Page 8 - Seniors Today Febuary 2020

Cover Feature | List I

Romance and the

Hindi film song

A look back at some of the iconic Hindi film
songs that capture myriad facets of love. By
Narendra Kusnur

As against the general belief, love songs in Hindi Our choice:
cinema are not only about running around trees 1 Milte Hi Aankhen/ Babul, 1950
or dancing in picturesque snow-covered locales. In the 1950s, velvet-voiced Talat
They could mean writing a simple love letter, Mahmood became a rage for
conveying a message over the radio, getting his sad and ghazal-based
drenched in the rain or expressing one’s feelings songs. ‘Milte Hi Ankhen’,
at a glamorous party. sung with Shamshad
Ever since the talkies arrived in the early 1930s, Begum, is one of his iconic
film music fans have been fed on a regular diet love duets. The music is by
of glorious love songs. Some are popular even Naushad and lyrics are by
today, even 50 or 60 years after their release. Shakeel Badayuni, who writes “Afsana mera ban
They are sung by youngsters in tribute shows gaya afsana kisi ka”. Dilip Kumar is shown playing
or television talent hunt contests, heard on the piano, as Munnawar Sultana mimes along in
the radio, and are presented in antakshari this classic.
competitions and wedding parties.
Arguably, the time span between 1950 and 2 Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai/ Anarkali, 1953
the early 1980s marked the golden period for By 1953, Lata Mangeshkar had
Hindi film music in general. Here, we choose 20 already become the leading
immortal classics from this era, songs that have female Hindi film playback
retained their freshness and impact. singer. ‘Yeh Zindagi Usi
Obviously, it’s not easy to shortlist only 20 Ki Hai’, composed by the
songs from a period which has produced great C. Ramchandra, is one
hundreds of masterpieces. Each reader will have of her masterpieces. Adding
his or her own favourite 20 or 50. But we have weight to the song is Rajendra
kept four things in mind while compiling this Krishan’s lyrics, and Mangeshkar’s ‘alvida’ refrain is
list - the song’s melodic appeal, the power of its astounding. The song is picturised on Bina Rai, who
lyrics, its mass popularity and its timelessness. plays Anarkali, and Pradeep Kumar as Prince Salim.
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