Have a story to tell? A theme to work on? An emotion to express? A mood to paint? Easy. You can do all this and more with Hindi film songs. For musical stories or theme-based songs or lyrical expressions of moods or...whatever, this promises to be a fun-filled ride. Come, get on the bandwagon!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Khaike Paan Banaraswala

Presenting a super-hit song from a super-hit film "Don" (1978) today. Written by the talented duo of Salim-Javed, it featured Amitabh Bachchan in a double role. It was remade twice, in 2006 as Don--The Chase Begins Again, and in 2011 as Don 2.

Singer: Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Anjaan
Music: Kalyanji Anandji

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Posting songs in this theme--Garden Of Five Senses--has been a lot of fun. Though there are many good songs that are apt for this theme, I am concluding this series with today's presentation. Will be back with a new theme soon. Let us end this delicious meal with a meetha paan!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Mann Kyon Behkaa

"Utsav" (1984) is an adaptation of a well-known Sanskrit play Mrichchhakatikam. Playwright Sudraka is supposed to have drawn the story for his play from an earlier work Daridra Charudatta by Bhasa. Produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad, the film has an impressive cast with Rekha playing the courtesan Vasantasena. It features elaborate sets, beautiful costumes and lovely jewellery. The music is memorable too. Today's presentation is one of the few duets sung by sisters Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. Enjoy! The film clip does not have the full song. So, I am including another video (it is only a still picture) with the full song.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Vasant Dev
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal



Monday, January 13, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Mujhe Chhoo Rahi Hain

Enjoy a romantic duet from "Swayamvar" (1980) today. It is a family drama starring Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Shashi Kapoor and Moushumi Chatterji.It is a remake of a Telugu film, Gundamma Katha (1962).

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: Rajesh Roshan

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Baar Baar Dekho

A super-hit solo from "China Town" (1962) today. It is a thriller featuring Shammi Kapoor in a double role. This song--a dance number in a club--achieved phenomenal popularity, and is played by band groups at weddings even to date.

Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Ravi

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Suno Kaho Kaha Suna

"Aap Ki Kasam" (1974) is a J. Om Prakash film. He made many films starting with the letter "A". Presenting a duet from this film today. It is a typical number from the seventies, complete with Rajesh Khanna's mannerisms and Mumtaz's artificial hair. Other popular songs from this film include Zindagi ke safar mein, Jai jai Shiv Shankar, Karvaten badalte rahe, Chori chori chupke chupke, and Paas nahin aana door nahin Jaana.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: R. D. Burman

Friday, January 10, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Bheeni Bheeni Mehki Mehki Hawaaen

"Welcome To Sajjanpur" (2008) is a simple comedy directed by Shyam Benegal, who is more known for his work in parallel cinema. The story is set in rural India. Shreyas Talpade plays the male lead who writes letters for the illiterate people in his village. Several stories unfold through the people who come to him to get their letters written. And we get to see a slice of life in their village. Presenting a duet from this film today. It has a striking similarity to Dheemi dheemi bheeni bheeni that was posted here a few days ago.

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal, Krishna Kumar
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
Music: Shantanu Moitra

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Kahin Bekhayaal Hokar

"Teen Devian" (1965) is a romantic musical with many wonderful songs such as Aise toh na dekho, Khwab ho tum ya koi haqeeqat, Are yaar meri, Likha hai teree aankhon mein, Uff kitni thandi hai and Kahin bekhayaal hokar. Presenting one of these today. Sorry about the audio. It jumps at a couple of places.

Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Ber Le Lo Ber

We have had Mumtaz selling nariyal paani, Farah Khan singing about strawberry and Aishwarya Rai dancing to a nimbu song in the last few days. Today, it is Tanuja's turn to peddle ber in this song from "Paisa Ya Pyar" (1969). It is interesting to see familiar sites of Mumbai with hardly any people in sight.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music: Ravi

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Haye Unki Woh Nigaahen

A sweet, little-known solo from "Aakhri Dao" (1958) today. Nutan looks as fresh as a daisy, and emotes well. Since the whole song takes place while she is seated in the back seat of a car, she conveys everything with her extra-ordinarily expressive face. Tujhe kyaa sunaoon main dilruba is the more popular song from this film. Shekhar played the male lead.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Madan Mohan

Monday, January 6, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Sun Re Sun Albele

Presenting a dance number from "Tarzan Comes To Delhi" (1965). In today's times, this would be called an item song. Helen is the dancer, while Mumtaz sits at the table with Dara Singh. Bhagwan is there too. Interesting to see Bhagwan and Dara Singh trying to match steps with Helen. Could the albele be referring to Bhagwan's Albela?

Singer: Suman Kalyanpur
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Datta Naik

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Nimbudaa Nimbudaa

Over to the humble nimbu on our taste trail! Enjoy this very well-known dance number from "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999) today. This is based on a Rajasthani folk song. With this song, Aishwarya Rai appears on two consecutive days in this space.

Singers: Kavita Krishnamurthy, Karsan Sargathia
Lyrics: Mehboob
Music: Ismail Darbar

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Phoolon Mein Jo Khushboo Hai

Watch Aishwarya Rai and Prashanth frolicking around the seven wonders of the world in this romantic duet from "Jeans" (1998). It was made originally in Tamil and later dubbed in Hindi. It was the most expensive Indian film made at that time. India nominated this film as its official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards in 1998.

Singers: Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Music: A. R. Rahman

Friday, January 3, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Sili Hawa Chhoo Gayi

"Libaas" (1988) never got released in India because of the Censor Board's objection to its theme of adultery and extra-marital relationships. However, it won critical acclaim in international film festivals. Presenting a lovely solo from this film today. Gulzar's lyrics are beautiful. He not only wrote lyrics for the songs in the film, but also directed it.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: R. D. Burman

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Suno Na Suno Na

This solo from "Chalte Chalte" (2003) is shot on a beautiful location. Good lyrics and peppy music go hand in hand to make it a hummable, likeable song. It was perhaps the most popular number from the film's repertoire.

Singer: Abhijeet
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Music: Aadesh Shrivastava

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Garden Of Five Senses: Meethi Meethi Baatein

Let us begin the New Year with some Meethi meethi baatein. Presenting a romantic duet from "Morning Walk" (2009). This film featured Anupam Kher and Sharmila Tagore in lead roles. However, young actors Shayan Munshi and Nargis Bagheri appear on the screen in this song.

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan
Lyrics: Nida Fazli
Music: Jeet Ganguly