: Geeta Dutt, Mohammed Rafi
Music Director: S. D. Burman
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
The lovers list the precautions the party of the other part should take, lest any harm may come to the flora and fauna around.
Bikhra ke zulfien chaman mein na jaana…
Movie: Nazrana (1961)
Singers: Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Ravi
Lyricist: Rajendra Krishan
A delectable confluence of Carnatic and Hindustani music, this song captures the rivalry between two persons, both trying to woo the young lady.
Ek chatur naar…
Movie: Padosan (1968)
Singers: Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar
Music Director: R D Burman
Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan
Getting the beloved to accept that she loves the lover.
Baagon mein bahaar hai…
Movie: Aradhana (1969)
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi
Music Director: S D Burman
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Even surreptitious meetings between a couple get overshadowed by the heroine’s wish to return home early!
Achha to hum chalte hain…
Movie: Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Strictly speaking, only the first portion of this song happens to be dialogue-driven. Nevertheless, overall, it surely has a dash of spontaneity to it!
Sa re ga ma pa…
Movie: Abhinetri (1970)
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Music Director: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
The subtle art of dodging the police by showcasing a clandestine meet as a lovers’ date.
O mere raja, khafa na hona…
Movie: Johnny Mera Naam (1970)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: Kalyanji Anandji
Lyricist: Rajinder Krishan
A budding romance soon gets transformed into a life-long commitment.
Aap yahaan aaye kisliye…
Movie: Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan
Lyricist: Neeraj
Social barriers and taboos keep the heroine on tenterhooks, whereas the hero is not worried about such mundane issues.
Gir gaya jhumka…
Movie: Jugnu (1973)
Music Director: S D Burman
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Two playful songs, depicting the sprouting of romantic feelings between two teenagers.
Mujhe kuchh kehna hai…
Hum tum ek kamre mein band hon…
Movie: Bobby (1973)
Singers: Shailendra Singh, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Couplets (dohas) of such Sufi poets as Rahim and Kabir have regaled generations with pristine wisdom, duly laced with an earthy common sense. Trust Rajshri Productions to string some of these together for our sake.
Bade badaai na karen…
Movie: Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978)
Singers: Hemalata, Jaspal Singh
Music Director: Ravindra Jain
Lyrics: Dohas of Rahim and Kabir
Keep the dialogue on and love will soon follow it its wake!
Suniye, kahiye…
Movie: Baton Baton Mein (1979)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist: Amit Khanna
The hero regales a bunch of kids with a juicy story about his encounter with a lion.
Mere paas aao mere doston…
Movie: Mr. Natwarlal (1979)
Singer: Amitabh Bachchan, Master Ravi
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
The hero and the heroine are cooing to each other like turtle doves. They keep rhyming words and phrases and end up creating an impromptu song!
Kaise ho pagal…
Movie: Chashme Buddoor (1981)
Singers: Raj Kamal, Hemanti Shukla
Music Director: Raj Kamal
Lyricist: Indu Jain
When his six younger brothers fall hopelessly in love, the elder one guides them!
Pyaar tumhen kis mod pe le aaya…
Movie: Satte Pe Satta (1982)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Bhupinder and others
Music Director: R D Burman
Lyricist: Gulshan Bawra
These are songs which, I believe, showcase a higher level of creativity on the part of our lyricists and music directors. To bring in a spontaneity of this kind is no mean task. Alas, these are very few and far between.
Can you think of any songs which could be added to this list? If so, please leave behind a comment below.
{Note: Inputs from Ms Madhulika Liddle, Mr Sunil Jain and Ms Pooja Agrawal are gratefully acknowledged}.
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