‘Phir
Bhi
Dil
Hai
Hindustani’
‘Jeena
Isi
Ka
Naam
Hai’
‘Jeena
Yahan
Marna
Yahan’
Even
a
sliver
of
a
Raj
Kapoor
song
has
the
finality
of
a
statement,
a
slogan,
a
saga
of
life.
A
deep
desire
for
social
revolution
and
heartfelt
humanity
imbues
his
sweet,
sentimental
melodies,
which
became
key
to
his
personality
and
politics
as
he
took
on
the
role
of
actor,
filmmaker
and
showman.
Music
isn’t
a
mere
attraction
in
RK’s
cinema,
it’s
the
soul
of
his
characters,
a
window
to
their
innermost
emotions
and
conviction,
which
fuels
the
narrative
as
passionately
as
the
script.
Blessed
with
a
keen
ear
for
lilting
tunes
and
fluid
expressions,
his
formidable
fellowship
with
likeminded
forces
—
composer
duo
Shankar-Jaikishan,
lyricists
Shailendra
and
Hasrat
Jaipuri
along
with
singing
alter
ego
Mukesh
would
go
on
to
resonate
across
generations
of
listeners
and
keep
the
legacy
of
their
combined
belief
—
kal
khel
mein
hum
ho
na
ho
gardish
mein
taare
rahenge
sada
—
gloriously
alive.
On
the
legend’s
centenary
celebration,
which
marks
the
return
of
the
Raj
on
silver
screen
what
with
PVR
re-releasing
10
of
his
essential
films
to
commemorate
the
showman,
Sukanya
Verma
remembers
some
of
his
greatest
solo
numbers
in
our
fondly
curated
playlist.
Awara
Hoon,
Awara
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Raj
Kapoor’s
blue
eyes
and
fair
complexion
never
came
in
the
way
of
his
Chaplinesque
imagery
—
the
desi
tramp,
a
rudely
shunned
figure
from
the
fringes
of
society
clawing
his
way
back into
the
mainstream
by
hook
or
crook.
What
justified
his
methods
was
the
vulnerability
at
play,
a
history
of
hostility
he
has
wrongly
suffered
and
bravely
endured
as
chronicled
in
Awara‘s
unforgettable,
universally-beloved,
tell-all
title
track.
Mera
Joota
Hai
Japani,
Shree
420
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Those
Awara
impressions
found
a
bigger
canvas
in
Shree
420‘s
glitzier
take
on
loss
of
innocence.
Even
in
its
self-aware
skin,
there’s
no
denying
the
far-reaching
impact
of
Mera
Joota
Hai
Japani‘s
lyrical
optimism
and
post-independence
fervour,
back
when
patriotism
was
still
about
finding
your
way
not
losing
it.
Dil
Ka
Haal
Sune
Dil
Wala,
Shree
420
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Manna
Dey
The
simplicity
in
Dil
Ka
Haal‘s
outpourings
and
sarcasm
of
its
observations
effortlessly
combine
against
Manna
Dey’s
smooth
recital
to
deliver
a
song
that’s
as
incisive
now
as
it
was
then.
Kisi
Ki
Muskurahaton,
Anari
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Not
many
songs
will
make
you
feel
THIS
good
about
being
alive,
being
human
and
being
kind
like
this
noble
gem
imparting
lessons
on
life,
love
and
living.
No
wonder
RK’s
grandson
Ranbir
likes
to
hum
Kisi
Ki
Muskurahaton
Pe
Ho
Nisar
to
his
two-year-old
kiddo,
Raha.
Jis
Desh
Mein
Ganga
Behti
Hai,
Jis
Desh
Mein
Ganga
Behti
Hai
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Hothon
pe
sachai
rehti
hai,
jahan
dil
mein
safai
rehti
hai, once
a
song
of
idealism
almost
sounds
naïve,
satirical
to
the
ears
more
than
half
a
century
later.
A
rueful
reminder
of
expectations
versus
reality.
Woh
Subah
Kabhi
Toh
Aayegi,
Phir
Subah
Hogi
Music:
Khayyam
Lyrics:
Sahir
Ludhianvi
Singer:
Mukesh
The
pursuit
of
better
days
and
its
poignant
anticipation
colours
the
hope
and
melancholy
of
Woh
Subah
Kabhi
Toh
Aayegi‘s
endeavour
to
find
and
provide
comfort
in
this
moving
Mukesh
melody.
