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20 April 2014

My Favourites: Ghoda-Gaadi Songs

I've been mulling over this list for some time now. In today's fast-paced world of cars and buses and motorbikes, the poor tonga is fast becoming an anachronism even in villages. And in cities such as Bombay, where the Victoria still holds a nostalgic hold on your heart, the phaetons have been phased out by a 2011 court order. (Or at least they were supposed to have been.) You definitely wouldn't find one of today's heroes or heroines in a ghoda-gaadi. But there was a time when the clippety-clop of the tonga meant there was a rollicking song(s) in store for us. OP Nayyar almost made that his signature tune, and Naushad (who probably introduced it) was not too far behind. Here is a post in the memory of an animal-drawn vehicle that gave us some wonderful melodies. But with some caveats. (Yes, Subodh, my 'arbitary rules' are going to come out in full force.) 
  • The songs can encompass any sort of horse-drawn vehicle - carriages, phaetons, Victorias, carts.
  • The whole song had to be picturised on the vehicle. (That took care of two of my favourite songs, Ye kya kar dala tune from Howrah Bridge and Sun bairi balam from Bawre Nain.)
  • It had to include the hero and  the heroine, even if only one of them were singing. (I originally titled this post Ghoda, Ghodi and Ghoda-Gaadi.) That deleted two other songs from my list: Chhoti si ye zindagani re from Aah, and Jhoome re neela ambar jhoome from Ek Gaaon ki Kahani.
Yes, I like making things difficult for myself. (Not!) For instance, I desperately wanted to add the Hemant Kumar-Lata Mangeshkar song Halke halke chalo saanwre to the list, but I haven't seen the film, nor is there a video clip of the song. While the film is Tangewali, I have no way of figuring out whether the song is picturised on a tonga. But even with all these self-imposed constraints, there were a plethora of songs to choose from. My favourite troika are well-represented; Shammi is there as well (how could he not?); so, without further ado, here are my favourites from my list. 

Aan (1952)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Long before OP Nayyar made the clip-clop beats of a horse-drawn chariot his own, Naushad gave us this rollicking number, not the least of its attractions being a smiling, teasing Dilip Kumar. Mohammed Rafi is back to doing what he does best, infusing the song with the gentle humour that makes you think he is laughing quietly while singing, and Dilip Kumar emphasises that laughter with the twinkle in his eyes. It is less of a 'stalking' song than one where the hero is trying to coax the heroine to join in the laughter, even if it is at her expense. Nadira, in her first outing as heroine (it was a originally role written for Nargis) looks as miffed as she should, considering she is being abducted. Even if it is by Dilip Kumar, and even if he looks good enough to eat. 

2. Yun toh humne laakh haseen dekhe hai
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
From OP Nayyar's baton comes his signature tune, in Shammi Kapoor's first major hit, the film that propelled him from a has-been to one who would rule the world of fantasy romance for many years. It is ironical that the film was in reality made to launch Ameeta into the higher echelons of stardom. Shammi had his favourite voice to playback for him, and even in the constricted confines of a horse cart, manages to bring a physicality to his performance. He is never still. (It is a complaint I always make about my younger son!) As always, he is teasing his heroine at their first meeting, having appropriated the only horse-cart to travel to his place of employment, while Ameeta has hailed it to go back home. He irritates Ameeta enough, but provides entertainment to the cart driver (Sunder), who is mucho amused at his antics. 

 3. Maang ke saath tumhara
Naya Daur (1957)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
The OP-Sahir combo strikes again, in the trademark tonga song. To be honest, this is the song that always comes to mind when I think of tonga songs. The chemistry between the leads is crackling, Rafi and Asha are at their romantic best, the tune has just the verve needed to lift it from the merely banal to an outstanding composition, and Sahir's words make an avowal of love and support a solemn promise that touches your heart. It is a shame that OP and Sahir wouldn't work together again. Both leads also made you aware that they were actually in a moving vehicle, their bodies moving naturally with the motion of the tonga, and their hair ruffled by the breeze. Beautiful!

