Of the three Kapoor brothers—Raj, Shammi and Shashi—Shashi Kapoor is the one who falls in the middle when it comes to my personal preferences. Raj Kapoor I tend to not like (except in the occasional film now and then, like Chori-Chori or Teesri Kasam). Shammi Kapoor I am nuts about and will gladly watch in just about any film from his heyday. And Shashi Kapoor—well, he did act in some films I don’t like at all (Bombay Talkie, Benazir, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Raja Sahib…), but he also acted in some of my favourite films. In Prem Patra, for instance. And Waqt. And Pyaar Kiye Jaa. And my guilty pleasure, Sharmeelee.
He was wonderfully handsome in a boyish sort of way, he was a versatile actor (compare, for instance, his hot-headed young Hindu radical of Dharmputra with the madcap of Pyaar Kiye Jaa), he was extremely watchable. (And, to his credit—or his wife, Jennifer Kendall’s?—remained relatively well-preserved until quite late. Of the three brothers, Shashi had the longest innings as a believable leading man, all the way from the start of the 60s to the early 80s).
(Actually, I should perhaps change that opening sentence of mine. Shashi Kapoor doesn’t fall into the middle for me. He is not as much a favourite of mine as Shammi Kapoor was, but he comes close. Very close).
I was, therefore, very happy to hear that the powers that be have woken up to the fact that Mr Kapoor deserved the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Rather late in the day, but anyway. It’s still cause for celebration. And, since Shashi Kapoor was to have been formally given the award this month, why not celebrate, I thought, with a list of ten of my favourite Shashi Kapoor songs? These are all, as always, from pre-70s (with one exception) films that I’ve seen. They’re all Shashi Kapoor solos (though one has a chorus included), and are listed in no particular order.
Here we go, then:
1. Khilte hain gul yahaan (Sharmeelee, 1971): When I mentioned that there was one exception amongst the ‘pre-70s films’, I meant this one. And for a reason: not just because I like this song a lot (though there are Shashi Kapoor songs from much later in the 70s that I also love), but because Sharmeelee always strikes me as more a late 60s film: its tone, its cast, its music, its costumes—are all more reminiscent of late 60s films than those of the 70s.
And this song is timeless. Khilte hain gul yahaan appears in two versions—male and female—in Sharmeelee. This one, the male version (sung by Kishore Kumar) appears pretty much towards the beginning of the film. The lyrics follow an oft-repeated theme: life is ephemeral (“Khilte hain gul yahaan, khilke bikharne ko/Milte hain dil yahaan, milke bichhadne ko”), so grab the moment: fall in love. Despite the patently fake rose, Shashi Kapoor is gorgeous.
2. Tum bin jaaoon kahaan (Pyaar ka Mausam, 1969): Another lady, another serenade, another song which appears in multiple versions within a film (Tum bin jaaoon kahaan is picturised twice on Bharat Bhushan, lip-syncing to the voice of Kishore, and twice on Shashi Kapoor, for whom Mohammad Rafi sings playback). The second, sad version picturised on Shashi Kapoor is the song just before the climax: a piano song. This one, the happy romantic one (with Mr Kapoor strumming a mandolin) is, in my opinion, the better one. It’s quintessential romance: I can’t live without you, you are my life. Nothing terribly memorable about the lyrics, but the music and rendition are lovely, and both Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh are very easy on the eyes.
3. Likhe jo khat tujhe woh teri yaad mein (Kanyadaan, 1968): While we’re on the subject of Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh, here’s a lovely song from another film in which they acted opposite each other. Kanyadaan isn’t a film I like; the heroine is irritatingly, obstinately, illogically old-fashioned about being ‘married’ to the man she had been promised to as a child. In this song, though, she is being serenaded by the man who loves her—and whom she, too, has fallen in love with.
Against a backdrop of snowy mountains, pine woods, and a beautifully green landscape, our hero romances the lady, telling her what her love means to him. I love the different shades of love Shashi Kapoor manages to depict through his expressions here, all the way from playful mischief to seductive naughtiness, to the dreamy-eyed sweetness of the utter romantic.
