In Hindi films, wedding songs have become a sub-genre of their own. We list 10 diverse wedding tunes as a sequence in the actual ceremony (like your customised wedding playlist!)
In Hindi films, wedding songs have become a sub-genre of their own. While directors like Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra and Sooraj Barjatya used them on a lavish scale, others focused on specific moments like pre-wedding rituals and bidaai. Besides these, one also hears records of shehnai legend Ustad Bismillah Khan, flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma at wedding functions.
With many weddings taking place this time of the year, we choose 10 songs that are played often at such ceremonies. Instead of the chronological order we normally take, we list these tunes as a sequence in the actual ceremony.
Thus we begin with the time the marriage is fixed and go on to the emotions of relatives and friends till we have the ceremonies to the part in which the girl leaves home, and end with a feel-good number. We use songs released till the late 1990s.
1. Shaadi Ke Liye Razamand Kar Li – Devi (1970)
Filmed on Sanjeev Kumar and Nutan, this was a huge hit for Mohammed Rafi. Music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and Anand Bakshi wrote, “Shaadi ke liye razamand kar li, maine ek ladki pasand kar li”. It talks of a man bringing up the idea of marriage.
2. Le Jaayenge, Le Jaayenge – Chor Machaye Shor (1974)
Here, Shashi Kapoor announces that he will win the bride, with Inderjeet Singh Tulsi’s lines, “Le jaayenge, le jaayenge, dilwale dulhaniya le laayenge, arrey reh jaayenge, reh jaayenge, paise waale dekhte reh jaayennge”. Ravindra Jain gave the music for this Kishore Kumar-Asha Bhosle song, and Mumtaz was the heroine.
3. Meri Pyaari Beheniya – Sachcha Jhootha (1970)
Written by Indeevar and composed by Kalyanji-Anandji, this song became a favourite for those whose sisters were getting married. Kishore sang the lines, “Meri pyaari behaniya banegi dulhaniya, sajke aayenge dulhe raaja, bhaiyya raja bajaayaga baaja”. It was filmed on Rajesh Khanna.
4. Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai – Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977)
A must before most weddings, this was picturised on Shatrughan Sinha, who was celebrating a friend’s wedding. Sung by Rafi, it had music by Ravi. Lyricist Verma Malik wrote, “Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai, yaar ki shaadi hai, mere dildar ki shaadi hai”.
5. Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995)
Anand Bakshi brought in a celebratory mood with the lines, “Mehndi laga ke rakhna, doli sajake rakhna, lene tujhe o gori, aayenge tere sajna”. Jatin-Lalit composed the music, and Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar sang with choruses. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol were the stars.
6. Mera Yaar Bana Hai Dulha – Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)
While shehnai records are played in many marriage ceremonies, this was one of the few wedding songs which actually featured the instrument prominently. Picturised on Johnny Walker, it was sung by Rafi with music by Ravi and lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Interestingly, the film’s title song sung by Rafi is also played at weddings to depict romance.
7. Joote De Do Paise Le Lo – Hum Aapke Hain Koun… ! (1994)
The song was inspired by the ritual of hiding the groom’s shoes during the ceremony. Lata was accompanied by S.P. Balasubramaniam in this tune composed by Raam-Laxman and written by Ravinder Rawal. Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan are part of the well-choreographed group dance.
8. Babul Ki Duwayein – Neel Kamal (1968)
Despite being too sentimental, this song was often played at the bidaai, as Sahir Ludhianvi’s lines “Babul ki duwayein leti ja, ja tujhko sukhi sansar mile, maike ki kabhi na yaad aaye, sasural mein itna pyaar mile” captured the mood. Sung by Rafi, it had music by Ravi, and was filmed on Balraj Sahni and Waheeda Rahman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmjOEtSbQaw
9. Chal Ri Sajni – Bambai Ka Babu (1960)
Another song often played at the bidaai, this was composed by S.D. Burman, with Mukesh singing Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lines, “Chal ri sajni ab kya soche, kajra na beh jaaye rote rote”. Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen played the lead pair.
10. Mere Haathon Mein – Chandni (1989)
Compulsorily played at wedding functions over the past three decades, it was filmed on the gorgeous Sridevi. Lata sang the tune composed by Shiv-Hari, with Anand Bakshi writing, “Mere haathon mein nau nau chudiyan hain, thoda thehro sajan majbooriyan hai, milan hoga, zara ik raat ki dooriyan hain”.
There are obviously many other songs one hears at marriage functions, including ‘Shaayad Meri Shaadi Ka Khayal’, ‘Teri Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ and ‘Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara’, besides numerous songs released in the new millennium. But since we went by a specific theme and order, we preferred the ones above. As we said, marriage songs are a sub-genre of their own.