4. Bachpan ke din bhula na dena
Deedar (1951)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Naushad again, teaming up again with long-time collaborator Shakeel Badayuni. This is a song that has two versions; one is a ghoda song with Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar doing the honours for Tabassum and Parikshit Sahni (as Ajay Sahni). The other is when the kids have grown up into Nargis and Dilip Kumar, with the latter mistaking his now-grown-up childhood friend's platonic friendship for love. In the film, they are travelling by the horse cart, with Nargis driving, when a child passing by on a horse triggers Dilip Kumar's memory and he sings the song that he had once sung with Nargis. She, by now affianced to Ashok Kumar, and not at all in love with Dilip, is uneasy, and his continued insistence on her not forgetting her childhood 'love' disturbs her so much that she almost loses control of the vehicle. Eventually, Ashok Kumar is forced to take the reins (but only after literally shutting Dilip Kumar up). 

5. Piya piya piya 
Baap re Baap (1955)
Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Jaan Nisaar Akhtar
It is perhaps not surprising that with a theme like this, OP Nayyar should be the music director most represented on this list. Another tonga song, with Jaan Nisaar Akhtar doing the lyrical honours, the male voice is, for a change, Kishore Kumar, instead of Mohammed Rafi, isning for himself. Accompanying him is Asha Bholse, the voice of Chand Usmani. But this tonga has more than just the two of them. It has the tangewala and SN Bannerji, who is playing a very benevolent chaperone. I have mentioned the story behind this song on my blog before. In an interview, Asha Bhosle talked about how she began singing the first lines of the antara when it was Kishore who was supposed to be singing. Embarrassed (because in those days, it meant that they would have to record the whole song again), she apologised, but Kishore told her to continue. The song was to be picturised on him, and he assured her that he would make it alright. And he did, by gently closing Chand Usmani's mouth with his hand, while he continued with the rest of the verse. This is another song that is a perennial favourite. It never fails to bring a smile to my face.  

6. Sach kehta hoon bahut haseen ho 
Jaali Note (1960)
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Anjaan
OP Nayyar again, this time teaming up with Anjaan as lyricist. Jaali Note is not a great film, but as with many films of that vintage, it had wonderful songs. Coupled with absolutely wonderful looking leads, even if Dev Anand has a moustache. (He managed to look rather dishy, nevertheless.) He is an undercover police inspector investigating a bunch of counterfeiters, while she is an undercover reporter masquerading as a job-seeker. It is a classic tonga beats song picturised in a Victoria, and is a very sensuous one to boot, with Dev Anand looking adequately besotted (which is not very difficult considering it is Madhubala next to him) and Madhubala looking positively adorable with that little crinkle in her nose and her megawatt smile. Perfect! 

7. Bheega bheega pyar ka sama 
Sawan (1959)
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Shamshad Begum
Music: Hansraj Behl
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Now this is prime example of why I find the picturisation of Maang ke saath tumhara  so appealing. It is quite evident that though Bharat Bhushan and Ameeta are supposed to be travelling in a horse cart, they are actually stationary while the background moves. Neither of them are so good they can simulate the natural motion of being in a moving carriage either. My other problem with this song, and it is a personal peeve, I must admit, is that it is picturised on Bharat Bhushan. Somehow it does not match my perception of him as a perpetually tragic figure dressed in a dhoti or an achkan. But the song itself? A tonga song that is composed by someone other than Naushad or OP Nayyar is interesting in itself. But other than the sheer novelty of having another composer on the list is the fact that the song itself was a favourite long before I saw its picturisation. It's a lovely, breezy number sung to perfection by Mohammed Rafi and Shamshad Begum. 

8. Zara haule haule chalo 
Sawan ki Ghata (1966)
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: SH Bihari
Why Sharmila wants to woo a sulky-looking Manoj Kumar beats me, but obviously she has her own reasons. He is in a flashy red coat and matching cap (that alone would have disqualified him in my book, even without his stuffed shirt look), while she seems to be hidden, in the beginning at least, under a pile of hay. (Poor woman, I wonder how badly she itched after the shooting!) His peeved look could be because she is asking him to drive slowly, and because she insists on hanging on his shirt sleeves (Pad gayi janaab main toh aap ke gale, ab toh nibhaaye baghair na chale), but he begins to melt as her song goes on. How could he not? Sharmila looked radiant, the song is an absolute gem and Asha was wonderful, not missing a beat as she turns on the charm.   

