This post is dedicated not just to music directors like O P Nayyar and Naushad (who made ‘tonga beats’ an important musical style), but also to friend and blog reader pacifist, who came up with the idea. Writing to me some weeks back, pacifist made a request: that I do a list of horse-drawn vehicle songs.
So: here’s the list, pacifist. Ten of my favourite ghoda-gaadi songs, from pre-70s films that I’ve seen. Other than that, my requisites for the selected songs were:
1. That the person singing (on screen, that is) remains in the ghoda-gaadi through at least 80% of the song (which is why Ae dil hai mushkil doesn’t feature in this list).
2. Horse-drawn vehicles of all types qualify: tongas, Victorias, phaetons, even chariots. Horseback is out.
3. And, no two songs from the same film are allowed.
Here goes:
1. Yoon toh humne laakh haseen (Tumsa Nahin Dekha, 1957): My favourite actor, in his first superhit film. Shammi Kapoor is his quintessential flirtatious and attractive self here, getting on the nerves of a huffy Ameeta – and charming her, too. And if you thought a horse cart was a fairly restrictive setting, this song is proof that it isn’t: a lot of action takes place within those few square feet. Photographs are displayed, much flinging around of self takes place, and the cart driver – a cheery Sundar – is kept thoroughly entertained by the goings-on of his passengers.
2. Yeh kya kar daala tune (Howrah Bridge, 1958): Even though it’s Madhubala (in Asha Bhonsle’s voice) who serenades Ashok Kumar in this song, you can see that he is the one completely bewitched. She’s gorgeous, the whistling is a great addition to the music, and Calcutta by night is worth a jaunt. As tommydan1 says in his description of the song on Youtube, this is one of the ‘great clip-clop tonga songs’. I agree totally.
Interestingly, Howrah Bridge is one of the few films to have not one, but two great tonga songs: the other is Eent ki dukki, paan ka ikka. Instead of being romantic, this one offers a delightfully panoramic view of Calcutta as Om Prakash’s tonga makes its way past Ballygunge, the Victoria Memorial, Chowringhee, and – of course – the Howrah Bridge.
3. Main rangeela pyaar ka raahi (Chhoti Bahen, 1959): This is one pair of lovers in a ghoda-gaadi who don’t care to have an audience for their coochie-cooing. So they dispense with the driver, and while our hero holds the reins, his girlfriend grabs the quirt. One of the best comic jodis of the 60s – Mehmood and Shubha Khote – with Lata Mangeshkar and the much underrated Subir Sen providing the vocals. There’s another, shorter version of the song in the film too, but in a rickshaw, not a ghoda-gaadi.
4. Haule-haule saajna dheere-dheere baalma (Saawan ki Ghata, 1966): By the late 60s, ghoda-gaadi songs had become far less common than they had been a decade earlier. But this one, with Sharmila Tagore doing her best to woo back a shirty Manoj Kumar – while he’s driving a cartload of hay – is a gem. The lyrics are sweet, O P Nayyar’s music is perfect, and Asha’s singing is wonderful.
Note: Compare the music of this to that of Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar from Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, also composed by O P Nayyar, three years before he created this song. There’s a lot of similarity in the music of the two songs – not just in the ‘tonga beats’, but also in the interludes, in particular.
5. Maang ke saath tumhaara (Naya Daur, 1957): One of O P Nayyar’s best scores had his trademark tonga song. I love everything about Maang ke saath tumhaara: the lively rhythm of the music, Asha and Rafi’s voices, the chemistry between Dilip Kumar and Vyjyantimala, the way their hair get whipped about by the breeze, the way the shadows play across their faces in the first verse of the song… sigh. Beautiful.
6. Ek toh soorat pyaari aur upar se yeh naaz (Vallah Kya Baat Hai, 1962): Shammi Kapoor again (this man must have a record for the largest number of songs picturised in a moving vehicle!). This time, he’s with the lovely Bina Rai, and unlike the petulant Ameeta in Tumsa Nahin Dekha, she doesn’t need to be wooed – she’s pretty much in love with our man anyway. A cute, playful song, with the rain coming down midway, distracting the hero so much that he leaves the horse to its own devices.
7. Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar (Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, 1963): In the grand tradition of songs like Maang ke saath tumhaara and Ek toh soorat pyaari, this song too has a beautiful heroine, a handsome hero – and a thankfully independent horse. This song’s a step ahead of the others, because it also includes a bevy of very athletic extras, who spend most of their time clinging midway up the trunks of the poplars lining the road.
But, jokes apart: such a sweet song, romantic and fun.
By the way, doesn’t this song from (the much later) Andaz Apna Apna have definite shades of Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar? Even the lyrics are very similar.
8. Piya, piya, piya mora jiya pukaare (Baap re Baap, 1955): If Maang ke saath tumhaara put a premium on privacy, this one doesn’t. Though Piya piya piya mora jiya pukaare is a romantic song, the lovey-dovey couple (Kishore Kumar and Chand Usmani) are only half the population on the ghoda-gaadi. There’s a gaadivaan (a driver) and a chaperone (in the form of a cheery S N Bannerjee) too.
There’s a delightful little behind-the-scenes story here. Asha Bhonsle, while singing, accidentally started off one verse before she was supposed to. She was terribly embarrassed and wanted the song to be re-recorded, but Kishore Kumar said it wasn’t needed, since he was the actor too, and would improvise – which he did by clapping a hand over Chand Usmani’s mouth at the relevant point in the picturisation of the song. (See approximately 1:52 in this clip).
9. Dil mein chhupaake pyaar ka toofaan (Aan, 1953): Except for Main rangeela pyaar ka raahi (which was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan) and Ek toh soorat pyaari (which was composed by Roshan), all the ghoda-gaadi songs in this list so far were composed by O P Nayyar. But long before O P Nayyar made hooves his preferred musical accompaniment, Naushad had already used them. Here, for instance, in a fabulous solo by Rafi. Dilip Kumar is handsome, Nadira (in her debut film) is suitably annoyed at having been abducted, and if you watch carefully, you’ll see that the hoofbeats of the horses onscreen are perfectly matched with the hoofbeats in the music.
10. Mera salaam le jaa (Udan Khatola, 1955): Naushad again, in what is one of my favourite songs of his. Nimmi, in her chariot, followed by a group of girls on horseback, sings to an aviator flying high up above in his udan khatola (plane). The music, though peppy, is gentle and forms a fine background for Lata’s voice and the chorus.
The ghoda-gaadi and udan khatola combo appears in another Naushad song too: Udan khatole pe ud jaaoon, from Anmol Ghadi. There, a little girl sitting in a ghoda-gaadi and a boy running alongside (whew – what stamina!) sing it to each other. Another superb song.
Do you have any favourite ghoda-gaadi songs? Please share!
Dustedoff 
Wow, what a list!
I always thought that O P Nayyar and Naushad had full monopoly of ghoda gadi songs. Thanks for the wonderful Howrah Bridge song, which I didn’t knew!
One ghoda gadi song, which comes to my mind is: ‘Ae maa teri surat se alag’ from Daadi Maa. But I want say that it is one of my favorites. Though my brother and I do tease our mother with this song!
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Have just been watching Ae maa teri soorat se alag (yet another Bina Rai ‘soorat‘ song on a tonga!) – yes, not a great song, but good for a Mother’s Day list, no? ;-)
Incidentally, who are the two men playing Bina Rai’s sons here? Both of them look way too plain to be the sons of a lady so lovely – unless her character in the film marries somebody absolutely enhh.
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I know only the guy who is sitting behind in the victoria. He is a famous marathi actor and played the young lover till his death in the mid-80s. Good actor but had a deep love for the bottle and its contents.
His name: Kashinath Ghanekar
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The other one seems to be Dilip Raj!
