For over four decades, Javed Akhtar has been recognised as one of India’s foremost lyricists. His songs have covered a vast array of subjects, from love and heartbreak to patriotism and motivation.
To celebrate his 78th birthday, we choose 10 songs that are over 25 years old, thus rounding off in 1997. While the order is chronological, this is a randomly chosen list of some of his many great songs, keeping lyrical content in mind.
1 Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum – Silsila (1981)
Of the three songs he wrote in Silsila, his first film as a lyricist, ‘Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum’ has been the most popular, with Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Main Aur Meri Tanhai’ recitation matching Lata Mangeshkar’s singing. Shiv-Hari composed the music, and the scenes featuring Amitabh and Rekha are still remembered.
2 Pyaar Mujhse Jo Kiya – Saath Saath (1982)
Jagjit Singh sang this beautiful ghazal composed by Kuldeep Singh. Farooq Shaikh appeared on screen with Deepti Naval in a public audience. Javed wrote, “Pyaar mujhse jo kiya tumne toh kya paaogi, meri haalaat ki aandhi mein bikhar jaaogi”. The film also had the hits ‘Tumko Dekha Toh Yeh Khayal Aaya’ and ‘Yeh Tera Ghar’.
3 Chehra Hai Ya Chand – Saagar (1985)
One of Javed’s most romantic songs, it began, “Chehra hai ya chaand khila hai, zulf ghaneri shaam hai kya, saagar jaisi aankhon waali, yeh toh bataa tera naam hai kya”. Kishore Kumar sang the tune composed by R.D. Burman. Rishi Kapoor, holding a guitar, sang it for Dimple Kapadia. The film also had the gem ‘Saagar Kinare’.
4 Zindagi Ki Yehi Reet Hai – Mr India (1987)Â
This song featured Anil Kapoor with a group of children, with some good shots at Mumbai’s Gateway Of India. Kishore Kumar sang Javed’s matter-of-fact lines, “Zindagi ki yehi reet hai, haar ke baad hi jeet hai; Thode aansoon hai, thodi hasee, aaj gham hai, kal thodi khushi”. Music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
5 Jeena Nahin – Tezaab (1988)
Though Tezaab was best-known for Alka Yagnik’s ‘Ek Do Teen’, the Amit Kumar-Anuradha Paudwal number ‘Jeena Nahin’ was also admired for its passionate lines. Javed wrote, “Kehdo ke tum ho meri warna, jeena nahin mujhe hai marna, dekho kabhi na aisa kehna, dekho kabhi na aisa karna, yehi adaa toh ik sitam hai, suno tumhe meri kasam hai”. Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed the tune.
6 Hum Na Samjhe The – Gardish (1993)
The song talked of the relationship between father and son. R.D. Burman composed the tune sung by S.P. Balasubramanyam. The lines were, “Hum na samjhe the, baat itni si, khwaab sheeshe ke, duniya patthar ki”. Jackie Shroff and Amrish Puri appeared on screen. The film was a remake of the Malayalam film Kireedam.
7 Ek Ladki Ko Dekha – 1942: A Love Story (1994)’
Javed was at his romantic best on ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha’, a song filled with metaphors, like “jaise sardi ki dhoop” and “jaise shayar ka khwaab”. Kumar Sanu sang the tune composed by R.D. Burman, who had passed away three months before the film’s release. Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala were the stars.
8 Ghar Se Nikalte Hi – Papa Kehte Hain (1996)
Jugal Hansraj and Mayuri Kango starred in this film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Music was by Rajesh Roshan. The song ‘Ghar Se Nikalte Hi’ was sung by Udit Narayan, with the lines, “Ghar se nikalte hi, kuchh door chalte hi, raste mein hai uska ghar”. The song had some nice seaside shots.
9 Sandese Aate Hain – Border (1997)
Anu Malik composed this tune sung by Sonu Nigam and Roopkumar Rathod. Javed won best lyrics and the song is played whenever patriotic themes are chosen. The punch line ‘Ke ghar kab aaoge” talked of the pain suffered by soldiers, and also the emotions of people when their family members were on the battlefield.
10 Chaand Taare – Yes Boss (1997)
Abhijeet sang some wonderful songs for Shah Rukh Khan in Yes Boss, getting Filmfare best playback singer award for ‘Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaaoon’. Javed got best lyricist for ‘Chaand Taare’. Music was by Jatin-Lalit. The song is all about winning and succeeding, with the punch line, “Bas itna sa khwaab hai”.
Javed also did private albums like Alka Yagnik’s Tum Yaad Aaye and Shankar Mahadevan’s Breathless in the late 1990s, besides the film Saaz. He had many other great lyrics in the early 2000s, including Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai. He, along with Gulzar, continued to be prolific in the 2000s.
