It’s wedding season in Delhi (has been, in fact, for the past couple of months). Almost every night, there’s a large shamiana at our local municipal park. There are traffic jams because of huge baaraats, all the women laden with jewellery and tinsel. We see white mares (or, in some cases, a pair of mares pulling a flower-bedecked ‘chariot’) trotting along on roads. We hear a lot of music—or what passes for music.
In fact, every time I hear the sort of music that’s played at many Delhi weddings, I’m tempted to go up to whoever’s acting the DJ, and ask them to play some good shaadi songs.
Since I can’t actually do that, I decided to create my own list: ten Hindi film songs that are directly related to weddings. (Which is why Ab ke baras bhej bhaiyya ko baabul or Laali-laali doliya mein laali re dulhaniya don’t qualify; the words relate to a wedding, but the context is completely different).
Ten wedding songs, therefore, from pre-70s films that I’ve seen. Enjoy!
1. Meri saheliyaan byaahi gayeen saari (Teesra Kaun, 1965): The ‘sangeet’ (also now known quite commonly as ‘ladies sangeet’) started off, from what I can gather, as a typically North Indian tradition, with the bride being feted by friends and relatives—mostly female—before the wedding. The fact that it is marked by much singing and dancing means that it’s the perfect setting for a song if a Hindi film features a wedding in its story.
In this song, at a sangeet for the heroine’s friend, the heroine takes the opportunity to mourn—jokingly, of course—about her own chances of getting married soon. Each one of her friends is now married, and the girl fears she’s soon going to be left all alone on the shelf. While Kalpana isn’t a huge favourite of mine, she’s pleasant enough here, and the song has a nice tune. Incidentally, the tone and lyrics of this song are very similar to those of a later song, Asha gayi Usha gayi, from Paraya Dhan (1971).
2. Gori sasuraal chali (Shagoon, 1964): While this one isn’t strictly a sangeet song—sangeet parties are typically held a day or so before the wedding, and this one happens just before the wedding—Gori sasuraal chali is a far more traditional sangeet song than Meri saheliyaan byaahi gayeen saari. The dholak (with a spoon or similar metallic everyday thing being rhythmically tapped on it by someone other than the player) is a quintessential sangeet musical instrument, and the folksy beat of this song is very traditional. Plus, the lyrics—affectionately teasing the bride, yet wishing her much happiness in her married life—are true to tradition too.
And Waheeda Rehman makes for an absolutely gorgeous bride. Enough reason by herself for this song to figure on my list.
3. Choori dheere pehna chooriwaali (Dahej, 1950): “Suhaagan ki hain yeh nishaani chooriyaan” (“These bangles are the mark of a married woman”) goes a line in this song, emphasizing the significance of this particular scene—the bride’s arms are bedecked with bangles, while her friends and female relatives rejoice and sing. Unlike in the Shagoon song, however, this particular bride isn’t all coy and demure. She isn’t decked up in her bridal finery as yet, and she laughs merrily along with her buddies, even leading them in an unusually-choreographed dance which uses garlands as props.
4. Sakhi re tori doliya uthaayenge kahaar (Railway Platform, 1955): In a departure from the festive and excited cheeriness of the previous sangeet and dressing-up-the-bride songs, this is a sad one. And with good reason, too; Nalini Jaywant’s character, a poor village girl deeply in love with the young man who rescued her—and who she had been pretty certain loved her in return—has dumped her and is marrying, instead, the rich young woman whom he’s met.
Our heroine is too kind and noble a soul to blame him (or the other woman, who, to her credit, doesn’t realise what she’s done). Instead, the village girl offers to dress the bride—and sings this song, telling her of the bridegroom who is waiting for her, and of the kahaars who will bear her palanquin to her new home… a heart-wrenching but brave song, and one that actually follows the bride out into the mandap.
5. Mera yaar bana hai dulha/Baalam se milan hoga (Chaudhvin ka Chaand, 1961): I’m listing these together, because that’s how they appear in the film—Mera yaar bana hai dulha is sung with much gusto, wit and liveliness by an ever-watchable Johnny Walker as part of the pre-wedding celebrations…
… while Baalam se milan hoga follows right after, sung by the heroine’s friends as the bidaai takes place, with the new bride being placed in her doli and carried to her husband’s home.