9.O matware sajna
Faulad (1963)
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music: GS Kohli
Lyrics: Farooq Kaiser
A lonely road, a handsome hero (Dara Singh), a long and possibly uncomfortable drive (they have to stand all the way), what better way to beguile the tedium than have a nubile young maiden (Mumtaz) burst into song? I must confess to a partiality towards Mumu. Besides, it brings back memories of long drives on empty roads with the music playing in the background. It is obviously not a well-known film, being one of the many that Mumtaz signed at the beginning of her career when she was trying to gain a foothold as a mainstream actress. She The music director is GS Kohli, an erstwhile assistant of OP Nayyar. It is no surprise that he follows in his mentor's footsteps in composing a tonga song. I like it for the verve with which Asha trills this tune; it encapsulates a young girl's sheer joy in being with the man she loves. 

10. Ae lo ji sanam hum aa gaye 
Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
Singers: Vicky Mehta, Behroze Chatterjee
Music: Tushar Bhatia
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
I don't usually have a song from this period in my lists (unless I'm compiling one from newer films) but this has the look and feel of a 50s number. Composer Tushar Bhatia has gone on record to state his inspiration was his idol OP Nayyar. This song is a loving tribute to the maestro, and evokes pretty much the same feeling - one can quite easily imagine Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt or Asha Bhosle trilling this delightful number. As songs go, this one owes its provenance not just to all OP Nayyar tonga songs, but to one in particular - Banda parwar thaam lo jigar from Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon. The 'vintage song' feeling was echoed in its picturisation as well. Can't you just see Shammi Kapoor or Joy Mukherjee with one of the assorted heroines of the time being totally at home in this clip? I don't recall the Banda parwar picturisation, and haven't had the time to check it out on YouTube, but comments under this clip tell me that even the picurisation was almost similar to the classic OP Nayyar composition. 

Do you like  ghoda-gaadi songs? Do you have any favourite songs that fit this theme? 

p.s. Anyone looking for a playlist can find it here

52 comments:

  1. I am so glad that not all the songs in your list are the same as the ones I featured in my ghoda-gaadi songs list. In fact, some - like the ones from Faulad and Saawan (and Andaz Apna Apna, of course) hadn't even made it into my longlist, for various reasons. By the way, yes, Yeh lo ji sanam hum aa gaye is pretty much a rip-off of Banda parvar, not just in the music and the words, but also in the picturisation (and, if I'm correct, the situation. It's been far too long since I watched AAA, but if I remember correctly, Aamir disguises himself and drives off with Raveena Tandon - which is what happens in Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, too.

    Anyway, here is another ghoda-gaad song (Shammi, again) which I love. Ek toh soorat pyaari aur upar se yeh naaz, from Vallah Kya Baat Hai:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhP1VEyIOa8

    And Banda parvar, which I feel free to plug in since you've only mentioned it, not listed it; :-D

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COogVOe-4tQ

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  2. Lovely list indeed! Apart from song #7,every song is a favorite of mine.Seems like that Dilip Kumar has an upper hand in Ghoda-Gaadi songs :) "Yun toh humne laakh haseen dekhe hai" is an absolute favorite of mine as it has two of my favorite actors Shammi Kapoor and Ameeta. "O matware sajna" reminds me of "Titli Udi Ud Jo Chali" from Suraj,in which Mumtaz is again seen in Ghoda-Gaadi,but does not suit the criteria(Another Ghoda-Gaadi which is lovely and favorite of is from Akeli Mat Jaiyo-"yeh hawa yeh mastana mausam dil ko phir" which also disqualifies as the whole song had to be picturised on the vehicle )
    The song from "Vallah Kya Baat Hai" is already mentioned by Dustedoff(which also turns out to be a favorite of mine)
    So after much thought the song which comes to my mind is from Lal Bangla---- "Chand Ko Kya Maloom "

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37xLy02NLXE

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  3. Ah, I knew that either you or Harvey had a similar list; but I didn't want to go look because then it would influence mine. :) :)

    You know, I haven't never seen Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon (sacrilege, I know!), so all I know of it are the songs, which I love! Yes, you are right about the AAA song - Raveena is supposed to be going to the mela with Salman; Aamir disguises himself, manages to trick Salman to get off the tonga, and then goes off with Raveena.

    Thanks for the Banda parwar link. Yes, the AAA song is very similar in tone and tune and spirit to this one. (I'm also glad that Tushar Bhatia was very open about the lift.)

    I did have the Ek toh surat pyari on my list, and then, inexplicably forgot all about it. :) Shammi looks adorable in this song - am I the only one who thinks he resembles an over-rambunctious little puppy here?

