Songs with a Surprise!

A few months back, I visited my cousin for a wedding. We had a lovely time and delightful memorable moments! All of us were enjoying the pre marriage functions and one day we started playing ‘Antakshari’. During the competition, I started singing, ‘Main Chali Main Chali’, before I could finish those four words, the opposite side reminded me that, I might kindly note that their team already had sung it. I remembered them singing the one from Shammi Kapoor’s movie, Professor. But I was quick enough to reply that, I’m singing another song from another movie, Padosan featuring Saira Bano. I fortunately remembered it in time and saved my team.

It was very interesting that the two unrelated songs should share the opening lines and the incidence got etched in my mind. The sharing of lines was just by chance and not on purpose. Obviously I was thrilled with the idea of having a post along same lines.

At first I could not remember a song, the more I stressed my memory, the least was the output. I let go of the thought, for a while! After my last post (the one on sea shore songs), the theme again sprung up in my mind, this time, thankfully, with a good number of songs. So let’s travel through this song list, I’ve compiled ten pairs of songs. Each pair has songs, that have same opening lines. They share the opening words just by chance. The lyrics are not identical on purpose.

I thought of some criteria and followed them while compiling the list

– The words should be from the opening lines of the songs and not from the name, a song is popularly known by. This needs detailing. Let me give an example. There is a song, ‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’ from Sangam. There also is a movie by the same name from year 2000 and the title song is popularly known by the words ‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’. But the song opens with the words ‘Use Hasna Bhi Hoga’. So this pair doesn’t qualify.

– The songs should share at least four words. I think four words are at least necessary to establish an identity of a song. There would be some songs with first three words common. I let those songs aside. So you won’t find, ‘Aankhon Aankhon Mein Kisike Baat Hui’ & ‘Aankhon Aankhon Mein Tujhko Bhulake’ or ‘Aankhon Aankhon Mein Baat Hone Do’

– There are some songs inspired from a well known ghazal or a bhajan, let’s say by Ghalib or Meera Bai. Some films have their adapted versions, with hindi words instead of original language, maintaining the meaning intact. Some songs are based on traditional Thumari or a Bandish. Such songs share the opening line. But the songs are meant to share the line. And do not share it by chance. The opening line is purposely selected may be as it suits the situation, or it’s already a famous line and would make the song sound catchy and known. Many films have such adapted versions of Meerabai bhajans. These songs can’t be counted as two different songs. So ‘Mere To Giridhar Gopal’ from two different films or ‘Yeh Na Thi Hamari Kismat’ from two different films can’t be on the list. Nor there could be ‘Phool Gendwa Na Maro’ or ‘Inhi Logon Ne Le Lina’. The latter song is now considered a traditional Mujra, once (early decades of 1900s) very popular. These are some of the representative songs mentioned here as examples.

– The songs should be from two different films. So the twin songs (दो पहलू वाले गीत, that obviously share the entire Mukhada) are not allowed. Let the pair be of two solos, or two duets or a solo and a duet.

I think I have put forth some reasonable criteria. Have you all started thinking about such songs? Wasn’t that a good mental exercise!

So let’s go, ten pairs of songs that share the opening lines by chance. The songs on my list are from pre-70s movies. But readers can add any pair that fits the criteria, from any film regardless of its release year.

1. Yeh To Kaho Kaun Ho Tum – Aashiq (1962) Mukesh & Chorus / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
He is wondering who she is, and how captivating she has been! The song actually speaks the dilemma, the character faces in the film. He’s attracted to Padmini who’s a dancer (and his fiancee’s sister) and his hope for creative satisfaction. Where as, his fiancee loves him a lot, but he is not much interested.
A dance number with Padmini and other dancers. I wasn’t aware of Nanda being a part of the film. RK is singing apparently for Padmini, but Nanda is also blushing.

Yeh To Kaho Kaun Ho Tum – Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Madan Mohan – Majrooh
Ashiq was released in 1962, the next year saw a romantic song, being wasted in a film like Akeli Mat Jaiyo, where the lyrics were exactly repeated.
Though the song is melodious, the addition of English words seems unnecessary and obtrusive. Lata carries the song very well, but Rafi’s support with those words annoys me.

2. Ek Jhooti Si Tassali Woh Mujhe Deke Chale – Hulchul (1951) Lata Mangeshkar / Sajjad – Khumar Barabankavi
A song with deep anguish and it’s painful to listen to it mostly because of the soulful lyrics and partly because of the bad audio quality. But I couldn’t get a good one.

Ek Jhooti Si Tassali Woh Mujhe Deke Chale – Sheesham (1952) Mukesh / Roshan – Zia Sarhadi
I have no idea, how and why the entire mukhda was repeated in the song. But I think, this song is more popular than the former. Both the songs of course belong to sad mood. The verses are completely different.

3. Mere Pyar Mein Tujhe Kya Mila – Maan (1954) Lata Mangeshkar / Anil Biswas – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
A pair of songs with sad mood occupies this position. The first song emotes a lady’s feelings of despair, who thinks of herself as cruel and disloyal, and wonders what she gifted him? Just agony! So she asks him to forget her. She thinks of him as her God.