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Now that you mentioned it Harvey, I looked again, and yes, that is Kashinath Ghanekar. And he did enjoy his drinks. One of his most famous roles (I think) is the Hero in “Pathlaag”, the Marathi movie that “Mera Saaya” was based upon. I remember someone remarking that “Mera Saaya” was a pretty good adaptation, and its hero (Sunil Dutt) was agreat improvement in looks :)))
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Samir, Harvey: Thank you for identifying those two for me. And Samir, thank you for telling me about Pathlaag. I love watching films that are remakes or have inspired remakes, and then trying to compare the two – and this sounds like something I’d like. Though Sunil Dutt always will be, for me, in a class by himself. :-)
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Had daadi maa with me for sometime and saw it over the weekend. An OK movie I thought. There was one ghoda gaadi song in it with Mehmood n Shashikala. It’s a duet with Mehmood mostly running after the ghoda gaadi with Shashikala on it. It was quite humourous. “Jaane na dunga, na jaane dunga”.
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This one!
I hadn’t known about the existence of this song, but have just been watching it on youtube. Loads of fun! Thank you for telling me about it. :-)
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That’s funny and not at all embarassing like some Mehmood’s scenes.
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I’m quite addicted to your blog, DO, so I’m happy to see you back again with the Top Ten list.
If I remember correctly, the song “Bachpan ke din bhula na dena” from Deedar is also a ghoda-gadi song, right? I love that one!
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Thank you, Simplegal. :-)
No, Bachpan ke din bhula na dena isn’t a ghoda-gaadi song, though it sounds like one because of the hoofbeat rhythm in the music. The two children in that song (Tabassum and Parikshit Sahni – I love both of them!) are actually on horseback. Here:
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P.S. My apologies, Simplegal. See Anu’s comment, below… she clarifies that though the Tabassum-Parikshit Sahni song is a horse song, there’s also another version, with Dilip Kumar and Nargis, which is a ghoda-gaadi song. So yes, you’re right. :-)
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OH WOW!!! Thanks so much DO!! :)
I feel like a child let loose in a sweet shop. All the wonderful clip clop rhythmic songs together in one place!!!
That song from choti bahen makes me feel very nostalgic (don’t know why). Though I’ve heard it, I haven’t seen the film. In fact all the songs are so delightful setting an atmosphere of their own.
I loved the funny style of writing. LOL at the athletic extras clinging midway to trunks of trees in the Phir Wohi Dil Laya hoon song.
Here’s a song with a most unlikely hero singing it – with Ameeta (she loved being wooed in a tonga).
Music is by Hansraj Behl for the film Sawan.
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I am so glad you liked this list, pacifist! I’d been feeling bad that I hadn’t written it up for so long. (oh, and I remember your other request too – in a while, in a while! I mentioned it to my sister, and she gave in a request for a list too – related to your requests).
I have heard Bheega-bheega pyaar ka sama before, but this was the first time I saw the picturisation. Thank you! Yes, Bharat Bhushan does make an unlikely hero, doesn’t he? This was the sort of song I’d have imagined someone like Dilip Kumar singing, or maybe Ajit or even Sunil Dutt, Shammi Kapoor… not Bharat Bhushan, at any rate. Somehow I always associate him with Mirza Ghalib and ghazals sung in Talat’s heartrending voice, even though BB did act in some very light-hearted stuff too, like Mud-Mud ke na Dekh.
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How do you do it? Coming up with one imaginative list after another after another….. It’s a pleasure reading your blog.
Tip of the hat! :-)
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Tasleem. Thank you – this blog survives because of the readers who come by and leave comments – or requests! :-)
And yes, I ADORE lists. Making them, and reading them.
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It’s too bad ghoda gaadis have gone the way of pianos – almost complete extinction onscreen! There is nothing like a good horse beat to liven up a song and/or a film. One song I’d like to add to this list is Bheega bheega pyar ka sama by Rafi and Shamshad Begum. Though the lead pair onscreen (Bharat Bhushan and Ameeta) do not exactly light up the screen, the song is lovely.
Much as I love Haule haule sajna dheere dheere balma, I’ve often wondered why Sharmila does not realise that she is better off with a not-in-love-with-her Manoj Kumar! And Ek to surat pyaari was so very misleading – such a lovely song, so beautifully picturised and then set in the middle of a film that is barely watchable!
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Well, bolly there are hardly and ghoda gadis left, thus hardly any in the present films and the music nowadays won’t suit it much. Doesn’t the title song of Hum Tum also have a part which is sung on a ghoda gadi?
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I think the last ghoda-gaadi song I saw onscreen was that one from Andaz Apna Apna. And piano songs, other than the ones in period films like Parineeta or Khoya-Khoya Chaand, are pretty much a thing of the past, too. Sad – I loved both types very much!
I don’t mind Manoj Kumar much in Saawan ki Ghata. Even though he’d already got into patriotic mode with films like Shaheed (and Upkaar too, as far as I remember – or was that still to come? – he still could uncurl that upper lip and be occasionally personable. And there are some good songs in Saawan ki Ghata, where he’s being downright flirtatious with Sharmila Tagore. He’d never be a Shammi Kapoor or even a Joy Mukherji, but still, I do admit I prefer him to Bharat Bhushan!
Hmm. I’d been wondering if it was worth it to order Vallah Kya Baat Hai from induna. I’d seen the film ages back, and all I remember are the songs (such lovely ones, all of them). Now I think, despite Shammi Kapoor and Bina Rai, this is probably a film best left forgotten!
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In the beginning of the 80s Chaaya Geet used to have theme and once it had Tam Tam ke Geet so to say ‘ghoda gadi songs’ and a neighbour said ‘Aaj Chayya Geet me Tun Tun ke gaane aanewale hai” :-)
Two ghos gadi songs which I like are:
Halke halke chalo saanwre from Tangewali with Hemant Kumar lending his voice for Shammi!
Ghir ghir ke aasmaan par chhaane lagi ghataayen from Baawre Nain with one of my fav singer Raj Kumari singing for my fav actress Geeta Bali. And look at the fluffy clouds! Breathtaking!
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The ‘baawre nain’ song is sooo melodious (actually all are :), especially the line ‘keh do koi piya se’. Thanks.
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I love in fact all Baawre Nain songs! Roshan did give some really great music here, didn’t he? And they sound all so simple!
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Ghir-ghirke aasmaan par is lovely too – and a wonderful ‘monsoon songs’ gaana too, no? :-) The picturisation, like the music, has the very feel-good simplicity to it. Mmmm. Thank you for that!
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You always have such delightful anecdotes to recount, harvey! :-D Love that one about “Tuntun ke gaane” (which actually wouldn’t have been a bad idea, anyway – she was a very good singer).
My father, when I told him about my ghoda-gaadi list, came up with Halke-halke chalo saanwre! I couldn’t use it in my list, because I haven’t seen Taangewaali, but Papa and I watched the song on Youtube last Saturday when I was visiting them. Wonderful song, such beautiful music, and I am especially partial to Hemant’s voice. So what if he doesn’t suit Shammi Kapoor at all! (this is only the second song I’ve come across in which Hemant sang for Shammi Kapoor – the other one I’ve heard is Ae dil ab kahin le jaa from Bluffmaster.
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I also love ghir ghir kai aasmaan par… Actually, it is a duet of Rajkumari and very young Asha Bhosle according to some sources but wasn’t credited to the later. I can’t make out Asha’s voice in this one (if the sources are to be trusted), maybe because she doesn’t have any lines to sing separately.
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Ah, I hadn’t known that Asha was credited (or not) with that song. I doubt if I’d have been able to recognise her voice in it, anyway – have just been re-listening to it, and no, I can’t. :-( The second female voice does enter, as a solo, within the first two minutes, singing “Na hosh mein…, but it’s only for a couple of words, and then it goes back to being a duet, or with Rajkumari’s voice in a solo.