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  4. Thanks, coolone. You know, I had a major problem with Titli udi - didn't like it one bit, while I did like O matware sajna. I had Chand ko kya maloom on my long list, but ditched it in the end. Thanks for the link.

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  5. Beautiful list. I was so glad to see the Faulad song here. I really adore the early Mumu, she looks like a little kid (and was too). The song is so lovely, even if Mumu is the one doing all the fawning here. Poor Dara looks so uncomfortable in the love scenes.

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  6. Well, Dilip got a lot of love in this list, so I approve automatically. (Aan and Naya Daur are the next on my list of Dilip's to see along with your recommendation, Yahudi, so this is quite apt timing.) Maybe I should have figured this out on my own, but who exactly is in your troika or trifecta, btw?


    I find your penchant for arbitrary parameters charming, too. You make a great point about the audience needing to actually get the sense of the two characters bouncing up and down on the cart--for the best effect of a real ghoda-gaddi experience. I bet there's probably a lot of walking songs that use the musical motifs of ghoda-gaddi songs (like the mountain hiking song in Jab Jab Phool Khile, "Ek tha gul, Ek thi bulbul").


    Another aside, I realized that this type of song would translate easily for the Western musical buff. There's that one buggy song in Oklahoma ("The surrey with the fringe on top") for example . . . and I'm sure a lot of others, because these songs feel very familiar to my raised-on-musicals brain.

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  7. One there is Thenmavin Kombathu

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  8. Thank you, Ava. Yes, Mumu was such a joy then, wasn't she? And yes, to Dara Singh looking uncomfortable as well. But that coul also be because of that silly costume he had to wear. :)

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  9. :) I love Dilip even in his tragic roles, but he was an absolute joy in his swashbuckling ones. Try Kohinoor and Azad too to see an entirely different side to him and Meena Kumari.

    My troika are Dev, Dilip and Raj. I forgot that I had axed Raj's ghoda-gaadi song because he was alone. :( I'm glad you said you found my arbitrary parameters charming. *grin* I know readers who pull their hair out when they see them. It is basically to corral my shortlist to a manageable twenty or so. Otherwise, just saying ghoda-gaadi songs will give me at least 50 that I like.

    I loved Hollywood musicals myself, so I would welcome recommendations. :)

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  10. Are there any horse-cart songs in Thenmavin Kombathu though? If I remember right, Mohanlal is busy driving a bullock cart, no?

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  11. A bullock cart song perhaps,with Sobhana.

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  12. Yes, there is that, but this is about ghoda-gaadis. :)

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  13. dont have anything (so far) to add to this, dont think I even can but this is delightful, thank you Anu :)

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  14. I guess the sound of the horse's feet on the tarmac creates an natural opportunity for rhythm. That may account for the charm of these songs. Something similar happens with train songs. Cars and bicycles don't have a natural rhythm. Least of all planes!

    I am a little surprised by your mention of 'Halke halke'. The link you have posted does show a video and it is very much a horse drawn carriage.

    How strict is your condition of 'hero' and 'heroine?' Will Mehmood and Shubha Khote qualify? This one is a real gem: 'Main rangila pyar ka rahi'

    http://youtu.be/Nnp95ic13GA

    How about children who will grow into the hero and heroine: 'Udan khatole pe ud jaoon'

    http://youtu.be/8FPBcpk9caI

    Finally a link not from the golden era but a tune that harks back to the golden years of O P Nayyar. I don't know why the 20th anniversary of 'Andaz apna apna' has become such a big event, but it does remind us of the song 'Elo ji sanam ham aa gaye'

    http://youtu.be/y3wYH65p6Vg

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  15. You are welcome, Anu. I'm glad you liked it.

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  16. Well, the last song posted by me is a repeat of the last one in your list! This is not the first time one has made this mistake!

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  17. Subodh, the video for Halke halke is not of the song. It is from a film called College Girl, I think.

    Mehmood and Shubha Khote definitely qualify. Any male-female jodi actually, as long as they are on the tonga all the time. Main rangeela pyaar ka rahi was on my long list, so I'm glad you posted it here.

    And no, Udan khatole pe doesn't qualify because the boy is not on the chariot at all. I do wonder at his speed and stamina though, considering he's keeping pace with the vehicle right through the song, and managing to sing as well. :)

    You haven't read my post, have you? *grin* Ae lo ji sanam is in my list.

