In my opinion, this is the most unfair topic at MS after “5 worst Writers”. Picking up 20 songs from 70+ years of rich Indian Cinema is a gargantuan task. After giving it a lot of thought, I have categorized all the songs into 20 categories and have tried to pick one song in each.
This is one review I could not contain within the word limits. Hence apologies for that….
1. Bhajan
What a better way to start a list other than a Bhajan! Bhajans have been popular across the times and have touched our hearts with Allah Tero Naam, Jyoti Kalash Chhalke, Itni Shakti Hamein Dena Daata and very recently O Palanhare.
My favourite in this category is definitely the indomitable Ae Malik Tere Bande Hum(Do Aankhein Barrah Haath) sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Each line of this song is so motivating and so meaningful…
2. Patriotic
The songs that bring warmth to our hearts and make us proud to be an Indian. From Mere desh ki dharti and Kar chale hum fidaa to various versions of Mera rang de Baasanti chola, each song makes us raise our head and look up.
Time has passed and five decades have gone in between. We may have forgotten the movie and the movie name itself. But the song in its original composition still rules our hearts. It was Vande Mataram(Anand Math), which we sing in the original tune even after so many versions.
3. Qawali
Qawalis and similar songs have been there from Hindi movies from the forties. There are some movies based on qawalis(such as Barsaat ki Raat) and there are some movies using qawalis as item numbers. The more popular ones in this category are Parda Hai Parda, Ae Meri Johraajaween and Jhoom barabar jhoom sharaabi.
However, in my opinion, the winner of this category can undisputably be the greatest qawali of our times: Na To Caravan Ki Talash Hai(Barsaat Ki Raat) sung by as many as five singers: Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey, asha Bhonsle, Sudha Malhotra and Batish.
4. Gazal
Gazals are as old in Indian cinema as the talkies itself. In all generations we have seen and heard gazals with meaningful lines and soothing melody. The popular gazals wort mentioning are Rang aur noor ki baaraat, Nuktacheen hai gham-e-dil, Ae dil-e-nadaan, Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi etc. The list can go on and on.
However, the best happens when the king of Gazals, Madan Mohan composes for Mirza Ghalib. The song that tops the list in my opinion is Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi fursat ke raat din(Mausham).
5. Muzra
The best muzras in the film industry have been the ones like Chalte chalet yuhin koi, Inhi logon ne and In aankhon ke masti ke. Muzras have been used in limited numbers as compared to gazals.
The best? The unforgettable Salaam-e-ishq(Muqadar ka Sikander).
6. Cabaret
Cabaret queen Asha Bhonsle sang several popular cabarets, the more popular ones being Piya tu ab to aaja and Aaaj ki raat. Lata Mangeshkar also made a sensation with her cabaret – Aa jaanehaan.
My favourite in this category is the unforgettable cabaret from Sholay – Mehbooba Mehbooba. The sheer pleasure it gives is awesome.
7. Dance Numbers
By dance numbers I am talking about the general dance songs other than cabarets and muzras. We saw classical dance numbers from various V Santharam movies such as Tu chhupi hai kahaan to more contemporary dance numbers like O hasheena julfowali.
In this category I will vote for the new generation song – Chhaiyaan chhaiyaan(Dil Se). the song coupled with excellent choreography takes the cake.
8. Ecstacy
When happiness crosses all limits, it leads to ecstacy. It makes you dance with dreamy joy with Phaili hui hai sapnon ke raahein or it makes you feel like flying with Aaj mein uppar, aasmaan neeche.
Waheeda Rehmaan felt the same way after getting free from all boundaries and she sung with ecstacy….Kaanton se khinch ke yeh aanchal(Guide). I find Lata’s voice in this song so soothing and so inspiring!
9. Lorie
Chand hai tu meraa suraj hai tu, Rujhe sooraj kahoon ya chandaa, Dheere se aajaa ri aankhiyan mein, Hawa dheere aana, Dheere dheere aare baadal, Surmayeen aankhiyon mein and the list goes on. Each lorrie is equally good and equally unforgettable.
But my choice is the song that has stood the test of time and has come out with flying colours. One of the few male songs in this category is the best in my opinion in the dreamy voice of KL Saigal - So jaa raajkumari so jaa…
10. Classical Based
Clasiical and semi classical songs have been there for ages in India. In films, Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache re and Baiyaan naa dharo have been very popular.
But my vote goes to Manna Dey for Laga chunri mein daag.
11. Comic Songs
Mere bhainsh ko danda kyun maaraa? Meri pyaari bindu? Ande kaa fundaa? All these make us laugh. But the winner in this category is definitely the undisputed Ek chatura naar(Padosan).
12. Hunting
We enter Lataji’s territory. She has given us the most unforgettable hunting melodies, may it be Aayega aanewaalaa, Gumnaam hai koi, Nainaa bares or Zoom zoom dhalti raat.
But even today, we can not get over the eerie feeling of a lady in a white saree walking with a candle singing Kahin Deep Jale Kahi dil(Bees Saal Baad)…. Simply superb.
13. Sensuous
The songs which have got extreme erotica, in spite of not having any vulgarity. It may be Asha Bhonsle saying Raat akeli hai or Lata Mangeshkar with Kaise rahun chuup ke maine.
But the song that redefined Indian cinema and its music was in late sixties with Roop tera mastaanaa(Aaradhaanaa). Its only the music and the way Kishore Kumar sang this song that keeps it popular till date.
14. Philosophical
We talk of life and equate it with many things. Some times we wonder Zindagi kaa safar hai yeh kaisi safar and sometimes we say Sajan re jhho mat bolo.
But the most popular philosophical song till date is definitely Manna Dey singing for Rajesh Khanna… Zindagi, kaisi hai paheli hai(Aanand).
15. Sad – Pathos of life
Again, I have divided sad songs into two category. There have been several songs depicting the pathos of life. Zindegi ka safar hai yeh kaisi safar, Zindegi denewale sun and O duniya ke rakhwale are some of the songs to mention.
I am falling back on Mukesh again this time for the song that brings tears to my eyes: Aansoo Bhari Hai yeh jeevan ke raahein(Parwarish)
16. Sad - Separation
I do not want to mention any songs other than just one in this category…. The greatest hit of India before 1950 and probably the symbol of the era gone by. No other song has caught the pain of separation as much as Naushad did in the voice of Surendra and Noorjehan. The song was Aawaz de kahan hai(Anmol Ghadi)
PLEASE REFER TO THE COMMENTS SECTION FOR 4 CATEGORIES OF ROMANTIC SONGS.