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If you have any doubt about any song, visit hindigeetmala.net, there complete details are given about who all sang and actors in that song. Ghir ghir aasman par was sung by Rajkumari and Asha Bhosle.
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I just discovered that the video for the song for ‘halke halke chalo saanware’ is from College Girl!
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Really? I don’t think so. *confused*. My dad was certain it was from Taangewaali (and he knows his Shammi Kapoor films pretty well, mainly because of the music). More credibly, Ameen Sayani also says so at the beginning of that link you inserted…
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The song is from Tangewali but the video which accompanies it is from College Girl. The song to it is ‘Pahle pahle pyar ka ishara’. See this:
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Ah! So which VCD/DVD should I be looking out for? Tangewaali (I love the song)? College Girl? (I love the picturisation). Both, I think!
…all probably just academic, since Induna – my ultimate source for obscure and old Hindi films, doesn’t list either, as far as I remember. Will go have another look.
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Tangewali and Tangewali only? no doubt and Salilda is the composer
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Salilda’s.. “Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha… was it from Mozart – Symphany no 40..and Tangewali was from …
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Oh, yes. Xavier Cugat’s The Wedding Samba does definitely sound like the ‘inspiration’ for ‘Pehla-pehla pyaar ka ishaara‘! Thanks for discovering that, Dee.
Itna na mujhse tu pyaar badhaa is on my list, if you read…
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I *LOVE* maang ke saath tumhara but was very embarrassed to read here that it was Lata singing with Rafi. Like most people who reference this song online (esp at youtube) I thought it was Asha!
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Ouch!! Now how did I do that? *scurrying off to make corrections*. Thank you for pointing that out, Stuart!
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Lovely post, Madhu.
Got to rush now, have only just gone through your list of songs quickly. Will come back and read through your entire post and comments at leisure.
Just want to add one song that comes top-of-mind that’s not on your list – I just love this song. “Chand Ko Kya Maaloom” from Lal Bangla. Composed by Usha Khanna.
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Thank you, Raja – and for that song! This one had occurred to me when I was doing my ‘bird songs’ post, but since I’d never watched Lal Bangla, I didn’t include it in my list.
Oh, and thank you for listing another music director who’d composed a song with ‘tonga beats’. I wonder who else (besides OPN, Naushad, Roshan, Shankar-Jaikishan, and Usha Khanna) did…
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Ok, now I’ve gone through your post and your comments properly. I was in a rush earlier. :-)
I’m going to pose a quiz question to you and your readers, Madhu. I distinctly remember seeing, many years ago, a b/w movie with Raj Kumar in a ghoda-gaadi song scene. Just Raj Kumar, nobody else. I think he makes his entry in the movie with this song. I’m trying hard to remember it but you know how it sometimes is – the harder you try, the more difficult it is for you to remember. :-) So I’m handing this over to you. ;-)
Am sure you (or one of your readers) will get this one. I don’t remember it being a particularly obscure movie either.
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Is it ‘Ghoda pishori mera…’ from Pyaar ka Bandhan?
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Oh thank you once again harvey. Like raja I’ve been restless since yesterday wondering about this particular song.
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Really! Why that?
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LOL! What I meant was, *thinking* about a certain Raj Kumar song that I knew, it was at the tip of my tongue, but wouldn’t materialize. I spent some useless time searching for it as Raj Kumar song. So you see, finally you solved the mystery, much to my relief. :)
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Thanks, harvey, I think this was indeed the song I was having in mind. I am not 100% sure though because it was a very long time ago. But unless somebody can come up with another Raj Kumar ghoda-gaadi song, I’m going to go with this one. Feels SO good to be able to nail down a song. :-)
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I think that’s Ghoda Peshawari mera. ;-)
But, harvey, I am very impressed. That was a superb bit of deduction.
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I understood it meant peshawari but thought maybe the adjective is (esp. for horses or maybe in dialect)) maybe pishori.
I came to the song just by chance! In fact the song came to rather than other way round!
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I go out for the day (to see Thor, incidentally) and come back to find that there’s been a lot of hectic – and interesting – activity on my blog! That was another good song, Raja – despite the fact that it starred Raj Kumar, who is generally not one of my favourites. But the music, the lyrics and Rafi’s rendition are spot on.
Thank goodness for harvey – I would never have been able to identify that song. I can’t think of any other ghoda-gaadi songs featuring Raj Kumar, either.
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No, Bachpan ke din bhula na dena isn’t a ghoda-gaadi song, though it sounds like one because of the hoofbeat rhythm in the music.
dustedoff, no, actually it is *also* a tonga song. There is a later version when the kids grow up to become Nargis and Dileep Kumar.
Here:
Watch Nargis’ expressions – she looks like she could cheerfully take the quirt to Dilip instead of the horse. And he quite deserves it too!
ps: Just saw your copyright – didn’t you write on Sulekha before? I wrote to you a couple of times after your story on Alexander was posted; if you aren’t the same person, my apologies.
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Thank you for that, Anu. I have actually watched Deedar (though I must admit, years ago), but I’d completely forgotten about even the existence of this song, the adult version. Perhaps because the film was just so depressing… I think my mind simply blanked a lot of it out! Thanks for sorting that out.
And yes, I am the same Madhulika Liddle who wrote on Sulekha, and with whom you corresponded (your memory is vastly better than mine, Anu: I recognised your name, but couldn’t for the life of me remember in what context I’d corresponded with you! Good to meet up with you again, even if only in cyberspace. :-))
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Deedar was depressing; it was not only Dilip Kumar sighing madly after a woman who never loved him, but also his total over- reaction at the end. I suppose that was to make him the object of sympathy. All I could think of when I saw it was how stupid he was.
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I remember hating that film. :-(
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Right Dilip Kumari acted in tragic roles and finally depression took over his personality. His doctor advised him to say good by to tragedy, he no more accepted them thereafter. Kohinoor, Leader, Ram aur Shayam etc followed and he was fine since.
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I actually wrote about the song in one of my earlier posts (http://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/2010/12/situational-songs-part-3.html) which is why it was so easy to dig it up again. :)
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Have just been reading your post, Anu – very interesting. Somehow, after one’s listened to (and watched) songs like Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh and Bachpan ke din bhula na dena, Tu pyaar hai kisi aur ka leaves a really bad taste in the mouth!
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Nice article of yours, Anu! Enjoyed reading it!
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Madhu, bad taste is right! :) I had a friend who was a huge Pooja Bhatt fan who wanted me to include that song in the list; she thought the song was ‘so sad’; ‘so sad’ was right, only, I think my inflection would have changed while saying it. Boy, was she mad when she saw what I had written about it!
Harvey, thank you so much.
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Heh! I can imagine what your friend’s reaction must’ve been. ;-) Somehow, call me prejudiced or whatever, but I think most of the time, our classic lyricists, music directors, singers, actors and actresses, managed to convey emotion in a more effective way. Often melodramatic, but not in a way that would induce teeth-grinding irritation in audiences the way so many later compositions do.
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What about this song? This is one of the first songs I remember from my childhood. It was HUGELY popular, especially amongst kids. Sharda’s Titli Udi from Suraj. S-J’s composition.
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Yes, hugely popular when we were kids! I’ve seen Suraj (very good music, overall) but I’d forgotten this song was on a ghoda-gaadi. I like the music and the picturisation, but I wish someone other than Sharda had sung it – I just don’t like her voice.
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Sharda is a bit shrill, isn’t she? But Shankar was so much in love with her. I had read about a nasty comment made once about Shankar and Sharada that ‘if love is blind in shankar’s case it was also deaf’. But I find her voice not that bad, it needs a bit getting used to, that’s all.