An unusual duo of songs in that they cover not just one aspect or period of the wedding (as most of the other songs do), but a sizeable chunk of it, all the way from before the wedding to the suhaag raat. Also worth noticing is the difference in tone—the teasingly joyful one of the groom’s pals, and the rather more subdued, poignant, yet affectionate tone of the bride’s friends and family, whom she’s leaving behind.
(For me, the mere fact that the first song here is one of those rare groom-centric songs makes this even more of a must on this list).
6. Manbhaavan ke ghar jaaye gori (Chori Chori, 1956): The lyrics of this song seem to slot it as a typical sangeet song, with the bride’s friends telling her how much they’ll miss her when she’s married and gone away to her husband’s home. The truth, in this case, is rather more mundane: Sai and Subbu here are professional dancers performing at a wedding.
While the reluctant bride—having got herself into a nasty situation, of having to marry a man she has long fallen out of love with—is being dressed up, the guests form an audience for this performance. An unusual setting, at least for Hindi cinema, since cinematic wedding songs are traditionally participative ones, with friends and family of the happy—or unhappy, as in this case—couple doing the singing and dancing. Is this song perhaps a reflection of the fact that the heroine’s wealthy father can afford performers?
7. Chal ri sajni ab kya soche (Bombai ka Babu, 1960): The wedding over and done with, the happiness and celebration give way to the sorrow of departure: the bidaai. The bride must bid farewell to all that is familiar and much-loved: the father, who wonders why he has given away his jigar ka tukda (a fragment of his heart); the mother; the friends; the house, the courtyard, the very lane in which the bride has grown up… and, in this very touching song, the man whom the world knows as her brother, but whom the bride knows as her brother’s killer, the saviour of her parents, and the man who loves her.
I love the music of this song, and Mukesh’s rendition of it. For me, the fact that it’s a ‘background song’ (nobody onscreen is singing it), makes it even more poignant, because it reduces the melodrama yet enables the viewer to empathise with the bride and those she loves but is being separated from.
8. Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa (Neel Kamal, 1968): I have a confession to make: this is my least favourite of all the songs on this list, mostly because I find it a little too weepy for my taste. Another reason for my relative lack of empathy for Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa is that a long-ago school friend had parodied this as Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa, jaa tujkho pati kangaal mile (Take your father’s prayers with you; may you get a pauper for a husband), which does tend to dilute the emotion of it.
Even then, the lyrics are sweet and full of paternal love for the daughter who’s going away. Interestingly, Mohammad Rafi said he recorded this song the day after his own daughter’s wedding—he literally sang from the heart, because he sang of what he felt when his daughter went away.
9. Gori ghoonghat mein mukhda chhupao na (Ghoonghat, 1960): So what if a bride has been ditched at the mandap by her intended because she didn’t bring a substantial dowry? So what if the man she has ended up marrying is a complete stranger, whose face even she hasn’t seen yet? As long as she’s married, a wife, a happy suhaagan—that’s reason enough to rejoice.
And here, Parvati (Beena Rai), being readied for the wedding night by a friend (Minoo Mumtaz) is teased endlessly for her shyness. This isn’t a night to hide that lovely face in her ghoonghat, she’s told; this is a night to look into her beloved’s face. (Which, as the story plays out, would have been very sound advice indeed, if they’d all had a chance to follow it). A sweet song, mildly naughty, and with much prettiness on the part of both singer and sung-to.
10. Aaj ki raat nahin (Dharmputra, 1961): While sangeet songs seem to be a dime a dozen and there are definitely more than the two bidaai songs I’ve mentioned in this list, actual suhaag raat (wedding night) songs seem to be far fewer in number. (Ahem. Maybe because people have other things to occupy themselves with? Like discovering—à la Manoj Kumar in Woh Kaun Thi?—that the bride is a previously-encountered spectre? Or—like Guru Dutt in Chaudhvin ka Chaand—teasing the bride into thinking he’s butt ugly, so that she’s startled into lifting her ghoonghat to look up at him, thus giving them both a chance to appreciate each other’s looks).
But, I digress. Other than Kabhi-kabhi mere dil mein and the short version of Udhar se tum, there aren’t too many other suhaag raat songs I can think of—with the exception of Aaj ki raat nahin. This is a suhaag raat of a slightly different kind (from the run-of-the-mill Hindi film), because the couple here aren’t merely in love, they’ve been lovers, and have even a child born out of wedlock. What makes Aaj ki raat nahin especially lovely for me is the slow, soothing music (barely even there, thus showcasing Mahendra Kapoor’s voice) and the romantic sensuousness of the scene.