4. Kehne ki nahin baat magar ab zor se kehna hai (Pyaar Kiye Jaa, 1966): From serenading to lambasting, from the romantic to the ridiculous. In the hilarious Pyaar Kiye Jaa, Shashi Kapoor is the poor young man who gets fired from his job after he annoys his wealthy employer’s daughters. Instead of being the noble hero who slinks off to find another job (invariably in the army), this man grabs the bull by the horns and hurls invective at it. He collects his friends, band and all, and sings a song to his ex-boss, calling him all sorts of names, from a chaar sau bees to an aath sau chaalees—and more.
Someone once told me that Shammi Kapoor was the only romantic hero of the early 60s (not counting comic heroes like Kishore Kumar) who had no inhibitions about dancing. This song was one I pointed out to refute that assertion, because Shashi (who also shows his lack of inhibitions in other songs, such as Suno suno kanyaaon ka varnan from Haseena Maan Jaayegi) is completely crazy here. He leaps about, hops around, lets himself be drenched, and generally ends up not behaving at all like the quintessential Hindi film hero. Totally delightful.
5. Yahaan main ajnabi hoon (Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965): Most people tend to associate Jab Jab Phool Khile with either Pardesiyon se na ankhiyaan milaana or Ek thha gul aur ek thhi bulbul. I freely admit I hate both of those songs: the one Shashi Kapoor solo I do like from Jab Jab Phool Khile is this one, quieter, sadder, more sedate. Uprooted from his home and his life as a houseboat-owner in Kashmir and transplanted in Bombay (where he’s given a makeover)—all for the sake of love—our hero realizes that this high society life is not for him. He is a stranger here, an outcast. They have no use for him, and he has no use for them.
Shashi Kapoor brings out the emotion behind the song very well: he is bitter, but he also realizes that it’s not the fault of the girl he loves; it’s just that he and she belong in two separate worlds. He still loves her—you can see it in his eyes—but her world is not his.
6. Bhool sakta hai bhala kaun yeh pyaari aankhein (Dharmputra, 1961): In his first film as an adult, Shashi Kapoor played a role that wasn’t terribly likeable: his character is a radical Hindu, very bigoted and filled with hatred for all Muslims—little aware that his own biological parents are Muslim. He isn’t, however, evil through and through, and the softer side of the man is revealed in his feelings for the beautiful girl (a very pretty Indrani Mukherjee) whom he falls in love with.
This song, a gentle and soothing love song in praise of the beloved’s eyes, her sweetness, her loveliness—is a particular favourite of mine. Mahendra Kapoor’s voice fits Shashi Kapoor surprisingly well; N Dutta’s music is perfect, and Sahir—well, Sahir is sublime. Plus, Shashi Kapoor and Indrani Mukherjee—shy, hesitating, sweet—are wonderfully convincing as the two young lovers only tentatively stretching out their hands to each other.
7. Chale thhe saath milke chalenge saath milkar (Haseena Maan Jaayegi, 1968): Seven years down the line from Dharmputra, Shashi Kapoor woos onscreen another woman—this time Babita, who plays the role of Shashi Kapoor’s wife (but is this man really her husband? Or an impostor, taking advantage of the fact that he looks exactly like the man she married?) Whatever, this is a sweetly romantic song, which turns definitely seductive as our man turns on the charm and makes it pretty clear that he has more on his mind than mere piano-playing.
8. Woh tere pyaar ka gham ek bahaana thha sanam (My Love, 1970): My Love was a forgettable film with a barely-there plot about love coming up against a wealthy (and overbearing) parent’s ambitions, coupled by the age-old trope of an obedient (and easily bullied) lead who gives in to emotional blackmail and pretends to have never been in love anyway. Just a farce, ha-ha.
What My Love did have was a very unusual setting—Kenya, with its Masai warriors, its wildlife, and haunting African music.
And this song. Mukesh doesn’t usually rank among my favourites, and I don’t usually think of him as Shashi Kapoor’s voice (though Mukesh did sing playback for him in several films) but Woh tere pyaar ka gham is the reason I watched My Love in the first place. The music is beautiful, the words—yes, heartbroken and believing that the lover has been unfaithful, but more than that, cursing one’s own destiny—and Mukesh’s rendition. And, of course, Shashi Kapoor, who manages to look soulful and handsome, stubble and all.