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I have tried very hard to like her voice, but there’s just something about it – a combination of shrill and nasal – which I find impossible to like. But yes, she did get to sing some songs that I especially like – for instance, Jaan-e-chaman shola badan from Gumnaam. What a sizzling song! I can just imagine how it would have sounded in Asha’s voice.
LOL for that comment on Shankar’s love for Sharda! ;-)
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exactly my thoughts.. I remember one of the polls on SKS yahoo group long time ago, where Sharda was rated as the worst female singer. I also find it kinda strange that she ended up with Filmfare award for Best female Playback singer..
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I am so glad to have someone echo my sentiments re: Sharda! I know of people who think she’s a good singer, but I can’t bear her. I can stand shrill – there are lots of songs where Lata or even Asha are shrill – but Sharda becomes downright besuri in places. Terrible.
She must have bribed someone in the awards jury! ;-)
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She sure must have, the song was “Baat zara hai aapas ki”, from ? “Jahan pyaar mile”, featured on Helen. The Filmfare awards were always way off the mark, almost all their choices were wrong. Sharda also had a very strong South Indian accent. In the “Around the world” song, “Chale jaana zara thehro”, she says , “Haseen jarnon ke chaaye mein ekela chorh jaate wo”, instead of , “Haseen jhharnon ke chhaye mein akela chhorh jaate ho” ! However 2 songs of hers were very good, both edited out of the final version of the films. They were , “Tumko sanam pukaarein”, from “Deewana” & “Aa ayegaa kaun yahaan” from “Gumnaam”. Both are on You tube.
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Ah. I must listen to them sometime – didn’t know about these.
On the other hand, somehow the thought of spending time listening to Sharda songs doesn’t really appeal to me. ;-)
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Then there is this one, though it is 1972. I remember this very well from my schooldays. :-) Listened to it just now and I cannot help feeling that though the ghoda-gaadi is very much a part of the song sequence, it does not have a classic horsehoofs beat about it. The song could just as well have been picturised with the actors in a car instead of a ghoda-gaadi.
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Love the Nirodh advertisement is the background!
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I was just thinking the other day that Victoria No. 203 must have some good ghoda-gaadi songs, but though I’ve seen the film, I couldn’t really remember the songs that well. And since it was 70s, I didn’t really bother.
Since we’ve introduced the 70s into this discussion, here’s another song from the 70s of which a good deal is picturised in a ghoda-gaadi. Kishore Kumar at his best, and Jeetendra in one of the few roles where I really liked him:
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This one is my favorite as well. Gulzar and Pancham unbeatable combo!
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I love this list!
I am so pleased that you have included Maang ke Saath Thumhara and Dil Mein Chupaake, which are favourite songs of mine.
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Thank you, Mudita! Am glad you love those songs – they’re particular favourites of mine, especially Maang ke saath tumhaara, which never fails to bring a smile of sheer happiness to my face! :-)
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How could one forget “Yaaron ki Tamanna Hai”, a brilliant OP Nayyar composition from Kahin Din Kahin Raat?Considering it was picturized on Johnny Walker! Mahendra Kappor’s voice is so romantic!!
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Yes, that’s another good one. Kahin Din Kahin Raat had a superb score, even though the film itself was very forgettable.
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Thats “Tumhara Chahne waale Khuda ki duniya me”.Asha’s grand entrance in the final antara, the ease with which she carries off on the higher octave is superb.
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“the ease with which she carries off on the higher octave is superb.”
Asha was an expert at that! Look at the consummate ease with which she handles songs like Raat akeli hai or Jaan-e-jaan, both of which require her to go very high, yet she manages without getting shrill.
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Yes, she does!
And giving us a feeling that it was very easy!
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Exactly. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve tried singing those songs. If I start low, it always sounds as if my voice is coming from my boots. And if I start high, I end up so high that my voice cracks and goes through the roof!! :-D
I also think Asha generally had less of a tendency to be shrill than, say, Lata.
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What a wonderful post! You took me back to my days in Nagpur and Lucknow, when we took many rides in tongas and ekkas! It is a pity that those forms of transportation are not around any more – or are they? I am wondering if they still exist in rural parts of India.
Anyway, just seeing the names of the songs was enough to get me humming them – my favorites being Maang ke saath tumhara…, Yoon to humne laakh haseen …, Banda parwar …, and Dil mein chhupake pyar ka … – you made my day!
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I am so glad you enjoyed the post, Lalitha!
Incidentally, I visited Ajmer in March this year, and tongas seem to be going strong there. I saw them in quite a few parts of the city, both the old and the new areas. Good, well-groomed horses in many cases too. I guess tongas are still to be found in some of the smaller towns like that…
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The one ghoda-gadi song, which we all love is:
;-)
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Aaaargggghhhhh!!
Harvey! I have loathed that song since the first day I heard it. I remember when Mard was released (sometime in the 80s, wasn’t it?), we could hear this song being played all over the place. Awful.
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harvey, nooooo! And aaaaaaarrrgggh! (Seconding Madhu!) And this, inspite of being a diehard Amitabh Bachchan fan. By this time, it was only loyalty that kept me watching. I think the only movies that were worth watching during that low period were Hum, Agneepath and Khuda Gawah. And when he took that first sabbatical, I heaved a sigh of relief and went back to Amar Akbar Antony and Chupke Chupke for sustenance. And then he came back with Mrityudaata, the only Amitabh film that has the distinction of making me walk out after the first ten minutes!
His third coming has been much better, though I did get tired of seeing him as patriarch.
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@ dustedoff and anu:
thanks for this overwhelming response!
I know, how you feel. I lived in India in the 80s and this song was everywhere.
AND people lapped it up!!!!!! *argh*
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The 80s and the 90s were really not a great period overall for films, hai na? I’m not saying there weren’t any good films, but the proportion of bad films to good was hideously high! Awful music, terrible costumes and hairstyles (I hated those rats’ tails that all the men seemed to sport, and those huge fluffy hairdos of the women).
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Here is a rather unusual but beautiful ghoda ghadi song,not a romantic one.
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Yes. There’s a longer version of this song too. If you scroll up to the first comment on this post, you’ll see that harvey mentions this song, and I’ve provided a link to the long version in my reply to his comment.
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Aah yes, my bad! :)
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Thanks all the same karthik, I didn’t know this short version!
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Such a beautiful post! I had just gone through the songs yesterday and had been humming them ever since. Yoon toh humne laakh haseena, Ek toh surat pyaari, Maang ke saath tumhara, Dil mein chhupa ke pyaar ka, haule haule chalo more saajna… are among my all-time personal favourites.
I had never heard some of the songs discussed above, like the one with Raj Kumar, and had never seen the picturization of the others like Ghir ghir ke aasman, Chaand ko kya maloom etc. It’s so enlightening reading the post and the comments that follow.
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Yes, that Raj Kumar song was new to me too, and I’d never seen Ghir-ghir ke aasmaan either. That’s one of the reasons I love doing these lists – I get introduced to so much more wonderful stuff by readers! And I am constantly amazed at the sheer volume of very good music Hindi cinema churned out in the good old days!
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Well, just encroaching a couple of years into 70s. It’s a Rajender Kumar song, and he definitely feels 50s and 60s.
Film Tangewala
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Wow, I’d never heard this one before! But an unusual song, since it’s not romantic… a bit like the Raj Kumar song, perhaps? – in that it boasts about the horse and the ghoda-gaadi.
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Finally I remembered a ghoda gaadi song set to music by Salil Chaudhary for ‘ek gaon ki kahani’ (1957). Sung by Talat Mehmood.
There’s another song from the same film ‘raat ne kya kya
khwaab dikhaye’, but it’s a ‘sad’ song and even though the complete song is sung on the ghoda gaadi, one doesn’t get that feeling because of the non emphasis on the ‘clip clop’ sound.