Cheeno
Arab
Hamara,
Phir
Subah
Hogi
Music:
Khayyam
Lyrics:
Sahir
Ludhianvi
Singer:
Mukesh
The
trickling
cynicism
in
Sahir’s
caustic
commentary
and
RK’s
signature
scoff
as
they
note
—
jitni
bhi
buildingein
thi
sethon
ne
baant
li
hain
footpath
Bambai
ke
aashiyan
humara
lend
this
killer
by
Khayyam
its
lasting
appeal.
Aasman
Pe
Hai
Khuda,
Phir
Subah
Hogi
Music:
Khayyam
Lyrics:
Sahir
Ludhianvi
Singer:
Mukesh
Rajkumar
Hirani’s
PK‘s shrewd
use
of
this
potent
piece
from
Phir
Subah
Hogi,
an
adaptation
of
Fyodor
Dostoevsky’s
Crime
and
Punishment,
may
have
restored
its
memory
in
soundtrack
nostalgia
but
the
strongly-worded
discontentment
of
Aasman
Pe
Hai
Khuda
goes
beyond
retro
nods.
Sab
Kuch
Seekha
Humne,
Anari
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Winner
of
Best
Song
at
the
7th
Filmfare
awards,
Sab
Kuch
Seekha
nimbly
conveys
the
heartbreak
and
polite
protests
of
a
freshly
dumped
lover
in
lieu
of
better
prospects
in
RK’s
pity
party
embodiment.
Aansoo
Bhari
Hain
Yeh
Jeevan
Ki
Rahen,
Parvarish
Music: Dattaram
Wadkar
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Mukesh
Doomed
romance,
dashed
hopes
and
the
extreme
state
of
desolation
reach
heartrending
heights
in
Mukesh’s
thairav
and
RK’s
charms.
Main
Zindagi
Mein
Hardam
Rota
Hi
Raha,
Barsaat
Music: Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Mohammad
Rafi
A
lover’s
lamentations
fill
up
the
frames
and
tunes
of
Barsaat‘s
lovelorn
track
and
gloomy
mood,
a
fairly
common
trope
for
the
tragedy-fixated
movies
of
that
era.
Zinda
Hoon
Is
Tarah,
Aag
Music:
Ram
Ganguly
Lyrics:
Behzad
Lucknavi
Singer:
Mukesh
Raj
Kapoor’s
directorial
debut
at
the
age
of
24
is
the
filmmaker
at
his
rawest
and
raging,
be
it
the
complex
manner
of
his
storytelling
or
anguish
in
Mukesh’s
sublime
rendition
of
Zinda
Hoon
Is
Tarah.
Laaga
Chunari
Mein
Daag,
Dil
Hi
Toh
Hai
Music:
Roshan
Lyrics:
Sahir
Ludhianvi
Singer:
Manna
Dey
The
combination
of
Raj
Kapoor
in
the
disguise
of
an
elderly
musical
maestro
and
Manna
De
as
his
animated
alter
ego
performing
a
exuberant
alaap
as
part
of
the
Laaga
Chunari
Mein
Daag
gig
is
tailor-made
to
bring
the
house
down.
Mujhko
Yaaron
Maaf
Karna,
Main
Nashe
Main
Hoon
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Drowning
away
one’s
sorrows
in
spirit
finds
a
literal
portrayal
in
Mujhko
Yaaron
Maaf
Karna‘s
mellow
cries.
Dum
Dum
Diga
Diga,
Chhalia
Music:
Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics: Qamar
Jalalabadi
Singer:
Mukesh
The
catchy
refrain
and
cheerful
exultations
around
rain
and
romance
infuse
the
lively
beats
of
Chhalia‘s
most
popular
ditty.
Bol
Radha
Bol,
Sangam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
The
sight
of
a
middle-aged
RK
playing
a
bagpipe
whilst
perched
on
the
branch
of
a
tree,
hounding
his
beloved
‘Radha’
taking
a
swim
to
accept
a
union
between
his
ganga
and
her
jumna
is
catchy
to
listen,
comical
to
watch.