Which are your favourite wedding songs?
Dustedoff 
Easy peasy. Though it would not make it to your list because the bride is dreaming it.
This song is so grand. It’s perfect! What lovely lyrics, singing, gorgeous music by Jaidev, and breathtakingly picturised. It speaks of the dreams a girl has of her wedding day.
Lovely list. A few songs here that I have not heard before. I must get to know them better.
LikeLike
Ooops… forgot the link :)
LikeLike
Okay, I’ll have to admit this song was new to me. I haven’t seen Mujhe Jeene Do, and while I have heard some of its songs, this one isn’t one of them. But yes, I agree – it is wonderful, lyrics, singing, music, even picturisation.
LikeLike
That is quite a comprehensive list. If I have to add to the list I would choose this song from Bimal Roy’s Parineeta,gore gore haathon mein mein mehendi lagake Yes of course, they are celebrating a doll’s marriage, something quite common those days, that was the entertainment young girls had back then. My mum used to often reminiscence about her doll’s marriage, it was quite an elaborate affair my mum used to say. BTW, I think I have mentioned this before, I am told Bimal Roy’s daughters can be seen in this song, as I have seen them much later, I am not able to identify them, they were quite young then
LikeLike
That’s an unusual twist to the wedding songs theme, Shilpi! But, since I didn’t make any stipulations about the weddings being only of people, I shall accept that. :-) (Frankly, too, this song is so cute, I don’t mind at all). Meena Kumari is so pretty, and that bit about the chhota-sa ghoonghat nikaalke is endearing. And the little girls are very cute – I wish we knew who Bimal Roy’s daughters were among them!
Talking about dolls’ weddings, the film Dahej (from which one of the songs in my list is taken) also had one song centred around the wedding of two dolls. This one, Woh toh baans Bareilly se aaya:
LikeLike
I had seen Dahej long. long ago on Doordarshan, so forgot about this song, thanks for sharing. There is something so appealing in these song picturisations of those good old days. The heroines those days looked so sweet and simple.
LikeLike
Yes, the heroines were rather more easy to relate to – especially in Shantaram’s films, I think. Something quite ‘girl next door’ about many of them.
LikeLike
Very comprehensive selection, enjoying it.
Sangeet in Punjab in those days: very very private for ladies only. Dad says he heard all the traditional wedding songs as an adult and once things started being more open. Having said that, the first sangeet I really remember fully (I remember weddings before that but not the songs sung) was my bhuas, to which great colour was added because my Dad unexpectedly joined in for a few sings playing the chamcha: the song he sang was “Nikka Mota Bajra” (different from the versions found on youtube nowadays).
There is another interesting song in Punjabi in a light-hearted mood about Suhag Raat, which would often be the Muklava. People were married young but the marriage was not consummated until the girl was old enough. When it was deemed that she was old enough to go and live as a wife, the husband came to pick her up. This called “Muklava”. Hence the reference in many Punjabi songs to Muklava.
This song actually describes what is happening in the Muklave waali raat. the groom is telling his mates and the bride all her friends.
LikeLike
Wow. Thank you, bawa, for sharing that. It was much fun to read; incidentally, if I remember correctly, the muklava (I hadn’t known that was the Punjabi name for it) is called gauna in Hindi-speaking parts of North India.
Liked the tune of Muklavewaali raat, though I must admit I could understand very little of it! Must get my husband to translate it for me.
LikeLike
Thanks, I WAS hoping you would supply me with the Hindi term for it!
