Welcome to the fourth post of the series based on the train songs. As I said already, the earlier couple of parts were dedicated to train songs with the train rhythm. And today’s part has songs picturised on a moving train without a train rhythm to support.
As expected these songs include songs of all the types. There are romantic songs, sad songs, Chhed Chhad songs, philosophical songs and so on.
So without further ado, let’s hit the list. I know some of the songs do have a train whistle or a train rhythm for a very short time, quite insignificant to call it a continuous train rhythm. Also you may find some of the iconic train songs on the list, but if you listen very carefully and compare those songs with the songs on the earlier two lists, you will get the answer. These songs have no typical train rhythm.
So here we go,
1. Dekho Ji Ek Bala Jogi Matwala – China Town (1962) Rafi & Minoo Purushottam / Ravi – Majrooh
Shammi Kapoor disguising himself as a jogi aspires to be with Shakila. The latter looks beautiful and though I’m not a Shammi Kapoor fan, he does entertain a lot in the song. He sings a love song, but manages to pass it as a bhajan to others. The song does have train whistles and a train rhythm for a brief period in the second Interlude.
All the black and white movies show this kind of coupe in the trains, the benches being parallel to the windows. I haven’t ever seen this in reality. Did such an arrangement exist in the past?
2. Humko Samajh Na Lijiye – Kalpana (1960) Asha Bhosle / O P Nayyar – Qamar Jalalabadi
Ragaini and Ashok Kumar travel in a train compartment. Ragini sings the बोल of the Kathak aloud, and Ashok Kumar asks her to keep quiet as it’s getting late and it’s time to sleep. When she doesn’t care for the suggestion, he tries to sing the तत्कार himself. Ragini is disturbed and angry. She immediately jumps down and bursts into a song. I tend to take this as a complete overreaction.
Ashok Kumar is amazed with her dancing. I wonder if it’s really possible to dance so effortlessly in a moving train! Practicalities aside she dances really well. The song has not a trace of train rhythm.
3. Aao Bachchon Tumhe Dikhaye – Jagriti (1954) Pradeep / Hemant Kumar – Kavi Pradeep
It’s one of the most popular train songs of Hindi cinema. Don’t be surprised to find it on today’s list. If you listen carefully, the song has military marching beats. The song has a strong patriotic fervour, and it is really inspirational. It is sung with passion by the lyricist, Pradeep. A school teacher is traveling with students, visiting important historical places across India. Travel is mainly by train. The song mentions Rajasthan, Maharashtra,Bengal,Jallianwala Bagh.
4. Yeh Rang Bhare Badal – Tu Nahin Aur Sahi (1960) Asha Bhosle & Rafi / Ravi – Asad Bhopali
It’s a melodiously good romantic song. Though at times it does sound like a train rhythm, it’s quite a commonplace rhythm used in many songs. It’s picturised on Pradeep Kumar and Nishi. The latter, though not a prominent name in Hindi cinema, was a popular actress of Punjabi films, or so I believe. Enjoy the lesser heard song.
5. Gaya Andhera Hua Ujara – Subah Ka Tara ( 1956) Lata Mangeshkar & Talat Mahmood / C Ramchandra – Noor Lukhnowi
Another melody picturised on Pradeep Kumar, this time with Jayashree. I have known this song for a couple of decades, but never thought it to be a train song. It was a surprise for me when I found it to be one! It’s the best known and the most popular song of the movie. Very notably obvious studio-picturised song, than on a teal moving train.
6. Apni Nazar Se Door Woh – Bazaar (1949) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Shyam Sunder – Qamar Jalalabadi
Actor Shyam travels away from Nigar Sultana, in a train, sitting alone in a compartment. It’s one of my favourites, again I had no idea it was a train song.
7. Dhoondhne Tujhko Nain Deewane – Jab Yaad Kisiki Aati Hai (1967) Lata Mangeshkar & Mahendra Kapoor / Madan Mohan – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
An excellent melody by Madan Mohan. I never thought of it as a train song, but fortunately remembered in time. What a soothing melody. Dharmendra sings it while helping his elder brother drive the train. The film opens with this beautiful song. While I watched the initial 20 minutes of the film, I was intrigued. Is it a good film to watch? Perhaps dustedoff would answer this!
8. Ek Musafir Ko Duniya Mein – Door Ki Awaaz (1964) / Rafi / Ravi – Shakeel Badayuni
A fun song with a touch of philosophy! It’s picturised on Johnny Walker and his expressions and energy make it an audiovisual treat. The song does have train whistles in between, but not a proper and obvious train rhythm. Please follow the link to watch the song on YouTube.
9. Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Halat – Nastik (1954) Pradeep / C Ramchandra – Kavi Pradeep
Ajit is traveling on the train in despair with his family. It seems he has fallen prey to a fraud and has lost everything. Though the song shows more of the cruel and selfish world around us, it is a well known train song. It was one of the few songs that I thought of while researching. Pradeep was a visionary poet. Whatever he thought still holds true, in fact the scenario is getting worse day by day.