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Thank you for that song, pacifist! I’ve heard (and liked) Jhoome re, but this was the first time I watched it. Somehow, I’d never actually thought this was a ghoda-gaadi song; the hoofbeats are there, but rather subdued. Lovely.
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I am wondering if it is possible to find ten bail-gaadi songs like the ghoda gaadi songs! I can think of the one in Teesri Kasam and I think there is one in Baawre nain; other than those, I wonder? Rail gaadi songs? You are getting me thinking of all the various modes of transportation that used to be around in India. Knowing you, I wouldn’t be surprised if you managed to find ten songs in each of these categories!
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I can actually think of two bail-gaadi songs in Teesri Kasam: Sajan re jhooth mat bolo and Sajanva bairi ho gaye hamaar. Hadn’t remembered about the Baanwre Nain one, though. Here’s another absolutely lovely bail-gaadi song:
And I’ve shot my bolt – can’t think of a single other one!
Pacifist actually requested for another type of ‘mode-of-transport’ songs too at the same time as she requested for this one, so I’m working on that too. And my sister put in a request for yet another. Rail gaadi songs request duly noted. ;-)
By the way, this post might interest you; I’d done it a long time back:
https://dustedoff.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/ten-of-my-favourite-sung-in-transit-songs/
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I just finished going through your “sung-in-transit” songs – hats off to you for patiently going through the songs, verifying that they meet your criteria, and then writing about them! I feel like I am addicted to your site now – I keep going through it every time I come to the computer. Every song gets me humming, and I just love it. Thanks!
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Lalitha, you have just made my day. :-)
Thank you so very, very much. Do please keep visiting!
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Madhu, isn’t Chotisi yeh zindagani re from Aah, sung by Mukesh in real and on-reel, a bail gaadi song? I vaguely remember an ailing Raj Kapoor being jolted along.
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I just checked that out, Anu, and no, it’s not a bail gaadi song. But yes, it is a ghoda-gaadi song, so very relevant to this post! Thank you for that. Aah had such wonderful songs; I just wish it hadn’t turned so frightfully depressing in the second half of the film. :-(
Anyway, here’s the song, for anybody who isn’t familiar with it:
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This is such a gem. I’d heard it long ago but looks like the memory had faded a bit. The tune between the lyrics (what do you call that?) is a replication of the flute-tune from Awara. S-J had a tendency to infuse some of their ealier tunes into new ones and sometimes some tunes were used in later songs. Like in a scene from Dil apna aur preet paraye, the background music was later used in Professor – the song Koi ayega – hamare gaun koi ayega. The scene from DAAPP has Raaj Kumar and Nadira capering about in Kashmir while their parents discuss their marriage.
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The tune between the lyrics is called the interlude, as far as I know. Don’t know what is the Hindi word for it.
That’s an interesting observation about the interlude matching a tune from Awara. It did sound familiar to me, but I hadn’t realised that.
It’s been a long, long time since I watched Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi. Will do that soon – I’m sure to be able to spot that tune from Humre gaon koi aayega (I don’t remember how many times I’ve seen Professor – I could probably narrate it scene-by-scene now)!
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simplegal, Madhu, I know many music directors used snippets of tunes across films (Salilda was famous for playing around with them), but in RK’s case, it was Raj Kapoor who had a firm hand on the music and how it should be used. So if SJ used one bit as an interlude in another film or even a song in the same film, you had RK to thank for it. LP once said that RK had such a bank of music already recorded that the next generation could continue to make films without having to hire a music director.
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I also like the one with Rajesh Khanna and Jaya Bhaduri of Bawarchi – I mean a bail-ghadi song- although we are moving into 70s territory here.
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We are allowed to move into the 70s, or even the 80s and beyond, in the comments. ;-)
Can’t find a Bawarchi bail-gaadi song, though, bawa. Any idea which one it was? I looked for Bawarchi’s songs on youtube, but couldn’t see any on a bail-gaadi. And the last time I saw the film was when I was a kid, so I don’t even remember it from the film.
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I too love that song from Bawarchi and was actually thinking about it. “Tujh bin jeevan kaisa jeevan/Phul khile toh dil murjhaye”. Lovely Manna Dey song!
And if there is liberty to move to 70s, then I have to mention Musafir hoon yaaron! Simply stupendous song and so relevant to life’s journey!
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Thank you for telling me which song that particular bail-gaadi song was. Have just been watching it on youtube – lovely.
Yes, Musaafir hoon yaaron (I’ve mentioned it in one of my comments, above – even provided the link to it) is one of the most fabulous songs of the 70s – such sublime music and lyrics, and so well sung.
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Yes I saw the link and your mention of it after I’d posted my comments earlier. :)
There’s a dialogue before the Bawarchi bail gaga song. Rajesh K. is explaining to Asrani why sad songs are better than happy ones. He says, “Khushi ke geet phuljhadiyo ki tarah hain jo jalti hain aur bujh jati hain. Lekin udasi agarbatti ki tarah derr tak jalti hai aur bujh jane ke baad bhi mehakti rehti hai.” Unforgettable stuff.
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Wow. What a dialogue. I wonder who wrote it.
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Gulzar :-)
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Thank you. That was the first name that came to mind, but I was just too lazy to go check it out.
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Ah. LOVE these listicles – great post :-) Into the 70s, here is a very peppy ‘ghoda-gaadi’ number sung by Kishore from ‘Chhailla Babu’ (1977) with Rajesh, Zeenat and Asrani in snowy Kashmir.
Off topic, it’s so refreshing to see how unselfconscious the old actors were. I don’t know if the new heroes would have the courage to put themselves into the pink and green of Rajesh here with such supreme insouciance!
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I liked this song a lot when I was a kid! :-) My parents tell me I used to sing it with great gusto – my tunefulness (or rather lack of it) would have made Kishore Kumar wince, but there was no faulting my enthusiasm! ;-)
This is the first time I’ve watched it – thank you so much for that, Suhan!
Besides Rajesh Khanna’s pink and green, even Asrani’s bright orange get-up is something no sidekick even would let himself be caught dead in today. :-)
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Nooo! Have you guys forgotten Mithun? Or even Govinda? Especially the latter! I still remember Hero No 1, Coolie No 1 et al with great nostalgia. A fantastic actor who got typecast, I think Govinda paid the price for his ‘low’ roots in an increasingly classist Hindi film industry.
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The very thought of Mithun actually makes me shudder – and this was a man who was capable of a film like Mrigyaa! Govinda I can’t really comment on – I’ve only ever watched one of his films (I’ve forgotten which one, now, though I think it was Aunty-something-or-the-other). But I guess he adapted well to the sort of comic roles he got.
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Great Post !!!!, love most of the songs, and found a couple of new ones too.
I cannot think of any relevant song to add that has not already been suggested earlier, the closest I have is “Koi Haseena Jab Rooth Jaati Hai” from Sholay. Obviously a 70’s song, and fails that 80 % rule as well.
Looking forward to all those other ‘mode-of-transport’ lists (for that matter, any other list)
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Thank you, Samir! I’m glad you liked this post.
Incidentally, here’s one song that had been on my long list but had to make way for other songs. I was wondering if anybody else would mention it, but since no-one has, I’ll do it myself:
Sach kehta hoon bahut haseen ho, from Jaali Note. Classic ‘tonga beats’ song.
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Great list, by the way. And you are inspiring me to make my own lists. It’s like an addiction! :))
And transit songs? Well, what about Banke Panchchi gaaye pyar ka tarana from Anadi? Nutan and friends on a bicycle.
2. Pukarta chala hoon main from Mere Sanam – A prettier-than-the-heroine Biswajeet in a car following Asha Parekh and friends on bicycles.