Come my mates, let me tell you openly how the muklava night went
Come my friends, let me tell you openly how the muklava night went
Very ROUGH translation:
Boy:
At night at 9, the fair one went up to the room on the roof to sleep
And me outside, she said she would not open the bolt
She said go away, don’t trouble me so much
I am so sleepy and I am not talking to you either
but I am no weasly jatt, I quickly uprooted the door
And said, beautiful one, just tell me some story
This is how the muklava night went
Girl:
When that big burly jatt, came in breaking down the door
I looked at him and curled away like a mouse
He raised my veil, my heart was thumping
And a trickle of sweat fell from my brow
He said, how beautiful you are, there cam’t be anyone else like you
You even beat the moon
This is how the muklava night went
Boy:
I took hold of her arm filled with chura (red/white bangles)
Raised her chin up, and put a plate of jalebis in front of her
i pleaded and begged, I touched her feet
But she wouldn’t lay her eyes upon them
I said over and over “please eat”, she said, “don’t touch me”
Pick up your offering from here
This is how the muklava night went
Girl:
Sometimes he joined his hands and pleaded
Sometimes on his knees he begged
Sometimes he would pretend bravado curling his moustache
Friends, I too am a jatti, a hearty girl brought up on milk
So what if he was a jatt from Majha
After he got tired, and took hold of my hand
And on top it was late
This is how the muklava night went
Boy:
Seeing it was nearly morning, I ook hold of her arm again.
And one of the bangles on it broke
Girl:
I also made the biggest racket, And woke up my mother-in-law
And his face went pale with fright
Together:
We spent the night awake, didn’t sleep a wink
We shall never forget our first meeting
This is how the muklava night went
LikeLike
Bawa, that’s so kind of you to have translated it! Thanks so much. I read it with great interest, and actually found it rather sweet. That bit about offering her jalebis and she being a Jatti, brought up on milk – sweet, and fun. :-)
LikeLike
Just one more with your permission Madhulika!
The only Hindi song that I ever heard in all the Ladies Sangeets was “Jogi Hum to Lut Gaye Tere Pyaar Mein” from Shaheed. It is a beautiful song. And it is with a dholki and chamcha, but I do not know the context in the film.
LikeLike
This one was on my shortlist, Bawa! I love Jogi hum toh lut gaye – it’s such a lovely song, and so beautifully sung (and picturised). Unfortunately, I’d forgotten the context of it – I couldn’t remember if there actually had been a wedding going on during the scene, or whether it was just a bunch of women keeping themselves entertained.
But, wonderful. I listened to this last night, and am listening all over again. So good. :-)
LikeLike
I have Shaheed on a disk somewhere, must watch it to find out! Lata’s voice is very sweet in this song.
LikeLike
Yes, her voice has a sweetly shy tinge to it, which reflects the girl’s personality very well – in love, but unable to say it…
LikeLike
First of all I wish you a happy and joyful new year!
A lovely list indeed! song #7 is my all time favorite. It is quite poignant as you pointed it out,when watched in context of the storyline.. “Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa’ is also a very touching song but I didn’t like Neelkamal. Rafi sure has poured his heart into the song. Some of my favourite filmi songs are-
“Sajan Le Jayega Tujhko Ghar” from Gaban (1966)
and ‘Koi Sehari Babu” from Loafer (1973)
LikeLike
Thank you, coolone160! And here’s wishing you a very happy and fulfilling 2014 too. :-)
I hadn’t heard Sajan le jaayega ghar before: it’s a nice song, and fits the theme perfectly. It’s been a long time since I watched Koi sehri babu – another good one, even if it’s from well into the 70s. (And, anyway: Mumtaz is a firm favourite of mine, so I’m happy to watch anything with her in it).
LikeLike
:)
LikeLike
Great list…….I like Mehelon Ka Raaja mila, the Lata beauty from Anokhi Raat about bidaai.
LikeLike
Yes, Mahalon ka raja mila is a great song (one of my favourites) but it doesn’t fit this list, because it’s not filmed at a wedding. The context (as I’ve mentioned at the beginning of the post) is what I’m looking for, too, and just the lyrics aren’t enough…
LikeLike
Quite a diverse list, Madhu, and covers most of the wedding rituals. (A very unusual theme, as well.) To add to your list:
Chhodo babul ka ghar from Babul:
A very unusual suhaag raat song from Bahurani
A lovely duet, and one of my favourites from Bhabhi:
And of course, this one: (though it just manages to make the cut-off period of your blog) from Sachcha Jhootha
Two bidaai songs: one from Shama
and the other from College Girl
LikeLike
Arrgh! How did I forget the songs from College Girl and Bahurani – I liked both quite a bit when I watched these films. The Bhabhi song is one I tend to forget – even though it’s a good one (perhaps it’s a result of the overall film? I hated Bhabhi). But Chhupaakar meri aankhon ko is a lovely song.
The Sachcha-Jhootha song was on my long list, but I dropped it because it was, time-wise, a little on the borderline – and I had other songs that I liked more. :-)
I liked the song from Shama – was that a doll’s wedding happening there?
