Special Duets

Last August Dustedoff published a post, ‘Impossible duets’. In those songs the couple was far apart, not together physically. She compiled a song list ‘in which the two characters shown singing the song are nowhere close enough for them to logically be able to sing a song together’. I have borrowed her own words here.
Incidentally I was also planning a post on similar lines. Then I decided to think about a twist in the theme. But it took a long time to come up with it.

In general, we can divide duets from films in two broad categories,
1 Duets sung by a couple while they are together
2 Duets where the couple is not together

While I was thinking about the possible twist in the theme, I came across a few songs which I found interesting. In the second category of duets mentioned above, there could actually be a subcategory. And it was exactly what I thought about!
As I said, I came across a few songs where there’s a duet. There’s a couple. But the twist was that the couple is not together. Yet the scenario was different from the one mentioned by Dusted off. What was the scenario then!

There was a very simple difference! The couple though not together, was within reach of each other. They could hear each other, and at times could see each other. Or at least one of them could see the other one. They might occupy two adjacent rooms as in a few of the songs on today’s list, or they were wandering in fields or jungle.

In most of the songs, they met each other at the end of the song or they met just for the last verse. But for the majority of the portion of the song, they don’t see each other, but can hear each other. That’s why I called these songs ‘Special Duets’. Because I felt those to be special as far as the picturization goes. I agree we are not aware of picturization of all the songs that we know or listen to.

Isn’t that an interesting category? And as you can see, it took a whole year and a few months for me to find suitable songs. I found the last song last month. And I was like, oh God! Finally!

So here we go, ten songs in the category of ‘Special duets’. And for a change, all the other songs are popular and well known (may be except one). The songs belong to the 50s and the 60s. The last song belongs to the early 70s. I haven’t probed the post 70s era. But if I happened to find songs from the 90s, I would definitely publish part 2 of the theme.

Let’s go ………

1. Jane Na Nazar Pehchane Jigar – Aah (1953) Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
It was actually the first song that I recollected for today’s list. The couple gets caught in a stormy rain and takes shelter in a dilapidated room. As there’s only one room, Raj Kapoor obviously stays outside the room, while Nargis occupies the room. While they are talking to each other, they break into a song. They don’t see each other, though they can hear each other. And it’s such a beautiful, melodious song!

2. Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par Hai Milan – Kohinoor (1960) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Naushad – Shakeel Badayuni
I don’t know the exact situation in the song, but from the picturisation, it’s quite clear that Dilip Kumar knows Meena Kumari’s whereabouts. She searches for him following his voice. The song actually starts with Rafi’s short aalap which is usually not included on the audio track. Dilip Kumar manages to hide himself from her, and meets her in the end.
It’s such a beautiful melody and has been my favourite for years. How interesting it is to find a new dimension to a well known song!

3. Aaja Panchhi Akela Hai – Nau Do Gyarah (1957) Asha Bhosle & Rafi / S D Burman – Majrooh
Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik pretend to be a couple and visit his uncle’s home at Mahabaleshwar. They are directed to a room, where they are supposed to stay together. Fortunately the room has an attached bathroom with a bathtub, which though not much comfortable, proves to be Dev Anand’s bed for the night. There’s a romance blooming between the two and it’s very cutely portrayed in the song. They sing the last verse together, though he is standing near the bathroom window and she’s outside it.

4. Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi – Chori Chori (1956) Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
The scenario is somewhat similar to the one in Nau Do Gyarah. Raj Kapoor announces that he and Nargis are a married couple, to get a room and obviously they end up getting a single room. Angry Nargis has a row with him and Raj Kapoor being a gentleman goes out to sleep. The night, with lightning and impending rain, however, goes uneventfully. The couple is away from each other. Though they can hear and see each other, they don’t face each other throughout the song.
Again a great melody, beautiful tune and excellent rendition.

5. Aawaz Deke Humein Tum Bulao – Professor (1962) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
Shammi Kapoor and Kalpana are wandering in jungles and on a mountain. They follow each other’s voices to reach each other. The song is extremely melodious and has a different rhythm. I love the tabla rhythm in this song. The only obstacle for me was Kalpana’s expressions. She appears more in physical pain than actual agony of separation. I haven’t watched the movie, so I don’t know if they meet in the end or not. But they can hear each other and also follow the same route, so most likely they meet immediately afterwards.

6. Neend Na Mujhko Aaye – Post Box No 999 (1958) Lata Mangeshkar & Hemant Kumar / Kalyanji Veerji Shah – P L Santoshi
Sunil Dutt and Shakila are disguised as a magician and his assistant. They are on a secret mission. After the magic show (and a song of course) they retire to their rooms which are adjacent. Being a Hindi film, the lead pair breaks into a song at the drop of a hat . And what a beautiful song! The lyrics of the song fully support the situation of separation. They can see and hear each other, but are physically separated.

7. Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha – Chhaya (1961) Lata Mangeshkar & Talat Mahmood / Salil Chowdhury – Rajendra Krishan
I enjoyed the situation in the song. Asha Parekh is attracted to a poet named Raahi. Sunil Dutt, who’s her piano teacher and also writing poems with the pseudonym, Raahi, doesn’t want to disclose his identity. He agrees to meet her only on the condition that ‘Raahi’ will talk to her but from behind a closed door. And that certainly gave me an opportunity to add it to today’s list. I love the song, what a beautiful melody! When I watched the song, I had no idea about the situation, but I watched a short part of the movie that included the song.

8. Tumhe Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The – Satta Bazaar (1959) Lata Mangeshkar & Hemant Kumar / Kalyanji Anandji – Gulshan Bawra
The song is picturised on Suresh and a very young Vijaya Choudhary, who looks beautiful. I am not aware of the situation in the movie, but it seems the lovers are separated due to a misunderstanding. They occupy two rooms which face each other. So they can perfectly hear and see each other. I had almost forgotten this song, but fortunately I remembered it in time.

9. Aansoo Bahaao Tum Udhar – Pyar Ki Baatein (1951) Mukesh & Geeta Dutt / Bulo C Rani – Majrooh
Here’s a variation of the theme. The couple is imprisoned in separate compartments and hence though they can well see each other, they are physically separated. It’s the only song on the list where both face each other throughout the song. I agree it’s not a great song. But it’s one of the songs I have known for many years and could remember.

10. Jane Jaan Dhoodhta Phir Raha – Jawani Deewani (1972) Asha Bhosle & Kishor Kumar / R D Burman – Anand Bakshi
The last song on today’s list, a catchy and popular song from the early 70s. It’s one of my favourites and I could instantly recollect it while compiling the list. The couple is traveling in a jungle and she’s in a mood of playing hide and seek. They appear far apart, though they are shown to hear each other easily. The separation lasts till the beginning of the last verse, which they sing together. A good and apt song to end the list.

Have you thought of a song to add?

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.