9. Abhi na phero nazar (Biradari, 1966): Like My Love, Biradari is one of Shashi Kapoor’s less known films. Unlike My Love, however, it’s a good film, heartwarming and sweet and well-made: a film about a small community in a chawl, with all its accompanying joys and sorrows, trials and tribulations, triumphs and many relationships.
With a score by the oft-underestimated Chitragupta, Biradari had some fine songs. My favourite of the Shashi Kapoor solos is this sweetly romantic song. Abhi na phero nazar is gentle and very romantic. Faryal isn’t much of a favourite with me, but Shashi Kapoor so completely dominates this song that I don’t really notice her much, anyway.
10. Phir aane lagaa yaad wohi pyaar ka aalam (Yeh Dil Kisko Doon, 1963): And, to end, a song where I’m cheating a wee bit, because technically, Phir aane laga yaad wohi pyaar ka aalam isn’t a solo. While Mohammad Rafi sings all of it, Usha Khanna pitches in once in every stanza with three words: “Pyaar ka aalam”. But, since I love this song so much, I will overlook that and count this as a Shashi solo.
Like Paraayi hoon paraayi (also picturised on Shashi Kapoor, but with Asha Parekh lip-syncing to the song), or the more famous Ek ghar banaaoonga tere ghar ke saamne, Phir aane laga yaad wohi pyaar ka aalam has a man in his cups, beginning to imagine that his beloved has emerged among the bottles, the ashtrays, the glass of daaru. Here, despite the romantic nature of the song, it ends in a rude awakening, because our hero comes to his senses, aware that this is all just a pipe dream.
So those are my favourite Shashi Kapoor solos. Which are yours?
Dustedoff 
Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe is amazing! I also like O Dilbar Janiye from Haseena Maan Jayegi.
I think Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor are the best actors of the Kapoor dynasty.
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Oh, yes. O dilbar jaaniye is a good song too. It was on my shortlist for this post. And I agree about the other bit too – I do think Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor are the best of their clan when it comes to acting. In Rishi’s case, I don’t think there was much competition from within the family – Randhir Kapoor, for me, was never anywhere in the running. When it comes to Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, I think Shashi was perhaps a teeny bit more adventurous when it came to choosing roles, so he ended up being more versatile than Shammi – though the latter, when he could get out of his stereotypical roles, could be pretty good too. RK was far too stereotyped for my liking. That tramp image irritates the hell out of me.
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amen to that with this song :) (which is a nice song and my favourite part is on Shashi Saab only:)
kya mausam hai from doosra aadmi .. Shashi and Rishi had a fleeting physical resemblance too which was well utilized in doosra aadmi and kabhi kabhi
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Thank you for posting Chal kahin door nikal jaayein! I remember, the first time I watched this song, I was quite young. I’d already seen Yeh Vaada Raha, however, and if you’ve seen that, you’d know Raakhee plays Rishi Kapoor’s mother in that. So I did a double take when I saw this song, because even though Rishi Kapoor is obviously playing a younger man, the disparity in their ages isn’t huge. And Raakhee looks lovely here.
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ya ! she does doesn’t she? and yes I know what you mean by the Yeh Wada Raha example. I always find it funny that Rakhi played Amitabh’s love interest in so many films and then ended up as his mother in Shakti !
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Yes, the Raakhee-Amitabh jodi ending up as mother and son in Shakti is also weird. I remember some of us discussing this on a post long ago, about people who’ve played lovers in one (or more) films, and then appearing in a completely different relationship in another film. Like Sanjeev Kumar playing Jaya Bhaduri’s father in Parichay, after having appeared opposite her in films like Anamika.
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yeah one morning a movie was coming of both shashi and rishi in it. and my sister started laughing that heroine is married to shashi and shashi doubts she has affair with rishi.i think rhyming of names made her laugh shashi and rishi with common surname. i love the handsome kapoor. more than handsome the gentleman kapoor. he is forever graceful. what he did for Indian cinemas as producer is incredible. my favourite song is keh du tumhey and mainey tujhey manga. i don’t like him standing outside in aagey bi janey na tu in waqt. i love the scene in khiltey hai gul yhaa when rakhee and he came in the same frame in last stanza of song. it was joke in 70s that he is fav heroine of bachan.