LikeLike
The song from Shama is unusual in that it is a performance during the sangeet – so there is the doll’s wedding in the background, with Rehana singing what the bride has to expect, using the dolls to enact the bidaai… I found it very unusual, especially considering this was the mid-40s.
I hated Bhabhi as well, but the song is beautiful!
LikeLike
That’s an unusual scenario, for the Shama song. I should see the film – or should I?
Bhabhi was a fright, wasn’t it? But it did have lovely songs.
LikeLike
Shama – in my opinion, avoid. :) Bhabhi was a fright, one of those films where you want to ask everyone of the actors involved why they thought it was a good idea to do the film. Ugh!
LikeLike
Hehe. Anu, you have read my review of Bhabhi, haven’t you? :-D
(I can’t resist a plug, so here goes):
https://dustedoff.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/bhabhi-1957/
LikeLike
Madhu, you are simply evil! :) Of course I had to go and read it (and relive that horrible excrescence of a film). But your review was so much fun. Thank you for teaching me how to be a ‘good’ woman. (I have never been so glad I’m ‘bad’!)
LikeLike
Thank you, Anu! :-D
Yes, Bhabhi made me thank goodness that my mum brought her daughters up to be bad girls. (Even if she herself has been, at times, self-sacrificing enough to be a Pandari Bai-in-Bhabhi clone!)
LikeLike
Your plug had me in splits and has cost me a cell phone, but at least now I have learned how to be a good Indian woman!
LikeLike
And I hope you’ve also learnt that a good Indian woman isn’t necessarily a happy Indian woman, Lalitha? ;-) Don’t be good, be happy!
LikeLike
‘Good’ is not is word one would use to describe me!
LikeLike
LOL! Well done.:-)
LikeLike
By the way, seeing the song from Bhabhi reminded me of another suhaag raat song, featuring Shyama. Saiyyaan pyaara hai apna milan is a beautiful song, which appears in two versions in the film – this is the happy one.
LikeLike
Lovely song, Madhu, and new (to me). I haven’t heard of the film either. Thanks for introducing me to it. This was the period when Lata could really do no wrong, na?
LikeLike
I agree – this was a period when Lata was at her best! She really had some fabulous songs during the 50s and 60s.
Do Behnen is actually quite a nice film. Entertaining, and Shyama is gorgeous. Plus, she’s in a double role, so more Shyama to watch! :-) It’s on Youtube, so if you want, and have the time, you can watch it there.
LikeLike
Thanks for this great list. I wonder if this song will qualify – it is not filmed on any actual wedding in the movie – Shiv ji bihane chale from MunimJi:
I agree entirely with you on ‘Babul ki duaayen leti ja’. It tops my hate-list of Rafi songs and one major reason why Rafi is not my top favourite.
This one from Pavitra Papi just about makes your time limit:
Main to bhool chali babul ka desh from Saraswati Chandra:
LikeLike
Thank you for these suggestions, Subodhji! I suppose (as in the case of dolls’ weddings), since I didn’t specifically mention that the wedding in question had to be of people, Shivji bihaane chale should be acceptable. At any rate, since it’s one of my favourite songs from Hemant’s repertoire, I am more than willing to accommodate it!
When I first saw your comment, it was on my iPad, and the links weren’t showing up – so when I read about a song from Pavitra Paapi, I automatically thought of this one, Teri duniya se hoke majboor chala, which is played out against the backdrop of a bidaai, even if Parikshit Sahni’s character isn’t actually singing it at the event.
I think I’ve heard Main toh bhool chali baabul ka des, but I’m not sure. Is Nutan supposed to be the bride here? (If she is, then this is a fairly unusual song, in that it rarely happens that the bride bursts into song at her own wedding).
LikeLike
Yes, Madhu. It is her wedding; something similar that Raj Kapoor used in Prem Rog with Padmini Kolhapure, who is getting married the next day, singing merrily about her own bidaai>..
LikeLike
Ah, okay.
