It’s Dev Anand’s 97th birth anniversary on September 26 and we asked our film music specialist Narendra Kusnur to pick 10 memorable romantic duets of the evergreen star
Some of the best songs from Hindi films were picturised on Dev Anand. And a good chunk of them comprised romantic duets, in which Mohammed Rafi or Kishore Kumar were joined by Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhosle.
To mark Dev Anand’s 97th birth anniversary on September 26, we choose 10 memorable duets filmed on him. We have stuck to the decade 1956-65 as most of his best songs were created during that period. Five of the 10 songs have been composed by S.D. Burman, and they made a fantastic combination.
This is the first of our three-day series of love songs. To mark filmmaker Yash Chopra’s birthday on September 27 and Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday on September 28, we have more gems lined up. Do tune in.
1. Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein – CID (1956)
Dev Anand was paired with Shakeela in this immortal love song sung by Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt. Music was by O.P. Nayyar and lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar made his only contribution to the film, whose music was a huge success.
2. Aankhon Mein Kya Ji – Nau Do Gyarah (1957)
Kalpana Kartik and Dev Anand teamed up on this song composed by S.D. Burman and sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lines went “Aankhon mein kya ji, rubahla badal, badal mein kya ji, kisi ka aanchal, aanchal mein kya ji, ajab si hulchul”.
3. Chhod Do Aanchal – Paying Guest
This had the same set of musicians as ‘Aankhon Mein Kya Ji’ – S.D. Burman, Sultanpuri, Kishore Kumar and Bhosle. Nutan appeared on screen this time and the main lines were “Chhod do aanchal zamaana kya kahega”.
4 Dheere Dheere Chal – Love Marriage (1959)
Shankar-Jaikishen provided the music for this timeless classic penned by Hasrat Jaipuri. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar did the playback for Dev Anand and Mala Sinha. The song began “Dheere dheere chal chaand gagan mein” and the coordination between the singers was amazing.
5. Saanjh Dhali Dil Ki Lagi – Kala Bazar (1960)
The choice of Manna Dey to sing for Dev Anand was interesting, and Asha Bhosle completed the duo. The tune was by S.D. Burman and Shailendra wrote “Saanjh dhali dil ki lagi thak ke yoon pukar ke, aaja aaja aa bhi ja”. Dev Anand and Waheeda Rahman played the lead pair.
6. Sau Saal Pehle – Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1961)
Another duet by Rafi and Mangeshkar, this one was filmed on Dev Anand and Asha Parekh. Shankar-Jaikishen provided the music and Hasrat Jaipuri wrote the unforgettable lines “Sau saal pehle mujhe tumse pyaar tha, mujhe tumse pyaar tha, aaj bhi hai aur kal bhi rahega”.
7. Abhi Na Jaao – Hum Dono (1961)
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote this gem in a nazm format, and Jaidev set it to tune. Rafi and Bhosle combined together and the main line went “Abhi na jaao chhod kar ke dil abhi bhara nahin”. Dev Anand is joined by Sadhna.
8. Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor – Asli Naqli (1962)
Dev Anand and Sadhna were paired again in this film, which had music by Shankar-Jaikishen. This song was sung by Rafi and Mangeshkar. Hasrat Jaipuri’s lines were “Tujhe jeevan ki dor se baandh liya hai, baandh liya hai, tere zulm-o-sitam, sar aankhon par”.
9. Likha Hai Teri Aankhon Mein – Teen Deviyan (1965)
Filmed in an open farm, this song featured the beautiful Nanda with Dev Anand. Kishore Kumar and Mangeshkar got together on this tune composed by S.D. Burman and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
10. Gaata Rahe Mera Dil – Guide (1965)
This had the magic of Shailendra who wrote “Gaata rahe mera dil, tu hi meri manzil, kahin beete na yeh raatein, kahin beete na yeh din”. Sung by Kishore Kumar and Mangeshkar, it was composed by S.D. Burman and featured the evergreen pair of Dev Anand and Waheeda Rahman.
