My Favourite Piano Songs

The songs sung while playing the piano, used to form a significant part of old Hindi films.The lavish interiors, a stylish winding staircase, a chandelier, and to top it all, a shining lustrous, grand piano! This scenario appears to be a prerequisite for such song. We were sure to have a piano song, sung at a birthday party, or a party thrown to welcome foreign returned son of the family, rarely the hero who gets humiliated in a party, arranged in his honour(?). A usual story of a poor young man and a rich girl. Her father doesn’t approve of their relation, he deceives them both by arranging the party. At the party, he makes fun of his poverty, his under bred manners. The girl, unaware of these facts, asks him to sing and he sings with agitation.
He just gives the piano an anguished look, next moment he begins playing it aggressively. Though his facial expressions are not cheerful, rather they are of frustration and agony, some members in the audience don’t much care for that. They seem to enjoy it happily with a smile. Fortunately they are from the ‘extra artists’ group and do not play a character in the movie.
I have no idea how any hero or heroine can play it with such mastery. I think they are born with the talent.

There had been piano song lists on various blogs, very impressive ones. There is even a list of male and female pianist songs. But I wanted my own list of piano songs, that I like.
This time I restricted myself by stringent criteria
1: The character who sings the song, Should Not play the piano. (Oh no! I excluded a big chunk of songs)
2: The one who’s playing the piano should be a character from the movie, just a musician won’t fit the bill (oh! I lost a number of songs again!)
3: It should be a solo
(Oh boy! Now I wonder, if there are any songs left?) Chorus may be allowed.

To my surprise, the songs fitting the criteria were easy to find. At least it didn’t take a week or so. It just took a few days, which was quick enough!

The songs that are my favourites, but I couldn’t include are………..

Chehere Pe Khushi Chha Jati Hai

Dheere Dheere Machal

Aap Ke Haseen Rukh Pe

Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se

Hum Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe

So without a further ado, let’s listen to the songs.
As usual the songs are from Hindi films in pre70s era and are in No particular order.

1. Dil Ko Lakh Sambhala Jee – Guest House (1959) Lata Mangeshkar / Chitragupt – Prem Dhawan
Beautiful Shakila singing with Ajit playing the piano. She is explaining how she lost her heart to him, even after controlling her emotions about him. A melodious romantic song with nice piano pieces in the interludes as well. Ultimately turns out to be memorable song.

2. Jhoom Rahi Jhoom Rahi – Vidya (1948) Suraiya / S D Burman – Yashodanandan Joshi
Suraiya singing for herself with Dev Anand playing the piano. Her cheerful demeanour brings a smile on our faces, she appears to be in an elated mood with happiness overflowing from eyes.
Just one flaw, the song opens with a beautiful piece of piano with no piano sounds afterwards in the composition. Still Dev Anand goes on playing it!

3. Tu Jahaan Jahaan Chalega – Mera Saaya (1966) Lata Mangeshkar / MadanMohan – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Gorgeous Sadhna singing on her birthday, with Sunil Dutt on the piano. One of the most popular songs by legendary composer Madan Mohan. She promises to be with him forever. Her dedication is highlighted with excellent lyrics. Enjoy it.

4. Main Yahan Ajnabee Hoon – Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) Rafi / Kalyanji Anandji – Anand Bakshi
Here comes the song of outburst of frustration by the hero. Shashi Kapoor singing in a party with Nanda playing the piano. He considers himself a stranger, in the world of big city and rich people.

5. Ae Dil Pyar Ki Manzil – Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) Mukesh / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
This is a story of Vaijayanti Mala (Neena), Rajendra Kumar (Raju) and his ambitions to join the Army. His childhood friend Ramesh (played by a lesser known actor, Shaminder) also adds another angle to the story. Neena and Raju love each other. He goes for the Army training. But when he gets back, the picture appears to have changed. Raju considers Ramesh and Neena to be engaged. Raju singing in a party, Ramesh is on the piano. But the misunderstanding makes Raju sing with a grim face. Neena unaware of his thoughts, is dancing. A good song. You’ll understand the lyrics better if you know the situation in the song.

6. Man Mein Kisi Ki Preet Basa Le – Aaram (1950) Lata Mangeshkar / Anil Biswas – Rajendra Krishna
Madhubala singing the song in presence of Durga Khote, who looks equally beautiful. Young Prem Nath, looking handsome as well, plays the piano. I adore this song for the opening piano piece and enchanting interlude piano pieces. Enjoy this eye and ear candy.

7. Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye Humdum – Love in Tokyo (1966) Lata Mangeshkar / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
One of my favorites from the movie. Asha Parekh singing in a party with Joy Mukherjee on the piano. A masterpiece from SJ, in my opinion. Beautiful piano pieces throughout the song. The changes heard in the piano pieces also correlate with the situation in the song. It starts with happiness, to change to fear and stressful moments later. Of course SJ always composed, keeping the situation in the song in mind. Excellent song!
The ease of kidnapping the boy, in the party, is a bit too much.

8. Ajit Ruthkar Ab – Arzoo (1966) Lata Mangeshkar / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
Again Sadhna singing in a party, where Rajendra Kumar is invited by her uncle. Her aunt playing the piano. Both of them have started liking each other, but it’s her first time to confess it. Sadhna’s expressive eyes speak a lot in the interludes as well.
The video is without the opening piano piece, but I couldn’t find other.

9. Yoon To Humne Lakh Haseen Dekhe – Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957) Asha Bhosle / O P Nayyar – Majrooh
We are aware of the male version, but I found this version accidentally and video fitted my theme surprisingly. Ameeta looks so lively! She is imagining Shammi Kapoor in the photo, and singing happily. Pran on the piano takes it as referred to him and adores himself. A bit funny moment. Enjoy the song.

10. Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal – Sujata (1959) Asha Bhosle & Chorus / S D Burman – Majrooh
A perfect birthday party song to end the list. Shashikala, the birthday girl, playing the piano herself and her friends singing to greet her. I couldn’t identify the actress (Meena?) who sings. Though Shashikala occasionally sings in chorus, she’s not the main singer for the song.
Nutan, knowing her true identity wants to keep herself away from the birthday. She’s completely heart broken. Celebrations going on in the home, she is sadly wandering in the garden. It’s a hard time for her to digest, she is not a real part of the family.

Which song would you add?