I like Yeh galiyaan yeh chaubaara; had been hoping someone would put it in in the comments. Thanks, Anu. :-)
LikeLike
While we were discussion Wedding Songs here, Anu came up with a post on Dance Numbers featuring mostly new songs. That set me thinking – wedding songs is a genre where post 70 films have not done badly at all. Examples: ‘Mehndi hai rachne wali‘ from Zubeida, ‘Chale aao saiyan‘ and ‘Kahe ko byahi bides’ from Bazaar, ‘Banno teri akhiyan‘ from Dushmani, ‘Mehndi laga ke rakhna‘ from DDLJ. I guess it is the influence of Saas-Bahu serials and of bigger budgets leading to more elaborate sets in films.
LikeLike
Very true. That is one type of songs that hasn’t gone out of fashion in Hindi cinema. The ones you’ve listed reminded me of another song from a sangeet, which I remember Stuart mentioning as one of the few remixes which he actually likes. I agree with him. This is Kajra mohabbatwaala, from Tanu Weds Manu; it fits the sangeet atmosphere pretty well, I think:
From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai there was Saajan ji ghar aaye (which is a pre-wedding song, rather more an engagement song). I don’t like it – too shrill – so instead of embedding it, I’m just putting a link in. ;-)
LikeLike
I edited your comment to link to the songs. But wasn’t Kaahe ko byaahi bides from Umrao Jaan, not Bazaar? Here is the one from Umrao Jaan, at any rate:
LikeLike
You are right. I always confuse the music of these two movies. Bazaar’s other wedding song was ‘Dekh lo aaj hamko jee bhar ke’. I guess the voice of Jagjeet Kaur misled me.
LikeLike
Ah, this one.
I have to admit (very shamefacedly) that I’ve still not seen Bazaar, which is why I didn’t know which one you were talking about. Have heard this one, of course, though I’d forgotten about it.
LikeLike
No, as far as I remember she is long married to Ramesh Deo, when this songs happens in the film.
LikeLike
A good list as always, Madhu. I was especially happy to see that you remembered Dahej. And there are a lot of good ones in the comments, too, especially that whole batch from Anu Warrier. Anu, I love the song from Babul!
Here are a few that came to my mind:
From Zeenat (1945):
Then, a couple of years later, there was the unwanted (almost) wedding scene in Mirza Sahiban (1947), with this great men’s pre-wedding celebration:
I tend to remember the unwanted weddings more – especially if they have a rescue scene. I love this one from Kohinoor. Though it’s kind of different, because it’s really a sort of revolution or coup song disguised as a wedding song:
And now, back to Noor Jehan, crossing into Pakistan, and into Punjabi… The most unhappy, unwanted wedding that I’ve seen in any pre-1970 film, in Nooran:
LikeLike
I love Saamne gali mein mera ghar hai – had forgotten about that one, Richard, so I’m glad you put it in. :-) I also especially liked the songs from Zeenat (that was very typically ‘ladies’ sangeet‘! and the one from Nooran – I’ve heard you mention the film before, but I think this was the first time I ever saw anything from it. That plumbed depths of sadness I’d never seen in unwanted weddings before…
LikeLike
“We hear a lot of music—or what passes for music.”
There is a wedding hall in the vicinity of my parent’s flat and not a day goes by wihtout such music. My mothe rtold me it is because soon the Pus month will commence and nobody wants to get married in that month.
“‘ladies sangeet'”
There is a gentleman’s sangeet as well?
“Incidentally, the tone and lyrics of this song are very similar to those of a later song, Asha gayi Usha gayi, from Paraya Dhan (1971).”
Both the songs share the same MD, R. D. Burman.
“And Waheeda Rehman makes for an absolutely gorgeous bride. Enough reason by herself for this song to figure on my list.”
Hear! Hear!
“even leading them in an unusually-choreographed dance which uses garlands as props.”
Trust Shantaram to do something like that!
“Mera yaar bana hai dulha”
This is one song, which I thought of, when I saw the title of your post.
“Chal ri sajni ab kya soche”
Mukesh for SDB makes him so receptive for my ears! Love this!
“Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa”
I was hoping you won’t include this one. But eh, tastes vary! :)
“As long as she’s married, a wife, a happy suhaagan—that’s reason enough to rejoice.”
:D ROTFL
Somehow without really remembering the songs, I somehow do think there are more suhaag-raat songs. But no songs on my hands at the mom. :(
This is not a wedding song in the film but it is a song about wedding. So this might not qualify, but I love it so. But on the other hand Dada Burman could sing the names from a telephone directory and I would love it.
Lovely post!
LikeLike
“There is a gentleman’s sangeet as well?”