10. Aaj Is Nagari Kal Us Nagari – Naya Zamana (1957) Rafi & Chorus / Kanu Ghosh – Prem Dhawan
Pradeep Kumar, traveling on the train, listens to a man singing with his party. Mala Sinha looks anxious and bewildered may be because Pradeep Kumar is going away from her. And the lyrics of the song suit their situation perfectly. It describes the train as something that flies away with the steam. And today it’s carrying a woman’s beloved away from her. A song based on Marathi folk. I’m not able to exactly put it into a category, but I think it resembles both Lawani and Powada (पोवाडा). Traditionally Powada is an inspirational song full of वीर रस.
Please add a song if you wish. Can anyone identify the song/actor in the in the Screenshot?
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.
Mehfil Mein Meri 
I think “Rukh Se Zara” from Mere Huzoor might fit this criteria? The interlude has a train whistle like melody, but no obvious train rhythm I think.
While there is no regular ‘train rhythm’ cadence to the song, Mala Sinha cycles through the same four expressions with such perfect regularity, you could almost keep beat with it 🙂 I’m just kidding, she looks lovely.
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Magi ji,
Yes, the song fits here. But I’ve reserved it for the last part of the series to be published on 30th June. So I skipped it.
There is no appreciably obvious train rhythm to the song.
🙂
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Lots of good songs in this list, Anupji. And for once, all songs that I’ve heard (and all mostly from films I’ve seen).
Teri hai zameen tera aasmaan from The Burning Train I think meets this criterion of no train rhythm:
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Thank you Madhuji for the appreciation. I’m glad you liked the list.
I think the song you added fits. It’s rhythm is not actually a train rhythm. Similarly, the song Pal Do Pal Ka Saath Humara has no continuous train rhythm, though it opens with one and the interludes also share it.
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Yes, I had thought of Pal do pal ka saath hamaara too as not having a train rhythm for any appreciable length of the time. Ironic that a movie where the train plays such an important part, and most of the story is set on the train, has no songs with the train rhythm!
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Yes, it’s strange and ironic.
And,
There was a question for you @ song #7.
About the film.
😀
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Ah, I had missed that question!
Actually, I have an interesting memory to share about this film, which I saw when I was about 12. A few months before DD aired this film, they’d shown the Dharmendra-Mala Sinha Aankhen. I loved that film so much, I couldn’t wait to see other films starring both of them. So when I saw that they were going to show this one, I was very excited. At 12, I was naive enough to think that just because two people acted in one entertaining film, they’d have done other great films together too!
But no, Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai, from what I recall, is quite average. Nothing great at all. Of course, I was vastly disappointed when I saw it because my expectations, post-Aankhen, had been so high! 🙂
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Oh!
It was intrigued after watching initial 30 minutes or so of the movie, where Dharmendra’s elder brother pulls out Mala Sinha’s photo from the cupboard.
Ok! I’m not going to watch it immediately.
And thank you for sharing your childhood memories about the film. At that age anyone would have assumed it.
🙂
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Here is another train song from Kitaab (1977) , that does not have a train rhythm
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Yes,
That’s quite a fit Ashok ji.
The song features on the next and final part of the series.
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Anup ji ,
Fourth part in a row on same theme with nice selection of songs nd narration …
Gr8 !!!
So many songs of Pradeep Kumar …. But all were good .
Wud any of the following befit here ?
1) हैं अपना दिल तो आवारा – सोलवा साल
2) जीवन हैं इक सपना – हनीमून
इंतज़ार हैं इस कडी की आखरी पोस्ट का …
With best wishes ,
Pramod Godbole .
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Pramodji,
Thank you for the appreciation. I’m happy you liked the fourth part as well.
हैं अपना दिल तो आवारा is a perfect fit, but it will feature on the last part of the series. The last part would be published on 30th June.
Coming to the second song,
In my opinion, the song जीवन हैं इक सपना has a definitive and continuous train rhythm. And today’s post was about the train songs without it, so it doesn’t fit.
🙂
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Anupji, the nuanced presentation of the train series is really enthralling! Would the title song of Jhumroo fit?
Main Hun Jhum Jhum Jhum Jhum Jhumroo
Also, the song from Saari Duniya Ka Bojh from Coolie is tangentially linked to the theme;
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Anita Ji,
Both these songs fit the first part of the series. The jhoomaru song has a distinct train rhythm, but not exactly picturised on a train. It fits the second post as well.
The coolie song also fits the first post of the series. Picturised primarily on the platform.
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Dr. Anup,
A nice list of songs without the train rhythm.
I am curious about the last post of this series. Since you have mentioned that songs from Mere Huzoor and Solwan Saal will be there in the last part even though they don’t have the rhythm
And I know that you are very particular about the criteria of selection.
So, I am just taking a chance by posting some songs here…
1. Dil mera hai deewana – Shart 1954
2. Cheel cheel chillake – Half Ticket 1962
3. Ye gotedaar lehenga nikloon – Dharam Kaanta 1982
4. Bichhoo o bichhoo – Chamatkar 1992
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Yes,
All the songs fit the theme. And the last song is there on the list of the last part.
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