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  18. Dara Singh had a choice between a Romper, Diaper and panties (manties?). It was almost as if his mother did not know he had grown up.

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  19. Ha ha ha. Ava, you are making my family look at me like I've gone crazy. :)

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  20. Yes, the video that's been used with Halke-halke is from College Girl. I might as well plug in the song; it's quite nice. Pehla-pehla pyaar ka ishaara:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqYsregXkE

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  21. Do watch PWDLH, Anu. Loads of fun, total Nasir Hussain style. It's a rejig of Dil Deke Dekho/Tumsa Nahin Dekha, so pretty predictable if you've seen those two films. But paisa vasool, completely. :-)

    And Shammi Kapoor does look like a rather boisterous puppy in Ek toh soorat pyaari!

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  22. What a lively post! I didn't know the last song, the one from Andaz Apna Apna, so I had to listen to it first, and I can see how it is so similar to Banda parvar ... Right now, all I am doing is listening to the songs one after the other, but if I happen to think (oh, my poor overworked brain!) of any other, I will post it. But listening is more fun, especially when the songs are as wonderful as these, so I will just listen for now.

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  23. I am reminded of all the tonga rides in Lucknow and Nagpur! What a pity they have all gone away now and our younger generations will never know that pleasure! The clip clop of the hooves, the wind blowing through your hair, I can remember all these. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Anu!

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  24. Wait a minute, you say your favorite troika is represented here - where is Raj Kapoor?

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  25. Did you confuse Manoj or BB with Raj Kapoor? Blasphemy, indeed!

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  26. I have it all on a playlist for your convenience. :) Why is your brain over-worked? It is time for another trip to MA and another DA film watch-fest. Think about it. Tell J I said so. This time you can come to meet us!

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  27. Anu,
    I was happy to find seven songs in your list that are my absolute favourites. Delighted to find Bheega bheega pyar ka sama here. Saawan had such gorgeous music - Nain dwaar se aake wo man mein, Kanha chhedo bansuri, Dekho bina saawna baras rahi badri etc.
    #4. Your description that "She (Nargis) by now is not at all in love with Dilip" creates an impression that she has since consciously moved away from him. Actually, it is a case of her childhood memories being buried deep in subconscious. That is why, Rafi version of the song makes her restless, bringing her on the verge of 'awakening' several times, but she is pulled back from tipping over. Ashok Kumar, who has now understood everything, is worried that her fiancée may just remember her childhood connection to the song. This makes him vacillate between an altruistic doctor and a jealous lover.
    AK

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  28. Ai -la! Lalitha, how could you! That's really jale pe namak! :( Meanie, and you did it on purpose as well!

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  29. I'm glad you liked most of my list, AK. :)



    As for Nargis, I'm pretty sure that she is not too fond of Dilip even before he begins singing this song, and is not too particularly happy that he doesn't seem to take 'no' for an answer. And even after the song, she is definitely not in love with him, even though she was fond of him as a child.



    But I'm not about to watch Deedar again just to prove it. :) Once was enough!

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  30. Ah, glad to have that corroborated. The original video's song is also rather pleasant. I heard it a long time ago.

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  31. Oh, I did watch PWDLH. I must confess to it being a tad bit better than DDD - simply because in this, Joy knows who his father is. And the mother seems a tad bit more sensible than Sulochana was in the original. The father was a pest, wasn't he? How on earth did he think Rajendranath should be married to his foster daughter, I don't know. And gak, Rajendranath infuriated me in this film - he was ghastly! Even worse than usual!

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  32. Couldn't help it!:(

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  33. Sach boloon bilkul bhi time nahin hai that is why I haven't had the time to read this post, lekin this topic is just after my heart, my all time favourite is the one from 'Sawan Ki Ghata'. Back in my childhood every other day we used to perforce have to listen to ae maa teri soorat se alag on the radio, it was a hit song. As a child I did not appreciate the lyrics but after mum passed away, I find myself thinking about this song
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YRa6t7lb0I

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  34. Question - why didn't you include Banda parwar ...? When I saw your post, I expected to find it and was surprised to find that you had only mentioned it. Then I saw that DO had posted it and loved it because that is what I have been humming for the past two days. If you can post BB, then this song definitely deserves a spot! In fact, I didn't know Bheega bheega pyar ka samaa ... was filmed on BB till I read your post. What a pity!