Not as far as I know. But that’s just the name it’s acquired, over time. Probably a way of emphasising that traditionally it was a gathering only of the women – somewhat like a musical hen party.
As far as RD Burman being the music director for both Teesra Kaun and Paraya Dhan is concerned – that wasn’t quite what I meant. It’s not that the tune is similar, the words and the tone of the songs are similar.
I know Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa isn’t good. Frankly, I don’t much care for the tune, or for Rafi’s rendition – it’s too weepy and even somewhat shrill for my liking. In fact, I’d been thinking of shoving it out of my shortlist, but then I watched it, and – oddly enough, even to my surprise – I found tears coming into my eyes in the scene where Balraj Sahni is seeing off Waheeda Rehman in the train. When they wave to each other… so it was included, because it brought forth the sadness inherent in bidaais.
“But on the other hand Dada Burman could sing the names from a telephone directory and I would love it.”
LOL!!
LikeLike
A bit of a coincidence, Harvey: I was watching, today, part of the Vinod Khanna-Neetu Singh starrer Yuvraaj and came across this unusual suhaag raat song in it: Mere yaaron zara moonh udhar pher lo, with various animals trying to get a peek at their Tarzan-and-Jane jodi:
http://www.desivideonetwork.com/view/g2225rpl7/mere-yaaron-zara-vinod-khanna-neetu-singh/
LikeLike
That is a funny one and after I’d written that reply, just before falling asleep, this one came to my mind.
tumhe dekha hai maine from Chandan Ka Palna
LikeLike
Oh, I’d forgotten Tumhe dekha hai maine. Probably because Chandan ka Palna was so awful, I tend to blank it out. :-D But this one is actually a lovely song.
LikeLike
Chandan Ka Palna IS awful!
LikeLike
Just thinking of it makes me shudder.
LikeLike
I remember that song. Very…, let us say interesting.
LikeLike
Madhu,
I was very happy to see songs that are off the beaten track. Gori sasuraal chali, Aaj ki raat nahi, Churi dheere pahna churiwaale made my day. You don’t expect these songs to be included in such a list. Shilpi completed the pleasure by adding my other great favourites Gore gore hathon mein mehdi racha ke and Wo to baans Bareilly se laya. Anu and Richard have also added some of my huge favourites. I have one complaint though – your reluctant inclusion of Babul ki duayen leti ja. I couldn’t agree with Subodh more. You could have given one push to jettison this song out of your great list.
There is a beautiful Hindi phrase which fits our weddings – at least they used to, once upon a time – उत्सव के बाद का अवसाद. Not only the vidaai which can be heart-wrenching, even the suhaagraat, which has been so romanticised and fantasised, could be full of fear, apprehension and pathos for the bride in general in our arranged marriages, who met the stranger for the first time in her life. This Pahadi Sanyal song in the 1938 film Adhikaar beautifully depicts this aspect of suhaagraat.
AK
LikeLike
AK, when I published this post, in the back of my mind, I was thinking that the song from Dahej would appeal to you! Incidentally, someone on Facebook told me, “You have included in your list such old songs that most of today’s generation wouldn’t even have heard of. You should have put in Mere haathon mein nau-nau chooriyaan“. And this is someone who’s supposed to be quite knowledgeable about old Hindi films – and fond of old songs. So disappointing. :-(
I had never heard Pahari Sanyal’s Suhaag ki raat (and I’m afraid I couldn’t catch most of the lyrics) – but it was beautifully sung, and would be, I think, one of the few examples of a song that examines the fears of a bride for her suhaag raat.
I’ve explained, in my reply to Harvey, my reason for including Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa – basically, not for the music or the rendition (both of which, on their own, would certainly have made this song valid for dumping!), but for the effect the acting and the direction had on me.
LikeLike
Lovely list, Madhu, but I am familiar with just four of them – nos. 5,6,7 and 8. I will listen to the rest tonight. In the meantime, here are two more:
Lo aayi milan ki raat … From Aashiq
And Daaman mein daag laga baithe … From Dhool ka Phool
My iPad is being stubborn today, so I am unable to embed the songs here. The first song is a suhag Raat song while the second one is played in the background while Mala Sinha realizes that she has been betrayed by her lover, who is getting married as she looks on. Does this fit the theme?
LikeLike
Thank you, Lalitha! Yes, I agree some of the songs featured in my list aren’t as well-known as others. :-) I hope you like the others too whenever you get around to listening to them.
