Songs
beaming
in
pride
and
passion
for
the
country.
Songs
filled
with
hope
and
idealism
about
the
future.
Songs
of
exuberant
youth
and
romantic
fervour.
Songs
pondering
over
the
philosophy
of
life
and
the
living…
Manoj
Kumar’s
musical
imprints
are
as
deep
as
his
cinematic
ones.
Sukanya
Verma
remembers
the
late
legend
across
a
playlist
of
his
15
immortal
melodies.
Mere
Desh
Ki
Dharti
from
Upkar
Music:
Kalyanji
Anandji
Lyrics:
Gulshan
Bawra
Singer:
Mahendra
Kapoor
Inspired
by
Lal
Bahadur
Shastri’s
‘Jai
Jawan
Jai
Kisan’
slogan,
Upkar‘s
agrarian
expectations
are
wholeheartedly
realised
in
Manoj
Kumar’s
assertive
proclamations,
which
hardly
seem
representative
of
today
but
captures
the
‘India
Shining’
aspirations
of
a
bygone
era.
Hai
Preet
Jahan
Ki
Reet
from
Purab
Aur
Paschim
Music:
Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics:
Indivar
Singer:
Mahendra
Kapoor
Manoj
Kumar’s
desi
ardour
in
videsi
shores
is
smugly
conveyed
in
the
East
greater
than
West
rationale
of
a
blissed
out
Bharat
Ka
Rehnewala.
Koi
Jab
Tumhara
Hriday
Tod
De
from
Purab
Aur
Paschim
Music:
Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics:
Indivar
Singer:
Mukesh
There’s
no
formulaic
pattern
to
Manoj
Kumar’s
chartbusters.
Every
song
has
its
own
voice
and
journey,
a
notable
attribute
that
colours
both
the
rejection
and
rebuke
of
Koi
Jab
Tumhara
Hriday.
Lag
Ja
Gale
from
Woh
Kaun
Thi
Music:
Madan
Mohan
Lyrics:
Raja
Mehdi
Ali
Khan
Singer:
Lata
Mangeshkar
One
of
Hindi
cinema’s
most
timeless,
iconic
melodies
(doffed
a
hat
at
by
everyone
from
Sara
Ali
Khan’s
Kedarnath
to
Salman
Khan’s
Sikandar)
captures
desire
at
its
most
shy
but
scorching
against
Manoj
Kumar
and
Sadhana’s
simmering
chemistry.
Ek
Pyar
Ka
Nagma
from
Shor
Music:
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics:
Santosh
Anand
Singer:
Lata
Mangeshkar,
Mukesh
The
sheer
simplicity
and
sweetness
of
Ek
Pyar
Ka
Nagma‘s
musings
on
life’s
ephemeral
nature
never
stops
to
be
amazing.
Main
Na
Bhoolunga
from
Roti
Kapda
Aur
Makaan
Music:
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics:
Santosh
Anand
Singer:
Lata
Mangeshkar,
Mukesh
Though
his
movies
mostly
concerned
themselves
with
nationalism
or
social
issues
plaguing
general
public,
the
emotions
imbuing
them
found
a
unique
rhythm
and
texture
under
his
keen
ear.
The
infectious
affirmations
of
Main
Na
Bhoolunga
are
a
case
in
point.
Chandi
Si
Mehboobafrom
Himalay
Ki
God
Mein
Music:
Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics:
Anand
Bakshi
Singer:
Mukesh
Both
charm
and
coy
affections
—
traits
Manoj
Kumar
readily
embodied
in
his
romantic
hero
era
—
come
to
life
in
this
hugely
popular
song
of
a
hugely
popular
1960s
drama.
Mehboob
Mere
from
Patthar
Ke
Sanam
Music:
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics:
Majrooh
Sultanpuri
Singer:
Mukesh,
Lata
Mangeshkar
Back
when
city
boy
falls
for
village
belle
was
the
order
of
the
day,
Manoj
Kumar
and
Waheeda
Rehman
raised
the
mercury
quite
alright
against
a
series
of
catchy
beats,
of
which
Mehboob
Mere‘s
dreamy
serenade
is
an
evergreen
classic.
Zindagi
Ki
Na
Toote
Ladi
from
Kranti
Music:
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics:
Santosh
Anand
Singer:
Mukesh,
Lata
Mangeshkar
The
drama
enveloping
Manoj
Kumar
and
Hema
Malini’s
rainy
reunion
on
a
ship
as
part
of
Kranti’s
rebellious
battle
raged
against
the
British
Raj
is
masala
and
melody
at
its
over-the-top
best.
Gardish
Mein
Ho
Taare
from
Reshmi
Rumaal
Music:
Babul
Lyrics:
Raja
Mehdi
Khan
Singer:
Mukesh
Bubbling
with
heartfelt
optimism,
Manoj
Kumar’s
youthful
vigour
and
Gardish
Mein
Ho
Taare‘s
try
and
try
till
you
succeed
mantra
never
fail
to
uplift
the
listener’s
spirits.
Ae
Watan
Ae
Watan
Humko
Teri
Kasam from
Shaheed
Music:
Prem
Dhawan
Lyrics:
Prem
Dhawan
Singer:
Mohammad
Rafi
Manoj
Kumar’s
patriotic
leanings
are
powerfully
expressed
in
his
portrayal
of
revolutionary
Shaheed
Bhagat
Singh
as
well
as
his
undying
desh
prem
in
Ae
Watan.
Mera
Rang
De
Basanti
Chola
from
Shaheed
Music:
Prem
Dhawan
Lyrics:
Prem
Dhawan
Singer:
Mukesh,
Mahendra
Kapoor,
Lata
Mangeshkar,
Rajendra
Mehta
Manoj
Kumar’s
daredevilry
is
as
potent
as
his
martyrdom
in
and
as
Shaheed,
the
black
and
white
Bhagat
Singh
biopic
best
remembered
for
Prem
Dhawan’s
pearls
of
patriotic
wisdom.
Laakhon
Taare
Aasman
Par
from
Hariyali
Aur
Rasta
Music:
Shankar
Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Shailendra
Singer:
Mukesh,
Lata
Mangeshkar
The
despondent
ditty
from
Hariyali
Aur
Rasta
is
as
good
as
it
gets
yet
and,
years
later,
finds
an
amusing
reference
in
a
droll
informer
of
Aamir
Khan’s
Sarfarosh.
Dus
Numbri
from
Dus
Numbri
Music:
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics:
Majrooh
Sultanpuri
Singer:
Mukesh
Manoj
Kumar
could
be
convincingly
cheeky
when
he
chose
to
and
the
smart
aleck-y
tone
and
traits
of
Dus
Numbri‘s
title
track
reiterates
it
sufficiently.
Gumnaam
Hai
Koi
from
Gumnaam
Music:
Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics:
Hasrat
Jaipuri
Singer:
Lata
Mangeshkar
Though
the
tune
is
a
take
off
of
Henry
Mancini’s
Charade
score,
Lata’s
haunting
rendition
and
the
title
song’s
eerie
hold
on
its
sprawling
ensemble
piloted
by
Manoj
Kumar’s
swaggering
presence
is
all
part
of
Bollywood
pop
culture.