Dost
Dost
Na
Raha,
Sangam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Betrayal,
shame,
sulking,
drama
abounds
a
room
full
of
backstabbers
and
brooders
with
the
showman
at
its
helm
and
in
no
mood
to
spare
buddy
or
better
half, Dost
Dost
Na
Raha
is
peak
drama.
O
Mehbooba,
Sangam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Mukesh
A
relentless
RK’s
one-sided
courtship
of
Vyjayanthimala
refusing
to
take
a
hint
and
back
off
is
a
source
of
much
irritation
in
Sangam.
Simply
as
part
of
Shankar-Jaikishan’s
marvellously
mushy
soundtrack
though,
it’s
stuff
of
delightful
ear-worms.
Sajan
Re
Jhooth
Mat
Bolo,
Teesri
Kasam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Lyricist
turned
producer
for
Basu
Bhattacharya’s
adaptation
of
Phanishwar
Nath
Renu’s
story,
Maare
Gaye
Gulfam,
Shailendra
reserves
his
most
profound
poetry
for
Teesri
Kasam.
Sajjan
Re
Jhooth
Mat
Bolo
is
a
case
in
point.
Duniya
Banane
Wale,
Teesri
Kasam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Ditto
for
the
lyrically
laced
existentialism
booming
across
Mukesh’s
mildly
assertive
vocals
in
yet
another
winner
from
the
black
and
white
classic.
Do
Jasoos
Kare
Mehsoos,
Do
Jasoos
Music:
Ravindra
Jain
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Mukesh,
Mohammad
Rafi
Raj
Kapoor
and
Rajendra
Kumar
roaming
about
town
as
senior
sleuths
while
playfully
pointing
out
all
that’s
wrong
in
the
world
is
as
relevant
as
it
is
rollicking.
Ek
Din
Bik
Jayega,
Dharam
Karam
Music:
Rahul
Dev
Burman
Lyrics:
Majrooh
Sultanpuri
Singer:
Mukesh
Ever
the
ambassador
for
how-to-live
philosophies,
Raj
Kapoor
finds
a
tuneful
expression
for
his
humble
beliefs
in
the
Biblically
inspired
‘from
dust
you
came
and
to
dust
you
shall
return’
wisdom
of
Ek
Din
Bik
Jayega
Mati
Ke
Mol.
Jaane
Kahan
Gaye
Woh
Din,
Mera
Naam
Joker
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Mukesh
RK’s
ambitious,
avant-garde
misfire
is
now
stuff
of
cult
classics.
And
the
intense
ache
in
its
recurring
heartbreaks
and
bitter
irony
while
chronicling
the
journey
of
a
clown
over
various
stages
of
his
life
only
reinforces
its
melancholy.
Jaane
Kahan
Gaye
Woh
Din‘s
despairing
tone,
previously
heard
in
a
few
riffs
of
Barsaat‘s
background
music,
tugs
the
heart
strings
as
well
as
pays
rich
ode
to
its
poignant
objectives.
Kehta
Hai
Joker
Sara
Zamana,
Mera
Naam
Joker
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Neeraj
Singer:
Mukesh
Neeraj’s
perceptive
penmanship
bares
the
highs
and
lows
of
life
as
an
entertainer
in
all
its
bittersweet
glory
in
the
deceptively
simple
utterances
of
Kehta
Hai
Joker.
Aye
Bhai
Zara
Dekh
Ke
Chalo,
Mera
Naam
Joker
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Neeraj
Singer:
Manna
Dey
Raj
Kapoor’s
flair
for
dispensing
life
lessons
without
ever
sounding
patronising,
more
like
a
fellow
sufferer
humouring
his
circumstances
rendered
him
and
his
music
a
kindred
spirit
few
can
recreate.
Jeena
Yahan
Marna
Yahan,
Mera
Naam
Joker
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh
Breathtakingly
stroked
in
drama
and
sensation,
Shankar-Jaikishan’s
famously
cinematic
soundtracks
revelled
in
its
understanding
of
pathos
and
the
human
condition,
an
attribute
Raj
Kapoor
held
most
precious
when
highlighting
his
‘show
must
go
on’
maxim.
Jeena
Yahan
Marna
Yahan’s
‘jeevan
sangeet‘
is
the
silver
screen
icon’s
soul
as
well
as
stamp,
signed
and
sealed.