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even i started laughing during telling her movie story due to rhyming names. my favourite scene is when he hugs netu singh very naturally and cutely in mainey tujhey manga hain before singing tujhko jo bura lagey aisa kabhi kiya nahi. he did all kind of movies and was natural in all.
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I’d forgotten that bit about rhyming names. But yes, he did do a lot of films with Amitabh Bachchan, didn’t he? Right from angst-ridden stuff like Deewaar to that laugh riot, Do aur Do Paanch.
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Raj Kapoor’s ‘Tramp image’? Have you seen the cinematic gems of Aag, Barsaat, Awara, Andaz,Sangam?
Raj Kapoor played the ‘tramp’ (some would say downtrodden) in just a couple of movies or scenes & that was largely due to his admiration for Charlie Chaplain. Raj Kapoor was an exceptional talent as an actor,producer & director. His films included some of the most beautiful songs and compositions ever heard. My personal favourite will always be Rajesh Khanna but Raj Kapoor is a cornerstone of Hindi cinema & should be lauded as such.
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Shree 420 also … one of the best Raj Kapoor movies … entertaining but with a strong underlying message, great music ….
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Of course Shree 420 however I was illustrating those films where he was far from a ‘tramp’ as I totally disagree with the author’s comment that RK was stereotyped as a tramp…he totally wasn’t!
Nevertheless, totally agree Shree 420 was magical with stupendous music esp ‘Ramaiya Vastaveya’. My personal fav RK movies are Awara (beautiful songs,fab acting & dynamite chemistry with Nargis) & Sangam.
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Yes, Shree 420 is one of his better films. And the music is brilliant.
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Dislike RK and that tramp image too! Yes, he made some good films (I particularly like Teesri Kasam) but for some reason he really annoys me. Shashi & Shammi I enjpyed more, though I sort of stopped watching most films in the 80s so never got that “Deewar” craze either.
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I know. I enjoy Shammi and Shashi much more. That said, early 70s Shammi – fat and definitely gone to seed, but pretending to be a much younger man – doesn’t appeal to me at all.
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I have seen all of the films you mention, and yes – I suppose there are people who would say they are all great films. Oddly enough, I don’t much care for these ones; they’re all right, but the RK films I prefer are the ones I’ve already listed – and, to some extent, Jaagte Raho. Or, as Vinay Hegde mentions below, Shree 420.
Agreed, RK is widely lauded as a ‘cornerstone of Hindi cinema‘ but why must everybody kowtow to that? Is one not allowed to have individual likes and dislikes?
P.S. The ‘tramp’ I meant was not the downtrodden. I literally meant the ‘lovable tramp’ persona he adopted from Chaplin’s depiction – something which irritates me no end. It irritates me in Chaplin, and RK does it no better.
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It certainly is odd that you ‘don’t care’ for the RK films mentioned (how can anyone not care for Barsaat?). Whatever next…Dilip Kumar is an ok actor perhaps? I also wholeheartedly agree with the comment made on RK’s varied talents as actor, producer, director (not to mention talent spotter…hello Nargis!) that make your emphasis on his ‘tramp image’ seem ludicrous. Further, to say Shashi Kapoor was good looking in a boy next door sort of way is an understatement, he was incredibly handsome in his heyday with a million dollar smile. My favourite song of his is Likhe joh Khat tujhe although didn’t take to his pairing with Asha P.
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Please. Please try to understand that tastes are subjective. You’ve heard of ‘beauty lies in the eye of the beholder‘, right? Not everybody must like Raj Kapoor or Dilip Kumar. (Incidentally, I really like Dilip Kumar in films like Kohinoor, Azaad and Shikast. And I admire his acting – if not the character he portrays – in just about every film of his. (Does that redeem me a little in your eyes?!)
Addressing another peeve: yes, I think Shashi Kapoor was good-looking in a boyish sort of way (which does not, if you stop to think about it, mean that I don’t find him incredibly handsome, since my favourite type of good looks is the boy next door style).