3. Jiya ho, jiya oh jiya kuch bol do from Jab pyar kisise hota hai – Asha in a train, Dev Anand on top of the train, and later in a car.
4. And Shammi Kapoor must definitely hold the record for serenading the most number of heroines in the most number of vehicles.
Remember Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra from Kashmir ki Kali? He was on a shikhara all the time, until he falls in to Dal Lake in the end, that is.
That movie also had him singing songs in a car (Kisi na kisi se), on a truck (Subhan allah, haseen chehra) apart from his usual calisthenics on the ground.
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Pukarta chala hoon main is one of my favourite songs! Love that one. But Biswajeet’s on a jeep, not strictly a car – and since there are a fair number of jeep songs too, I think they merit a list all their own!
Yes, Kashmir ki Kali had a lot of songs in modes of transport (I also mentioned that in my post on ‘sung in transit’ songs, though I didn’t mention which songs were sung in a car and a truck). Another Shammi Kapoor film which had him singing songs while on the move was An Evening in Paris – car/bateau mouche, scooter, cable car and hanging from a helicopter/in a motorboat!
Bicycle songs, I think, deserve a separate post of their own. Lots of wonderful songs there too.
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Two more ‘transit’ songs –
This crazy one from Halfticket on the train
and
this one on the humble bicycle.
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Cheel-cheel chillaake was in my bird songs list, and I was thinking of Saanvle-salone aaye din bahaar ke for a bicycle songs list! :-)
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Aah, so you do not want to duplicate songs across lists either.
Oh, yes, make a bicycle songs’ list, do. I am literally amazed at the songs I find when I set out to do the lists – simply because I may have heard them or known of them, but they do not usually come to the forefront of my consciousness; and then I am either seeing your lists or making mine and reading the comments and suddenly there are all these wonderful songs to take pleasure in all over again.
Wonderful!
Small pleasures since I am on a long recuperation from a long drawn-out illness. So as they say ” mere paas taime he taime hai.”
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I generally don’t like to duplicate songs across lists, but sometimes it’s impossible not to – for instance, Ae mere pyaare watan is for me a must-feature on my Manna Dey and patriotic songs list! And when I do a train songs list, Cheel-cheel chillake will almost certainly feature in that too.
You know, what with my passion for watching films just for a song, I’m also getting a lot of ideas for films that I need to look out for!
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Madhu,
I looked through your lists and didn’t find a list of favourite piano songs – I am working on one now, and didn’t want to go ahead with it if you had already made yours :) – but I wonder if you will give it a try? I’d love to see the ones you select and hindi movies of the 50s and 60s seemed to have leads who were *very* talented on the piano.
Actually, I think I could do a second list just with Sunil Dutt on the piano – he certainly had plenty of songs on the instrument. Hmm… *goes off to think deeply about axing the Sunil Dutt songs on the main list*
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There are too many fabulous piano songs out there for me to try making a ‘top ten favourites’ list! I’d probably have to qualify that – like you’ve suggested, maybe a Sunil Dutt-at-a-piano list. Or how about a list with ten different types of musical instruments? And I don’t mean with Ted Lyons and His Cubs or the Monkees or another orchestra at the back. Perhaps a hero/heroine with a sitar/guitar/piano/accordion (I can think of songs with all of those, that’s why I’m listing them)… am looking forward to your piano list, Anu!
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Chalo – peish-e-khidmat hai – a very subjective list of piano songs! Tell me what you think.
And gosh, you were right, there were so many. It was so hard to reject most so I could stick to 12. And I didn’t use Sunil Dutt at all!
You know, when you mentioned a list with different musical instruments, my first thought was Shammi Kapoor. Offhand, I can remember SK songs with a guitar, a piano, a saxohone… that will be interesting. You should get cracking on that.
Actually, I should thank Bollyviewer – I wandered here from her website. :)
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“Actually, I should thank Bollyviewer – I wandered here from her website. :)”
You are too kind. Thank you!
Will be going off – eagerly – to have a look at your piano songs list right after I’ve finished going through these comments. can’t wait to see which ones you finally picked. :-)
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Though the list is for ghoda gaadi, I’m so tempted to list out two of my favorite songs from Teesri Kasam that have a cart but it’s not horse-drawn. They’re bullock cart songs.
a) Sajan re jhoot mat bolo
b) Sajanwa bairi ho gaye hamar
I’m sorry that it deters from the goda gadi but I just had to blurt out these favorites. :)
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You needn’t be sorry at all! In one of the comments on this page, a reader (Lalitha) wondered if it would be possible to find ten bail-gaadi songs. I listed the two from Teesri Kasam and the wonderful Oh re taal mile nadi ke jal mein, and some other readers have also suggested other bail-gaadi songs. So you’re not alone! :-)
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Not forgetting this wonderful song from Mother India.
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How had I forgotten this one? Yes, wonderful. :-)
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The Baawarchi bail-gadi song.
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I’m late to the party, but thanks so much for the list. I’m also a fan of the tonga-beat songs and you’ve included a lot of my faves, the ones from Uran Kotola, Sawan Ki Ghata, Naya Daur, and especially Howrah Bridge which is pretty much an excuse to gaze at the beauty that was Madhubala. I thought I was going to be able to point to a good one until I scrolled down and saw you had beaten me to the Jaali Note one. So, I’ll just add in O Matawale Sajna with Mumtaz and Dara Singh from 1963’s Faulad:
And one which doesn’t qualify under your strick rules, I guess, but I like it none-the-less is Aaja Re Aaja Na Sata Re Piya from 1956’s Chhoo Mantar:
Thanks again. I enjoyed reading about and watching your and others’ favorites.
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Being late to the party is very fashionable in India, Tom! ;-)
I love Aaja re aaja na sata re piya, period. So what if it isn’t picturised on a horse-drawn vehicle of any kind. I’m glad you pointed it out – offhand, I can’t think of too many songs that have tonga beats, but aren’t on a ghoda-gaadi of some sort. Oh, and thank you for introducing me to the Faulad song, I loved it!
I’ve been trying to remember if you’ve done a Madhubala songs compilation, but thought not… if you ever do, I’d love to volunteer subtitling services! I’ll even miss publishing deadlines for that.
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There’s a bail gaadi song in Barkha – Woh door jo nadiya behti hai … – but I don’t know how to do this embedding! I also seem to vaguely remember a song being sung in Devdas, while Dilip Kumar is being taken to Paro’s house in a bail gaadi. I have not been able to track down the song, and it has been many decades since I saw that movie, but perhaps you or some other readers out here, who have seen so many more movies, may know the song.
You really have me hooked!
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I managed to find it:
Hadn’t heard it before, but it’s wonderful! I like the way the tabla is used to replicate the sound of the bullocks’ hooves. And Nanda is an old favourite of mine. :-)
By the way, embedding isn’t a big deal; all you need to do is copy the URL that appears in the address bar of the song. Then paste it in your comment – most times, it appears without any problems.
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What a beautiful song!
And what beautiful locale? Is that somewhere in Andhra Pradesh? Would love to visit that palace and the temple ruins!
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So managed to complete my first list.
Inspired by you, it is a sort of ‘means of transport’ list, but nor really! ;-)
Thanks!
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Oh, lovely! Will read it in a little while – am looking forward to it. :-)
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On the ‘bail gaadi’, there is this one where the picturization of the racing gaadis towards the end of the song is pretty stunning I think.
So here is Mahender Kapoor singing ‘Aayo re aayo re aayo re saawan aayo re’ for Rajesh Khanna in ‘Bandhan’ 1969. How absolutely beautiful rural India is, no? Especially when populated with ‘kisaans’ like a young Kaka :-D
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Yes, gorgeous! (And you know what I’m talking about, Suhan!) ;-) Seriously, though – the countryside is beautiful too. And I agree: those racing bail-gaadis were stunning!
