Once I was done laughing I wondered at the journey of
songs that were inspired by the eyes of a lady-love. We sure have come a long
way….
From the 1944
film, Meri Behen, this song was sung
by Kundan Lal Saigal, the music composed by Pankaj Malik. This song is based on
the king of ragas, Yaman.
(the eyes were
referred to as intoxicating)
V. Shantaram’s ‘Jhanak Jhank Payal Baje‘ (1955) was among the first few
technicolour films to be made in the country. The film centred around classical
dance and also featured the Kathak exponent, Gopi Krishna. This song is based on the not so common Raga
Malgunji , music composed by Vasant Desai and the lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri.
Interestingly, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma had played the santoor for the music score!
‘Nain
sunain nahin milao…’ was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar
(don’t let your
beautiful eyes meet with mine…)
‘Aakhon
hi aakhon mein..’ - sung by Geeta Dutt and Mohammad Rafi, this song was
composed by O.P. Nayyar for the 1956
film C.I.D.
(where the eyes
talk)
Composed by S.D. Burman for the movie Nau Do Gyarah (1957), the song was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by
Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle.
(what’s in those
eyes?)
The 1961 film,
Junglee, featured this song sung by
Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle. Picturised on the supporting cast, it projected the
liberated thinking that was coming to take shape.
(here the eyes
become interesting)
‘Yeh aakhen uff yumma!’
– sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi, written by Shailendra and Hasrat
Jaipuri, this song was composed by Shankar Jaikishan for the 1961 film Jab
Pyar Kisise Hota Hain
( at a loss for
words in describing her eyes…wow, maybe?)
‘Yeh
nayan dare dare…’ – this song is from the 1964 movie, Kohra based
on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The song was written by the Late Kaifi Azmi and
composed and sung by Hemant Kumar.
The ‘jaam’(liquor to) mentioned in the song is with
reference to the lady’s welled up eyes…
(here, the eyes are described as being full of fear)
Poetry was taken full advantage of by Gulzar in this song
as he describes the eyes to have a lingering fragrance! The music was composed
by Hemant Kumar and this was another Asit Sen – Rajesh Khanna film, Khamoshi, made in 1969.
‘Humne
dekhi hain un aakhon ki mehkhti khusboo…’, sung by Lata Mangehskar
(fragrant eyes!)
‘Teri
Akhon ke siva…’ , Chirag (1969) composed by Madan Mohan and
written by Majrooh Sultanpuri this song has been sung by both Mohammad Rafi and
Lata Mangeshkar. Based on Raga Jhinjhoti.
( there’s nothing
to this world except your eyes)
‘Jeevan se bhari…’ , from
the movie Safar. Directed by the
comedian/character actor Asit Sen, this 1970
movie was based on a novel by Ashutosh Mukherjee and featured the first
superstar of the film industry, Rajesh Khanna. The song was sung by Kishore
Kumar, composed by the duo Kalyanji-Anandji and penned by Indeevar.
(the eyes, so full
of life, are an motivation to live)
Ghar, released
in 1978, was believed to have been a
bit ahead of its times since it dealt with the issue of gangrape (of a married
woman) and life in the aftermath. The
movie had won a filmfare award for best story.
This beautiful song was written by Gulazr , composed by
R.D. Burman and sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. The song is based on
Raga Kedar…
(there lies some
fragrant mystery in your eyes)
Sagar was
Dimple Kapadia’s comeback film. This 1985
film was directed by Ramesh Sippy, best known for ‘Sholay’. The music was
composed by R.D. Burman and this song
was sung by Kishore Kumar. Though the story was set in a sea side village/town,
the word ‘Sagar’ was used more as a metaphor…
( the one with ocean
like eyes…)
Pyar Ka Karz – 1990.
This song was sung by Amit Kumar and the music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal,
still showed signs of a disco hangover.
(hide me in the
lanes of your eyes! )
Mujras took a new form with this very peppy song from Bunty Aur Babli (2005) with music composed by Shankar Ehsan Loy and lyrics by
Gulzar. The song was sung by Shankar Mahadevan, Alisha Chinoy and Javed Ali.
(dark, twin eyes!!)
‘Chalao
na naino se baan…’ from the 2012
film Bol Bachchan ‘inspired’ by the
1979 film Gol Maal.
Composed by Himesh Reshammiya the song was written by
Shabbir Ahmed and sung by Himesh and Shreya Ghoshal.
(don’t shoot arrows
from your eyes…!!! )
Dabangg 2 released in 2012 as a sequel. 'Tore naina bade dagabaaz re..' was sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal. The music was composed by Sajid and Wajid.
Dabangg 2 released in 2012 as a sequel. 'Tore naina bade dagabaaz re..' was sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal. The music was composed by Sajid and Wajid.
(deceitful eyes...)
For those who are interested, this is the song that lead
me to this post
‘Drama
Queen’ is from the movie Hasi Toh
Phasi releasing this year (2014)
(your large are
tear tanks! )
2 comments:
That’s some homework you have done…and it s ear-inspiring too :P
:) I'm glad you liked it!
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