Try to respect other people’s opinions. I’m not trying to convert you to my style of thinking; don’t try to do it to me. Especially not by being snide.
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I agree with dustedoff in a lot of her likes/dislikes and sometimes we are at opposite ends of likes! That’s what makes it wonderful. Boring world if everyone agreed about everything!
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It’s very strange that you post something clearly with the hope that people respond yet clearly responses are only appreciated if they agree with you. In this light you are preaching about ‘respecting other people’s opinions’ etc? I have no problem with anyone’s likes or dislikes, nor do I expect anybody to agree with me. I took issue with your dismissive attitude towards a legend of Hindi cinema & articulate comments that were made about his work. Raj Kapoor is not a favourite of mine (& nor is Dilip Kumar for that matter) however, I have no doubt that Hindi cinema would be far poorer without their substantial contributions & for that alone a little respect for their cinematic gems wouldn’t go amiss. I’ve always loved Dev Anand but I’d be the first to say he couldn’t hold a torch against the colossal talent of Raj Kapoor.
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“clearly responses are only appreciated if they agree with you.”
Not at all. Several of the people who are the most frequent visitors to this blog, and who comment the most, are people who disagree with me. For example, Anu (who blogs at Conversations Over Chai) is a diehard RK fan. She doesn’t think it necessary to try and convert me to RK love at every opportunity, possibly because she realizes that it’s all personal preference. Similarly, I know that Anu can’t bear Mala Sinha, but that doesn’t mean I try to clobber her into loving Mala Sinha.
It doesn’t work that way. One can agree to disagree. You like Raj Kapoor and you think he is the leading light of cinema, well and good. I have no issue with that. What I don’t care for is your attempt to make me acknowledge something I don’t believe in. Would you like me to say that RK is the best, just to please you?
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He might be a legend of Indian cinema, but doesn’t do anything for me 95% of the time. Neither do most of his films. Respect your opinion, but not obliged to share it!
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I wish more people would learn to respect the opinions of others, and how to disagree politely.
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Does Charlie Chaplin’s tramp image irritate you as well?
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Yup. That’s what I’ve written in my comment just above this one, too.
See, I don’t have a problem with Raj Kapoor – usually – when he’s not being that tramp. Far from finding it lovable, I find that set of mannerisms a caricature. I hate it when Chaplin does it, I hate it when RK does it. (Which is why the RK films I really like are the ones where doesn’t don those mannerisms – like Chori-Chori.
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So you like Sangam, I guess?
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No, not really. His mannerisms in much of the film do get my goat. And that total blindness to what is amply clear (that Rajendra Kumar and Vyjyanthimala’s characters are in love, from well before the RK character starts pestering her) really irritates me. Rather than being endearing or ‘simple’ (as some people describe him) I find him stupid. :-(
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This is a great list, though any compilation of Shashi Kapoor’s best songs will always find it hard to match up to that of his elder brother Shammi. One good Shashi Kapoor solo from the black and white era is from an obscure movie called “Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain”:
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Sorry, that’s not actually a solo
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I know. ;-) I’d forgotten it was a duet, too, and had put it down on my long list for the post, certain that it would be in the final list – until I listened to it all over again and realised that it’s not a solo. What a lovely song, though.
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That’s my favorite Shashi Kapur song…. so sad it isn’t a solo.
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Kishore’s Khilte hain gul yahan is so romantic. I also like O meri O meri from the same film.
Nain mila kar chain churana is a rollicking song.
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Love Kabhi Raat Hum Door The & Nain Milakar Chain Churana.
“Hamare Khayalat Kitne Milte Julte Hain” :)
Shashi from Trishul :))))
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Forgot to mention, also love both the Sharmelee songs.
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Sharmeelee did have some really good songs. SD Burman, after all.
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I love the ‘khilte hain gul yahan’ song, though I must admit the song sounds a touch misleading to the uninitiated. I imagined that it was a sad song when I first heard it as a school kid. You can imagine my astonishment when I realised that in the context of the movie, it was actually a romantic song!
