Before I put down my list, I want to make very clear two premises on which the selection of songs is based. Maybe these premises are biases or pre-conceived notions to you. Be that as it may, here they are: * 1. I believe the foundation for all Hindi music was laid largely in the 40s and 50s and the 60s were the golden years of Hindi music. Afterwards, RD Burman put Hindi music on temporary ventilation before it went into a coma in the 80s. Don’t believe me? You probably don’t know how much blatant plagiarism was taking place in Hindi music in the 80s. The 90s with AR Rahman’s brand new sound has sparked off a slow revival with a return of truly beautiful melodious passages. 2. Melody is Indian music’s greatest strength, testimony to that being the numerous raagas discovered by Indian musicians over the years. Harmony and rhythm are the core strengths of Western music, proof of which is the numerous symphonies composed by maestros like Mozart and Beethoven over the years. Hence, the more we attempt to emulate Western harmony and rhythm at the cost of melody, the more we move from strength to weakness. If you actually think that all Western musicians are decadent idiots with no musical sense, that’s your opinion and you are entitled to it, but I would not agree with you on that count. * Here goes my list of 20 Hindi masterpieces: 1. Jhanak Jhanak - Mere Huzoor: Composed by Shankar Jaikishan and rendered by Manna Dey - do I have to say anything about this song? A passionate discourse in Hindustani music. This song has been attempted by many amateur singers in music competitions with only a handful matching the exacting standards of the original. 2.Mere Mehboob - Mere Mehboob: A masterpiece by the Lucknawi Shehenshah Naushad. This demonstrates my second premise - completely Indian with minimal but unforgettable use of the santoor. Mohd Rafi’s rendition is perfect not only technically but also emotionally. 3.Bhari Duniya Mein - Do Badan:This is one of several gems given to us by the Rafi - Ravi(composer, there are unfortunately people who may not have heard of him, thanks to Indian media suffering chronically from Alzheimer’s disease!)combination. I have mentioned that harmony should not come at the cost of melody and this is one song where the piano blends beautifully with the singing. 4.Jaane Kahan Gaye - Mera Naam Joker:Possibly the greatest Hindi sad song rendered by a man who gave a unique interpretation to pathos - Mukesh. Perhaps he was not as technically accomplished as Rafi or Manna Dey, but his emotive abilities more than made up for that. Shankar Jaikishan, who composed this song, have given many other soulful numbers to Mukesh. 5.Humne to dil ko - Mere Sanam:The musically unlettered O.P.Nayyar learnt on the job - and how! Painstakingly crafted melody and rendered superlatively by Rafi and Asha Bhonsle. 6.Tere mere sapne - Guide:Guide showcased the very best of SD Burman and this song closely competes with another Rafi solo from the film - Din Dhal Jaye.The soulful saxophone passages cannot fail to move each time you listen. 7.Jaag Dil-e-Deewana - Oonche log:Chitragupt has long left the planet and has long since faded out of the memories of audiences, but this song is timeless - probably Rafi’s best ever romantic solo number. Perfect for a cold, winter evening. 8.Khelo na - Haqeeqat: Ah, I remembered - it’s the movie in which Rafi sang the unforgettable lines Ab tumhare hawale watan saathiyon This is the greatest musical elucidation of mystery by any Hindi music director. After all, it was composed by Madan Mohan(not me, relax!), the master of mystery and the darker shades of the life. If anybody can pick a flaw in Lata Mangeshkar’s rendition, I’ll be .! 9.Phir wahi sham - Jahan Ara:The man with the voice of silk and the authentic Lucknawi diction - Talat Mehmood - pours his soul into this heart-rending sad song composed, again, by Madan Mohan. If you listen to both songs back-to-back, you’ll get an insight into his versatility. 10.Musafir hoon yaaron - Parichay:Kishore Kumar did what he was best at - singing a simple, but soulful song, with simplicity but soul. Big deal if you didn’t slip out of scale while singing the song, but hats off to you if you can bring out the emotion in this brilliant RD Burman composition. 11.Balma Khuli Hawa - Kashmir ki Kali:There are many memorable Asha Bhonsle solos composed by OP Nayyar. Really no particular reason for picking this one, except that it’s worthy of selection. On a different day, I might have picked some other song! 12.Man re tu kahe na - Chitralekha:Sigh! Those were the days when sophistication was not a synonym for opulence - Roshan was a sophisticated Hindi composer who could compose sophisticated Hindustani melodies - sophisticated because of the quality of music and not because of borrowed likeness to Western music. Mohd Rafi is the singer - need I say more? 13.Koi Matwala - Love in Tokyo:Shankar-Jaikishan’s female singer equivalent of Jhanak Jhanak. Lata Mangeshkar’s sheer effortlessness is often mistaken for a lack of emotive ability. Well, if you find her voice endearing, what other emotional quality are you looking for? 14.Chahoonga Main Tujhe - Dosti:The most touching score given by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. I could have picked up any of the other Rafi solos in the movie too. A fine demonstration of North Indian folk music. 15.Zindagi Kaisi Hain Pehli - Anand:I chose this Manna Dey solo as it demonstrates Salil Choudhry’s mastery over Western symphony. 16.Ye Duniyawale - Mahal: One of Kalyanji-Anandji’s most heartwarming duets rendered by the renowned Kishore-Asha combination. 17.Gujar Jaaye Din -?: Again, I don’t remember the movie. A completely baffling tune from Salil Choudhry, but Kishore Kumar makes it look deceptively simple. 18.Ae Zindagi gale - Sadma: I haven’t selected this song because I am a fan of Ilayaraja, but this was Hindi music lovers’ only glimpse of 80’s Ilayaraja. Suresh Wadkar keeps it simple, but soul-stirring. 19.Hain Agar Dushman - Hum Kisise Kam Nahin: As far as I can remember, RD Burman’s only qawali. Rafi wins my heart, I don’t like the Asha Bhonsle portions. 20.Kehna Hi Kya - Bombay: I might have picked up Tu Hi Re, but the list is dominated too much by male singers. Probably Chitra’s best solo rendition. There are lots many left out - how can one pick up just 20 songs from 50 years of music?