The music in this song reminded me a bit of Mere desh ki dharti sona ugle in places. Perhaps Mahendra Kapoor’s voice added to the effect – as did the dhols or whatever was used to create that drumming in both songs.
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What a delicious clippity clop post!! Makes me want to tap my feet !! Thanks a ton for this :)
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Thank you, Sharmi! Glad you liked the post. :-)
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That’s a fine list and there are so many interesting comments here too… I wish I’d been able to “join the party” earlier and had more time to look at these and join the conversation, etc. (And maybe I will be able to look at some of this a little more, later.)
But for now, I wanted to mention another song that people might not know about. Maybe it’s stretching things a bit, because it isn’t from Bollywood. But it is from the same family- literally, because it’s Padmini and Ragini in Uthama Puthiran (1958).
Now, I couldn’t find a separate clip for the song either. But here’s a clip for Part 3 of the film as uploaded to YouTube, and you can find this song starting at 8:50:
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Ghoda-gaadi songs, in whatever language, are always welcome! I loved the music in that one, and the sisters looked lovely. :-) I must find the subtitled version of this film and watch it online! Whatever I’ve seen of it – that brilliant ‘mask’ avatar you use, and now this song – convince me that this is going to be en entertaining film.
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Someone who watches old Tamil movies?? And the Travancore sisters? Wow! :) Padmini and Ragini have acted together in many other movies – Veerapandia Kottabomman is one of them. Have you seen it?
Madhu, that is another raja-rani film, in case you are interested. :) Of course, Sivaji was much older by the time this was made.
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Do you know, I have not seen a single film in any of the four South Indian languages? Not for want of trying though – for instance, I recently rented Uthama Puthiran from my DVD rental company (specifically asking for the DVD, which listed – in the catalogue – English subs), only to have them send me the VCD. No subs. :-(
The same happened with Tenali Ramakrishna, a Telugu film that I really wanted to see because I used to love the Tenali Rama stories. Again, no subs. I will try for Veerapandia Kottabomman, Anu – thanks for the tip! My knowledge of Indian films other than Hindi (and to some extent, Bengali) is woefully inadequate, and I’m looking to amend that.
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Madhu, I can give you a list of movies in both Malayalam and Tamil that I *know* are available on sub-titled DVDs, if you are interested. They won’t all be in the 60s-70s period because, at least in Malayalam, films from that period are scarce in the DVD format; but there are some beautiful newer movies that I would love for you to see.
I can even stretch to a few movies in Telugu – not many, because I do not have anyone who can recommend Telugu movies for me.
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I would like that very much, Anu! Thank you for the offer – even if I don’t review 70s (and post that) films, I’d still like to watch them. At least it’ll give me a starting point! Thank you.
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All right. Remember this is just off the top of my head, and is by no means the pick of the lot – there were some incredible movies being made in Malayalam in the 70s and 80s and the new millenium perked up and showed some revival.
Anyway – this should get you started:
1. Aalkootathil Thaniye (Alone in a crowd) – directed by IV Sasi
2. Arabikkatha (Lal Jose)
3. Theerthadanam (B Kannan)
4. Kaliyattam (Jayaraj)
5. Nandanam (Renjith)
6. Mizhikal Sakshi (Ashok Nath)
7. Aadharam (George Kithu)
8. Keralavarma Pazhassi Raja (Hariharan)
9. Innale (Padmarajan)
10. Thaniyavarthanam (Sibi Malayil)
11. Amaram (Bharatan)
I am sticking to one movie per director here, and I have missed so many good ones. :)
I could go on and on – between Mammootty and Mohanlal, I can give you enough movies that can keep you busy for months. While they are guilty of bringing the ‘superstar’ culture into Malayalam films, both of them have a body of work that would make *any* actor proud!
In Tamil: (the same thing is going to happen! Kamal Hassan has enough great movies to make several lists of his own, so I will try to cut that short.)
1. Muthal Mariyathai (Bharatiraja)
2. Mullum Malarum (J Mahendran)
3. Moondram Pirai (if you have seen Sadma, then avoid – this is the original).
3. Michael Madana Kama Rajan (Singeetham Srinivasa Rao) – watch this just for the sheer lunacy of the script. And the wonderful characterisation of a Palghat Iyer. :)
4. Mozhi (Radha Mohan)
5. Anbe Sivan (Sundar C)
6. Unnal mudiyum thambi (K Balachander)
7. Azhagi (D Udaya Kumar)
8. Vedham Puthithu (Bharatiraja)
9. Parthiban Kanavu (Yoganand) – not the greatest of movies but what’s a list without *one* raja rani movie? :)
10. Raja Parvai (SIngeetham Sreenivasa Rao)
11. Thalapathi (Manirathnam) – this one is based on the story of Karna .
Tell me if you see and / or like any of these. :)
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Anu, you’re a gem! Thank you so much – I’ve already copied both your lists into my ‘Wanted Movies’ Notepad file, and have managed to find a couple, both DVDs, with my rental company too – so hopefully will be able to order one the next time I ask for DVDs! Thank you so much for all that effort. :-)
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I like all the ghoda-ghadi songs in your list. I want to include this song from Pakistani film Jageer from the 70s. This was very popular song of the 70s sung by pop singer Alamgir, one of the few instances when he sang for films.
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Sorry the link didnt work, here it is
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lol here it is
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Thank you for that! Thanks to Richard, I’ve seen some songs from Pakistani films – mainly Noor Jehan’s films (or films where she sang playback), but this was very new for me – liked it a lot, classic ghoda-gaadi song with a lovely beat and well sung.
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I dont know if bail gaadi songs qualify.. but this is one of my most favorite Shamshad-Mukesh duet… just love it! Music is by Naushad, film Mela (1948)
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No, bail-gaadi songs wouldn’t be part of this post, but they’re certainly part of the comments – an alternate post within a post? That’s a lovely song (Mela also happens to be one of my father’s favourite movie scores) – I’ve heard it before, but had never seen it, so didn’t realise it was a bail-gaadi song. Thank you!
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@Anu
Thank you for the list Anu. It’s my chance too, to step into the world of Malayalam cinema :)
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Madhu, pacifist, you’re welcome. :) I like sharing movies l have liked. I hope you like them too.
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I am surprised that I forgot to mention this song in my earlier comment –
It’s one of my all-time-favourites!
I guess I was too carried away by all the other delightful songs here.
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Oh yes! I’d forgotten about it too. It’s from ‘Devar’ I think.
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Yes…it’s from Devar. Both Dharam Paji and Deven look so strikingly handsome *sigh*!!!!
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How could I have forgotten about the existence of that song?! Classic ghoda-gaadi, and oh, Dharmendra looks so wonderful! (Deven Verma too, but he pales in comparison to Dharmendra ;-))
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Lovely post as Usual, you’re now officially the List or should i say top 10 favourites queen, here are some ghoada gaadi favourites and hell yeah I had to represent the 80’s lol
Hoga thanedaar tu from Shahenshah ok its not really a gooda gaadi song as such but there’s a gooda gaadi scene for the first few minutes, I hope it still counts plus I simply love Lata’s voice on this plus I’ma big lover of Meenakshi Sheshadri
And here’s Rekha as the perfect Gooda Gaadi girl in ‘Oh meri ek ada lakh lakh’ from pyar ki Jeet its fabulous isn’t it
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Oh, dear – bollywoodeewana, how did I miss this comment of yours? I like those feminine ghoda-gaadi drivers? Yes, I agree the second one is much better than the first, but Meenakshi Sheshadri certainly has a certain panache – I haven’t seen too many people manage to dance so gracefully while driving a horsecart! :-)
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Have you not forgotten a very joyous “Kunwara baap” song:” main hoon Ghoda, yeh hai gaadi” starring Mehmood, sung by the legendary Kishore kumar set to tune by Rajesh Roshan
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This one?