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  35. What can I say? To be honest, Lalitha, I completely forgot about Banda parwar. I hadn't watched Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon then.

    And it is sad that Bheega bheega pyar ka sama was picturised on BB. :(

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  36. Aaaargh! No!!! Not even then! Go away! I rescind my invitation to you to come home and watch DA. I will invite only J. He and I can talk about Bombay. So there!

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  37. Sorry, invitations once extended cannot be rescinded! So you have no choice but to put up with me and my inane comments! The good news is that we have a continuous stream of guests till the end of May, and then we have some travel planned for July, and some more company expected in June (is all this really good news?), so any travel to the Northeast will only be in the fall. Unless J's niece gets married in June. Let us see.

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  38. Aila! This is what they mean when they say Maan na maan, main tera mehmaan?!

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  39. Finally read the post and I found that bit of info about Kishore Kumar quite interesting, like I said my favourite tonga song is haule, haule saajna

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  40. I'm glad you found the time, Shilpi. :)

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  41. By the way, I love those three pics of RK in your banner (or whatever it is called!) - the young RK with the slender look, just the way he looked in his early movies. I think he looked like that even in Andaz, but he had gained weight by the time Awara came along.

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  42. Ok, you have redeemed yourself. Consider yourself 'invited' again. :)

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  43. Anuji,

    Enjoyed your post on Ghoda Gaadi songs. As soon as I saw the heading, the first song that came up in my mind was Maang ke saath tumhara.

    Ghoda Gaari songs are quite romantic. I remember our college days when we used to go to Victoria (the area around Victoria Memorial in Calcutta) to have a ride in the Ghora Gaadi with our girl friends. We had our fixed coachwans, occasionally the GFs changed! We had fun and felt romantic then, but never dared to burst into songs. On afterthought, we should have tried something classical, like Asha at the end of #9! Well can’s set the clock back and now I feel it is too late!

    The romantic couples in your songs had to wait till #7 to have privacy. They had someone or the other for company till then. Mukri and Nadria’s side-kick (#1), Sunder at the reign (#2), Daisy Irani in hiding (#3), S
    N Banerjee and the coachwan (#5), again the coachwan in #6. Bharat Bhusan and Amita, Manoj Kumar and Sharmila and Dara Singh and Mumtaz were fortunate enough to spend the time together. It does not really matter in #4, since the situation was not exactly romantic. But in the last song there was the entire crowd for company! By the way in all the songs the carriages were single horse drawn, while in song #1 and #9, there were two horses.

    I remember two occasions. A few years after my marriage, myself and my (one and the only) wife arrived at Madhupur by train on a cold moon lit midnight. We travelled cuddled together by a Ekka gaadi from station to our place of stay. The second occassion, soon after passing out from the college, I went Hubli in Dharwar district of Karnataka. My train companion, who happened to be a lady, suggested that we travel by an Ekka gaadi, since the Ekka-chalaks know the localities well. But our journey ended uneventful at our respective
    destinations!

    Sorry for the nostalgic gabble. Enjoyed the songs posted by other readers. Now let me add a song.

    The song Dekha Maine Dekha Rup Ki Ek Rani Ko from Victoria No.203 (1972) does not fit the criteria set by you. I think this one qualifies. It is the Hindi version of ‘Prithivi Badle Geche’ from Ananda Ashram (1977). Indeed the world and times have changed.

    Raahi Naye Naye by Kishore Kumar, film Ananda Ashram (1977), lyrics Indeevar, music Shyamal Mitra

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar8zvJDgoIY

    Thanks

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  44. Mr Venkatraman,



    Your reminiscences are delightful! Does your wife know about your girlfriend(s)? She must have learnt to keep you away from ghoda gaadis. *grin*



    Thank you for that link; Anand Ashram is a film that I haven't seen, so this song was new to me.

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  45. Believe me. In fact we had a small get together with two of my ex GFs and our spouses were present!!!
    And Ghoda gaadi was also a part our chat.

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  46. Oh, I believe you! In fact, to me, that sounds perfectly normal. :)

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  47. Hah! Invitation or no invitation, if I am in your neck of the woods, I will be plonking myself in your house for that pappadum and pulissery!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Ah, so it's not me, but my cooking that is the attraction. :)

    ReplyDelete

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