The Romantic Rain Songs

I had a rain song list last two monsoons. Last year it was songs with Umbrella as a prop. This time, in the third year of the blog, I had no problem deciding the theme. I have started a 1990s series and I finalized to go for romantic rain songs from the 1990s.

Romantic rain songs have been the best feature of Hindi films for decades. Right from, ‘Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua’ & ‘Rimjhim Ke Tarane Leke’ to ‘Haye Haye Yeh Majboori’, every decade had its own style of rain songs. Earlier the songs used to have decency and melody and the songs were suggestive, but not an opportunity for showcasing a wet heroine. As the years passed, the decency started to vanish, so did the melody. The songs of the 1990s are not an exception. Still you will find melody in a majority of the songs on the list. I always wonder how the couple meets accidentally during the rains. Rather, how come the rain starts at the opportunist moment? The rain, thunder, the fearful sound of lightning all add to the desired effects! The frightened heroine has to rush to the hero for support and you all know what happens next! Their eyes meet, the heroine, well aware of the naughty thoughts in hero’s mind, runs away from him and the prelude of the song starts. The couple sings romantic song willfully drenching in the rain. Some rain songs are nothing but daydreaming on hero’s part, and the heroine draped in a plain chiffon saree turns up and adds sensuous elements. Other times, a bold heroine tries to seduce the hero with her क़ातिलाना अदाएँ. The hero tries to escape the scene, but finally surrenders.

So without further ado, here I’m with my ten favourite romantic rain songs from the 1990s. The songs are in no particular order.

1.Ghode Jaisi Chaal – Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan & Chorus / Uttam Singh – Anand Bakshi
Strictly speaking, the song may not be called romantic. The couple accidentally visits a nearby dance school for children. Watching the kids dancing, Shah Rukh Khan spontaneously joins them and makes Madhuri do so as well. But, the song brings them closer and romantic feelings start springing in their minds. So even if it appears a cute innocent children’s dance, it evokes romantic feelings.
And I absolutely love the steps by choreographer, Shaimak Dawar. So cute steps! Of course only Madhuri dances gracefully. Each and every step of hers is complete and well performed. Karishma is supposed to have fractured her leg in the movie, but she dances too, wetting the bandage. How disobedient patient!

2. Rimjhim Rimjhim Rumjhum Rumjhum – 1942 A Love Story (1994) Kumar Sanu & Kavita Krishnamurthy / R D Burman – Javed Akhtar
A perfect romantic rain song! The couple enjoys the rain in each others company. Manisha Koirala’s beautiful, eloquent face expresses the blossoming love between the two. The soothing and soft melody was back again with the film. The songs were roaringly popular and R D Burman got his well deserved Filmfare best music composer Award, though posthumously.
The tune is so nice and full of melody. The audio version has two verses, however the film version has a single.

3. Sawan Barse Tarse Dil – Dahek (1999) Hariharan & Sadhan Sargam / Aadesh Shrivastav – Majrooh
It’s one of my most favourite rain songs. It’s tune, the voices, the on screen performers, the singers, the lyricist, the picturisation, all are so lively and lovely. The couple really faces so many difficulties meeting each other. So I utter a sigh of relief with a smile on my face, when they finally meet. Such a realistic feel, one gets while watching it. I have always admired and adored Sonali Bendre, but Akshaye Khanna also manages to impress me in the song. Enjoy it, it’s certainly one of the best melodious songs of the 1990s.

4. Dekho Zara Dekho Barkha Ki Jhadi – Yeh Dillagi (1994) Lata Mangeshkar & Kumar Sanu / Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen – Sameer
The song is a perfect example of a daydreaming. Akshay Kumar secretly loves Kajol, who’s unaware of it. She thinks of him as a friend. When he accidentally gets caught in the rain, his hidden feelings resurface as a romantic rain song. It’s a good song, though I don’t think it was popular then! But I used to like it.
The film was a pleasant surprise! It was Akshay Kumar’s earlier attempts as a soft romantic hero, and Saif Ali Khan got opportunity to work for Yash Raj banner. I think, Yash ji realized Kajol’s potential, during the making of the movie, and later offered her DDLJ.

5. Teri Isi Ada Pe Sanam – Deewana (1992) Kumar Sanu & Sadhna Sargam / Nadeem Shravan – Sameer
The couple is enjoying their honeymoon, and deeply in love with each other. Rishi Kapoor wants to get closer but, shy Divya Bharati runs away. It starts to rain right on time. Rishi Kapoor thanks the Lord when Divya runs into his arms scared of thunder. What more could he ask for,They enjoy the rain. It’s full of romance, fitting the theme. The songs wasn’t as popular as other songs from the movie, but it’s certainly melodious.

6. Kabhi Tu Chhalia Lagta Hai – Patthar Ke Phool (1991) Lata Mangeshkar & S P Balasubramanium / Ram Laxman – Ravindra Rawal
The pair is travelling in a bus and the video of ‘Pyar Hus Ikrar Hua’ is running on the TV. It makes the hero to dream a song. A number of film names are tactfully woven in the lyrics and the couple’s attire simulates the one in ‘Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua’ from Shree 420. Raveena Tandon looks very pretty in the simple black N white saree and simple hairdo and without loud make up. The umbrella also features in the song nearly throughout ,enjoy the decent romance from the 1990s.
The song was immensely popular when the movie was released. And it turned out to be the highlight of the film. I think it was in the top three songs of the Cibaca Geetmala’s annual program in 1991.

7. Tip Tip Tip Baarish – Afsana Pyar Ka (1991) Asha Bhosle & Amit Kumar / Bappi Lahiri – Anjaan
Afsana Pyar Ka had good songs. Neelam misunderstands Amir’s love and doubts his real intentions. In fact Amir’s friends dare him to get close to her and he starts the affair as a part of a bet with his friends, but he ultimately falls in love with Neelam. She wants nothing to do with him anymore so he has to prove himself, he stands in the rain and gets drenched all night. Neelam is finally convinced and expresses her love too! The final verse is picturised on a brightly sunny beach in contrast. It also metaphorically symbolizes the resolution of their differences.

8. Taal Se Taal Mila – Taal (1999) Udit narayan, Alka Yagnik & Chorus / A R Rahman – Anand Bakshi
A melodious rain song, the heroine has no idea why the rains are evoking her desires to meet unknown, though she has a strange feeling of losing something! But hero falls for her at her first sight. He goes on capturing her photos carefully wearing a raincoat. The hero’s verse certainly has romantic touch to it. He knows, they are perfect strangers, but wishes to be with her and asks her out.
A R Rahman turned the movie Taal into a musical, it had a number of songs and majority were popular. The song’s opening music of rain drops was very much appreciated. A large portion of the song is by chorus. The lead singers are restricted to the verses.

9. Tip Tip Barsa Pani – Mohra (1994) Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik / Viju Shah – Anand Bakshi
The opening music has been really popular and iconic. The tune is fast and catchy. A thoroughly sensuous song, Raveena Tandon trying to seduce Akshay Kumar to make him fall in love with her. She certainly looks hot. All the rain songs of the 1990s had an element of sex appeal, but this was way ahead of the time.

10. Is Baat Ka Bahana Achcha Hai – Platform (1993) Kavita Krishna murthy / Anand Milind – Sameer
The heroine appears to try and cheer the hero up who looks utterly distressed. He doesn’t give a damn about her seductive gestures. But she keeps trying and finally he gives in and the pair gets drenched in the rain.Tisca Chopra, otherwise known for mother’s role in Taare Zameen Par, is in a glamorous and sensuous role.

Would you add your favourite to the list?

Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this 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 shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.