Yes, good one – and lots of fun. I guess someone should’ve mentioned it in the comments, but it wouldn’t have featured in my post – as I stated at the beginning, I only do pre-70s films.
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Great song from Naya Daur with Dilip Uncle! Look forward to your posts!
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Thank you, Nabil! Yes, Maangke saath tumhaara is a wonderful song – in fact, Naya Daur had a fantastic score overall. Including Main Bambai ka babu!
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Dustedoff ji,
Not many people know that the first GHODA GAADI song that used the WHOOF-BEATS effectively was the following song.
Song-Chale pawan ki chaal
singer-Pankaj Mullick
Music Director-Pankaj Mullick
Film-Doctor (1941)
This is a very melodious and Philosophical song.When one hears it,it grows on him and is difficult to ever forget.
It is available on You tube.
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
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Oh yes, of course. Thanks for reminding.
It’s a nice song. Unfortunately the quality is quite bad on the youtube, but here’s the link.
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PS: The song starts at about .45 It’s a long wait, so just click around then.
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Thank you, Arunkumar (and thank you, pacifist, for providing the link). I remember having heard this song – it’s a lovely one, with such a wonderful rhythm and so well sung – but I’d forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me!
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Just remembered this song while posting at Anu’s, and thought I should link it here for sake of the list.
Multiple ghoda gaadis even :)
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… and not just multiple ghoda-gaadis (that’s there in Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar too, as far as I remember), but the people in the other ghoda-gaadis singing as well!) I’ve heard this one before, but hadn’t watched it till now. Thank you!
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kya ghoda pishori mera tanga lahori mera,bhi ghoda gadi beat wala song hai?
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Yes, it is. Somebody’s mentioned it (and linked to it) in the comments above. :-)
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Didn’t see this song in Akeli mat jaiyo. It wasn’t on my DVD. It’s quite nice.
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I’d forgotten about this song, even though it was on the VCD I’d rented. Meena Kumari is so gorgeous here – and all through the movie. :-)
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You missed a favorite of mine.Dev and Madhubala from Jaali Note, the last hit of Madhubala.
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No, I didn’t ‘miss’ it – I left it out on purpose. ;-) I can think of other songs that I like better.
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Just found this lovely ghoda gaadi song of none other than our dear Shammi Kapoor.
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Oh, lovely! I haven’t heard this one before (even though I’ve got the film, which I haven’t got around to watching yet – this song is incentive, now). :-)
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One ghoda gaadi song missed by everybody is “jab liya haath mein haath nibhana saath” from Vachan 1955, it was Ravi’s first assignment as composer. Ravi named his new home “Vachan”
Another one is “tum se door chale ham majboor chale” Hemant _ Lata ghoda gaadi from Pyar ki rahen 1959 Music Kanu Ghosh. But no video, don’t know there was a ghoda ghadi really or just it’s beat.Great song it is.
Tamil “Devdas” 1955, ghoda gaadi song sung by Ghantasala “Santhosahm tarum sawari” is very good one.
!953 Devdas Had a very good ghoda gaadi song “Palleku podam paruni choodam” sung by Ghatasala
Great discussion, let us have more songs under Bale ghadi or rail ghadi songs. I will give my suggestions later.
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Thanks, those are some really good songs. I haven’t done a bail gaadi post because offhand I can only think of only one (Oh re taal mile nadi ke jal mein) which I really like. But I have done a post on train songs:
https://madhulikaliddle.com/2011/05/27/ten-of-my-favourite-train-songs/
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There is a really beautiful song from Naushad Sahob’s 1966 Saaz aur awaaz, “pyar ki raah bahaar ki manzil” sung by Rafi – Asah team, it deserves a place in your list, what do you think?
From College Girl 1960, Shankar Jaikishan, “Pahela pehla pyar ka ishara” sung by Rafi- Lata team, pretty good one not excellent.
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I had included Pehla-Pehla pyaar ka ishaara on my shortlist, but didn’t like it enough to have it in my final list. I don’t remember ever hearing the song from Saaz aur Aawaaz before, but yes, it is nice. I’m not sure I’d put it on my final list, though – there are others I like more – but it’s a very good song. OP Nayyar?
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Not OP, but the greatest composer of all time ,who else, Naushad Sahib !!
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Ah, okay. Sounded very OPN to me!
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You may listen closely,this one is in the same raaga as “koi pyar ki dekhe jadugari”.
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Great list. A newer song “Elo ji Sanam Hum Aa Gaye” from Andaz Apna Apna is one I like too.
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Yes, that was a nice one. Very obviously a copy of Banda parwar thhaam lo jigar, I thought. Down to the scenario. I don’t recall having seen any other ghoda-gaadi songs after that.
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hi,
so late to send a song on this theme.
but i saw this today itself!
I hope u wont mind and wont get irritated by this!
i want to share one song from miss good night 1960
chalo chale by hansraj behl
i dont know if anyone has shared it already or not!
i am not sure whether it fulfills ur other criteria of inclusion..
no vdo available
and one more song which i shared already in non romantic duets male female
from chacha zindabad.
i have seen its vdo and its not at all in a ghoda gadi.
but i like the song and want to share as its pleasant to hear a song in typical O P style with Lata as lead singer!
but it doesnt fit the criteria
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I hadn’t heard the Miss Goodnight song before (I hadn’t even heard of the film): good song. But the criterion for this list is that the song should be picturised in a horse-drawn vehicle. Since I can’t see the video, I don’t whether that is the case or not.
Bach gaye doesn’t qualify, because it’s not picturised in a ghoda-gaadi.
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good morning!
i knew the chacha zindabad song dosent qualify!
but just to add a song in ghoda gadi list…..
i have one more song from the movie honeymoon 1960
music by salil da
sung by lata and dwijen mukherji
but again no vdo available
but anyways……….
u can hear the song if u dont know it already!
A ghoda gadi song song but still maintaining typical salil da’s tune and interlude music!
not particularly my favorite but not a bad one either!
worth sharing!
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I don’t remember hearing Duniya na dekhe zamaana na jaane. Thanks for that.
P.S. A request. When you post a song, could you please write the name of the song in your comment? Videos have a tendency to disappear very abruptly from Youtube, so if somebody reads your comment a few weeks from now, if the video has gone off Youtube, they won’t know which song you’re referring to.
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ok
i will keep in mind the same madhuji!
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Thanks. :-)
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hello,
one or two more songs in ghoda gadi list………
first is from warrant 1961 by M D roshan
Nainon mein kyon aan base by lata mukesh
no vdo available for the same..
so just enjoy it.
second one from banarasi thug…..
ek baat puchhata hoon
i think u might b aware of the song already!
its not picturised on ghoda gadi
unfortunately
so enjoy this song!
:-)
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Both good songs, but I think you’re missing the theme of this post: it’s not about songs which have the classic tonga beats in the music; it’s about songs which are picturised on ghoda-gaadis.
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i was aware while posting the songs, that these didnt qualify in this series
but just to add to the ghoda gadi list!
i mentioned while posting also the same!
but
hence forth i would b more strict while adding the songs.
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Thanks. :-)
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when would b ur next theme based song post?
i am waiting like anything!
if u allow may i suggest u a theme.
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My next post will be a song list based on a theme.
And yes, please feel free to suggest themes!
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Hi….quite interesting list of beautiful songs. Thanks for making this… I would love to mention a “relatively” new song “illo illo..illo jisanam hum aa gaye” from Andaz Apna Apna…
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Thank you. Yes, that’s a very good song, very reminiscent of Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar.
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