I’d never heard Lo aayi milan ki raat before. Good song, though it’s tinged with sadness. I’m curious; is this another of those ‘unwanted wedding’ songs Richard mentioned in his comment?
And here’s Daaman mein daag laga baithe:
Which, also, I don’t recall every having heard before. Considering Chal ri sajni is also sung in the background, I think this one also ought to qualify.
LikeLike
Yes, you could call the Aashiq song an ‘unwanted wedding’ sing, but I think Raj Kapoor’ character was engaged to Nanda, and then he meets Padmini, and is unable to back out of his commitment – the ghar ki Izzat and all that! I saw this movie way back in 1962′ so I could be mistaken. The songs were lovely in that movie, but the movie itself was a drag.
LikeLike
Thank you for warning me off it! The song is lovely, but from what you say of it, the film is probably best left unwatched. I shall heed your advice – unless I succumb to the lure of the music, as I frequently do!
LikeLike
You have included in your list such old songs that most of today’s generation wouldn’t even have heard of. You should have put in Mere haathon mein nau-nau chooriyaan“
But that is the whole point, no, of blogs such as yours, and lists such as these? To introduce these films and songs to a generation that has not heard of them? And why should we insult a whole generation by assuming that they wouldn’t be interested? I know so many young people who know and love old songs.
Disappointing is not the word for it. :( You would have thought a person who loves old songs himself/herself would love to share it with others.
LikeLike
“You would have thought a person who loves old songs himself/herself would love to share it with others.”
Exactly! I have to admit that a lot of the songs I post about are songs that I probably wouldn’t have liked or even known about before I started blogging and watching a lot of old cinema, 5 years back. Reading blogs like yours, Richard’s, and AK’s (and reading comments left by readers on blogs) has made me fall in love with a lot of songs that were, till relatively recently, new to me.
It’s not as if music – or cinema, or any other art form – comes with a ‘use by’ date. :-(
LikeLike
Lovely list Madhu. A short comment from .y mobile. The qawwali from gharana is great mere bane ki baat na poochho. Please link it Madhu. I have no idea how to link.
The ghoonghat song i wonder if you are thinking of another story -i dont remember any bride getting ditched at the mandap. The film is a Tagore adaptation naukadoobi in bangla ànd naavdurghatna the hindi translation.
LikeLike
Thanks, pacifist! Glad you liked that. :-)
Here’s Mere banno ki baat na poochho. It’s a really nice one, this was one of the songs in my ‘ten favourite qawwalis post.
I have watched Ghoonghat, and just before I posted this list, I rewatched the scene where Beena Rai’s character gets dumped at the mandap and Bharat Bhushan – who plays her brother’s friend – offers to marry her instead. So yes, I do know what I’m talking about. :-)
LikeLike
oops! I do apologise. I think I’m getting confused between the book and the film. Or I’m just confused :-/
LikeLike
I must read the book and rewatch the film – do a comparison, so to say! Oh, where’s the time, where’s the time?!
LikeLike
Lovely topic, lovely list. This song wouldn’t techniocally qualify, I think, because it seems to be the bride and groom alone after the wedding in their house. I love the song, though, and it seems like a ‘marriage’ song rather than a wedding song. “Ek tera saath mujhko do jahan se pyaara hai”
LikeLike
This one:
Lovely song, though I’ve never see the film. They are wearing what look like wedding garlands etc, so I suppose they’ve just gotten married. If that’s the case, then this song definitely qualifies. :-)
LikeLike
Oops, forgot the link….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpuYgP6Ve64
LikeLike
Ah, sorry. I just saw that you’d posted this here too. :-)
LikeLike
Good list but I really missed ‘Chod Babul ka Ghar’ from Babul, ‘Pee ke Ghar Aaj’ from Mother India and ‘Aaj Mere Yaar ki Shadi Hai’ from Aadmi Sadak Ka.
LikeLike
Yes, well… my favourite songs, you see. :-) The ones you suggest are nice, too, though not among my absolute favourites.
LikeLike
ja na ja lado hamare desh para re , ji ghar ka pyar tu sajan ghar paye re hum toh chale re
babul desh praaye aankhon mein beghe bighe sapne sajaye dheeraj bandao re dheeraj chuta
jaye re find this song challange to all
LikeLike