Mere Pyar Mein Tujhe Kya Mila – Suhagan (1964) Rafi / Madan Mohan – Hasrat Jaipuri
The second song from the pair emotes a gentleman’s emotions. Those who know the plot of the film, would not need any explanations. (for those who don’t, read the review on Dustedoff) Guru Dutt wonders what her wife got after marriage. He isn’t aware of his heart’s medical problem and that any physical strain (including having sex) could be fatal. Mala Sinha is not supposed to tell him the truth, yet is advised to stay away from it. The mental strain proves too much for her and she loses her peace of mind. But he considers himself responsible for that and even thinks himself unsuitable for living.

4. Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya – Mahal (1949) Lata Mangeshkar / Khemchand Prakash – Nakshab Jarchvi
Incidentally both the songs are picturised in a lake (at least in a part), with the singing character rowing the boat. Madhubala rowing the boat searching for Ashok Kumar, who’s she believes to be reincarnation of his love.
The songs of Mahal made Lata Mangeshkar popular among classes as well.

Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya – Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur & Mukesh / Sonik Omi – G L Rawal
The film has a interesting story about two thick friends, ready to sacrifices everything for each other. Destiny forces them to face complicated twists, where fiancee of one of the friends also has to place her love at stake. Nutan is Rehman’s fiancee, who pretends to be Dharmendra’s girlfriend (they look alike) on Rehman’s request. Now listen and watch the song to understand the situation better.

5. Tera Khayal Dil Se Bhulaya Na Jayega – Dillagi (1947) Suraiya / Naushad – Shakeel Badayuni
Looking at the lyrics, no points for guessing, both songs are sad ones. Suraiya trying hard to forget about her love, but declares her inability to do so. One of the popular songs from the movie.

Tera Khayal Dil Se Bhulaya Na Ja Saka – Hatim Tai (1947) Arun Kumar / Arun Kumar – ??
Excuse me for the bad audio quality. But at least we’ve the audio. More of a ghazal like composition.

For a better audio, here’s the link for ‘Purani Filmon Ke Geet’ with the mentioned song, at number one position on the list.

6. Jo Hum Pe Guzarti Hai – Panna (1944) Rajkumari / Amir Ali -Wali Saheb
On this position, I’ve songs with contrasting moods. This song is in a romantic mood, where she talks about the state of her mind. She has sleepless nights and the days are spent thinking of him. She wonders how to convey her state to him? Nice expressions by Rajkumari.

Jo Hum Pe Guzarti Hai – Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hai (1966) Suman Kalyanpur / Khayyam – Majrooh
Nanda’s song however brings a different mood. The despair, the pain, all are expressed in the song quite deeply. She’s alone, he’s not within reach, she prays for him to come back at once. She’s waiting for the moment when they both would be together and she wouldn’t have to worry about being away.
And full marks to Suman Kalyanpur for excellent rendition.

7. Jate Ho To Jao – Khel (1950) Lata Mangeshkar / Sajjad – Saghar Nizami
The thread continues on the list. Two songs again have a contrast mood. The lady bids farewell to her beloved, and assures her survival with his sweet memories. She will go on in whatever way possible. But will never complain about her agony. If he wants to leave, let it be, she will manage with memories.

Jate Ho To Jao – Milap (1955) Geeta Dutt / N Datta – Sahir
From a depressing farewell to a delightful dance number, but conveyed with same opening lines. Though it sounds like a cabaret, actually it’s not. Geeta Bali trying to stop Dev Anand. Initially she comes with another mission, but soon falls for him. Her charm attracts him also.

8. Yeh Chand Yeh Sitare Yeh Saath – Halaku (1956) Lata Mangeshkar / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
One of the popular songs from the movie, with Meena Kumari looking very beautiful, even managing a few dance steps. She wants their love eternal as moon and stars. The influence of Arabic music is quite obvious.

Yeh Chand Yeh Sitare Yeh Raat – Lal e Yaman (1956) Asha Bhosle & Rafi / A R Qureshi – Kaif Irfani
The song was a new find for me, so was the movie, it belongs to. A soft melodious song, but having no specific feature of its own. Just a commonplace tune.

9. Ja Tose Nahin Bolun – Parivar (1956) Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey / Salil Choudhary – Shailendra
A beautiful classical based dance song, sung so very well by the singers. The song depicts the relationship between Radha and Krishna, former is angry and latter is trying to persuade her and finally coaxes her. A sweet melody with equally sweet and simple presentation.

Ja Tose Nahin Bolun – Samrat Chandragupt (1958) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Kalyanji Virji Shah – Bharat Vyas
A romantic duet, from a historical film. She pretends anger towards him for watching her and wants her face veiled in ghoonghat. Bharat Vyas is clearly visible throughout the lyrics.

The last position is shared by a pair of songs with exactly similar expressions. Both the ladies in the song request the moon to go away at once. Even the soothing, soft moonlight burns their mind.

10. Ja Ja Re Chanda Teri Chandni – Albeli (1955) Lata Mangeshkar / Ravi – Ravi
The lady can’t enjoy the sparkling night without her beloved. Her attempts to bring him back have been futile and she is in deep agony.

Ja Ja Re Chanda Ja Re – Private Secretary (1962) Lata Mangeshkar / Dilip Dholakia – Prem Dhawan
The lady (Jayashree Gadkar) has own worries and doesn’t complain about her mate, in contrast to the earlier song. Every night she cries herself to sleep. She declares herself helpless.

Have you thought of a pair to add to the list?

Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image or song posted on the site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are from taken from YouTube and have been used here only for the music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the original owners.