(Part 7) Boat Songs

So far I’ve covered boat songs under various categories. But there were songs which were kept aside as ‘not fitting’ into any particular category. I tried to sort that list into subcategories to present for today’s post. I want to call it atypical boat songs or

Miscellaneous Boat Songs

Some of the songs were also added by readers commenting on the previous posts of the series.

Singer not on the Boat –
So far all of the boat songs had singers travelling on the boat, whether there was a group of boats or a ship . But I came across a few songs where the singer or one of the singers (in a duet) is not travelling on a boat. So I thought of compiling such songs in a separate category. Here I go….

1. Tu Ganga Ki Mauj – Baiju Bawra (1952) Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus / Naushad – Shakeel Badayuni
It’s actually the song that perfectly fits the list. Bharat Bhushan sings it from the banks of the river. It’s too much for the embarrassed and shy Meena Kumari. She tries to run away from the situation and catches a boat. She rows the boat herself. She finally hides her face but lands up in front of Bharat Bhushan. What a wonderful song it is!

2. Nadi Nare Na Jao – Mujhe Jeene Do (1965) Asha Bhosle / Jaidev – Sahir
The song actually has the majority of the components of a boat song, covered so far on previous posts. Waheeda Rehman and Sunil Dutt were not in the boat in the initial quarter . Then Sunil Dutt rides a boat, ultimately Waheeda and Sunil Dutt share the boat. Waheeda Rehman is on the boat only for the last verse. Sunil Dutt never opens his mouth to sing, in fact in the entire film. Of course as a goon you are perhaps not expected to sing either! Anyway, the song is my favourite and was also mentioned by Anita ji.

3. Gagan Jhanjhana Raha – Nastik (1954) Lata Mangeshkar & Hemant Kumar / C Ramchandra – Kavi Pradeep
One of my favourite songs on the list. It’s a duet and Nalini Jaywant is the one riding a boat. She sings as well, while Hemant Kumar sings as a voice from heaven. The divine voice guides the troubled passenger on the boat to reach the destination. The song, very evidently shot on a set, has a very interesting orchestration. It has a definite touch of church bells.

On a Stationary Boat –
I hadn’t thought of it as a separate category, but Mr D P Rangan added one song in his comments on the very first part of the series. There, the song fulfilled the criteria except that the boat wasn’t moving, but stationary. Then I purposely started looking for such songs and got a few to form a separate category. So here we go….

4. Dum Bhar Jo Udhar Munh Phere – Awara (1951) Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
This was actually the song added by Mr Rangan. So I’m adding it to the first place in this category. Two lovers cooing together in solitude. It appears to be a lake in a garden. It is an extremely romantic song. The shy girl requests the moon to look away from them so as to enjoy his company. Whereas the boy wants to see her beautiful face in the moonlight and wishes to get lost in her eyes. Absolutely sweet and cute lyrics woven in an equally sweet tune.

5. Majhi Meri Qismat Ke – Hum Hindustani (1960) Lata Mangeshkar / Usha Khanna – Rajendra Krishan
The song is picturised on a sea shore full of a row of anchored boats. Asha Parekh sings as she makes her way through the boats. The long shots are shot on a real shore while most of the close-ups seem to have been shot on a set. Lata has set her voice to a charmingly sweet note; it feels as if she is really spellbound.

6. Yeh Sama Sama Hai Ye Pyar Ka – Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) Lata Mangeshkar / Kalyanji Anandji – Anand Bakshi
A somewhat sensuous song picturised on an unlikely location, a houseboat! I know a houseboat is stationary on the majority of occasions, the song fits perfectly here. Nanda enjoying on the terrace of the houseboat, singing playfully to herself. Lata’s voice has a velvety soft texture in this song, which soothes the mind. Please follow the link to watch on YouTube.

Partially on a boat –
Songs partially picturised on a boat form a large chunk of Hindi film songs. I could have made a separate post on the category, though it would have made no sense. So I thought of adding the category as a part of this post which happens to be the last part of the boat songs. Readers have occasionally added a few songs in the comments on the previous posts. A couple singing a romantic number on a boat appears to be a favourite with old Hindi films. So there are a number of songs fitting the category. I’m sure readers would already be ready with their own list of songs in this category. I selected my favourites for it, which include…..

7. Yeh Nayi Nayi Preet Hai – Pocket Maar (1956) Lata Mangeshkar & Talat Mahmood / Madan Mohan – Rajendra Krishan
One of my favourites from the movie. Handsome Dev Anand and bubbly Geeta Bali open the song on a motor boat and continue till the end of the first verse. What a soft and soothing expression of love!

8. Sawan Ka Mahina – Milan (1967) Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Anand Bakshi
One of the most melodious and the most popular songs of the movie. The boat journey by Nutan and Sunil Dutt forms quite an important part of the story. And the first couple of verses are picturised on a boat. The song is remembered prominently as a boat song. And I wanted to include it under a suitable category on my list as it’s one of my all time favourites.

9. Dil Ki Nazar Se – Anari (1959) Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
Another extremely popular song and unparalleled romanticism. The song starts on the banks of a river and the first verse of the song is actually picturised on a boat. I’m fond of the song and it obviously finds a place on today’s list. The video clip has a few shots before the actual song starts and is quite a fun to watch.

10. Aasman Se Aaya Farishta – An evening in Paris (1967) Rafi / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
And to end not so favourite of mine. But needs a mention. The song starts with the hero hanging onto a helicopter, while the heroine is water surfing with friends. The hero soon lands up on a boat, teasing the heroine. Though both of them are not my favourites, the song is too apt for the list. And Sharmila Tagore wearing a bikini was much talked about and she was criticized too. But her look proved to be a trendsetter.

Readers, please add songs fitting to any of the categories.

I might come back with one or a couple of posts in the boat songs series, though I would like to pause for a while. I have a very rough idea of the next part, and need to work on the ideas. But let me take a break from the boat series for the time being.

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.