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Yes! :-)
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Indeed, I love kabhi raat din ham door the a lot. When I get into the mood, I listen to it on a loop. Trishul back at you, Samir ;)
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Yes! I like Nain milaakar chain churaana too. Fun song. :-)
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Sharmila looks haughty and poor Shashi dances like a monkey.
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Talking about Shashi Kapoor monkeying around, this is one song that came to my mind: London se aaya re bhai chhaila, jiska dil andar se maila-maila (even the lyrics are hilarious!)
I couldn’t add it in my post because it’s from 1974, but still. :-)
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Oh yes, he tries to dance around Vimi in this one, who looks like her feet have grown roots. I must watch this in the evening.
Prem Chopra is good though.
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“who looks like her feet have grown roots. ”
Hehe. Love that one!
Yes, Prem Chopra is good. He and Shashi Kapoor make for a good jodi here. ;-)
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Hi Madhulika, thanks for putting up the link to this song. I saw this song on Doordarshan in the 90s, but couldn’t remember the movie.
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You’re welcome, Ashok! I remember seeing this song on Doordarshan years ago, but that must have been on Chitrahaar or something, because I didn’t watch the film.
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A Nostalgic post Madhulika… Apt choices :) I’ll add ‘ keh doon tumhe ya chup rahun …’
And ‘vada Karo nahi chorogi tum mera saath…’
Of course sharmilee one tops the list :)
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Thank you, Kokila! I’m glad you liked this post. I also love Vaada karo nahin chhodogi tum mera saath – either that, or Tera mujhse hai pehla ka naata koi:
… would have figured on this post if I’d extended my timeline into the 70s. Both are fabulous songs.
And so is Keh doon tumhe ya chup rahoon! My most memorable song from Deewaar, however, is a duet: Maine tujhe maanga tujhe paaya hai.
For a somewhat odd reason, because the first time I watched this song on TV, it was 1983. We lived in Srinagar, and Chitrahaar – then aired at 10 at night or so – was showing. My sister and I (I was then 10, my sister 15) were sitting and watching it alone. Just after Maine tujhe maanga began, the whole room started shaking. It was an earthquake – the first either of us had experienced. Not a bad quake, but scary enough. This song’s been imprinted in my memory ever since.
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i love mainey tujhey manga tujhey paya hai. the way he hug neetu is just out of the world. my favourites are likhey jo khat tujhey, khiltey hai gul yhaa, tum bin jaau khaa, pardesiyo sey nahi akhiya milana, ghunghroo ki trah bajta hi raha hu main and suno suno kanyaao ka varnan . i find him pretty in woman avtaar. i find him extremely handsome in sharmilee. i was watching silsila one day. i think the movie was not that good. we all have highest respect for him for what he did for Indian cinema in capacity of producer. my favourite film of him in english is The householder, Merchant Ivory productions. all call him the handsome kapoor. on his birthday ek daal par tota boley was coming all the day my sister got amused. plzz play good songs . he is my favourite actor.
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This misses by a whisker (ok a thick whisker) the 1970 bar. But I find it too good to pass up. Mostly because of Kishore’s magnificent singing, though. Unbelievable how a formally untrained singer could infuse such life into a composition whose melodic basis lies firmly in classical music (Raga Jhinjhoti to be precise). Saigal’s influence influence is palpable here, brings to mind Saigal’s own tour de force in Jhinjhoti, Piya bin nahin aavat chain from Devdas.
Ghungroo Ki Tarah – Chor Machaye Shor (1974)
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Ah, yes. Ghungroo ki tarah bajta hi raha hoon is a good song, though it was spoilt for me by some crazy parody suggested by my father (I think), who has a knack for turning the nicest songs on their heads. I don’t recall now what the parody was, but it basically ruined the poignancy of the lyrics – and with that, everything else connected to the song too.
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on 18th march shashi ji birthday. i was firm that radio stations will not play ek daal par tota boley. but no they played. yeh gana shahsi ji ka picha nahi chodega. on his another birthday this song came so frequent that my sister was amused. i was very angry. i can’t take anybody giving any look any word against my shashi ji. as shashi ji has done all kind of movies, parallel, masala and theater. i want to post my thoughts on cinema. the thing which ignited my thoughts was. ek ladka ek ladki was coming which consists of salman and neelum . it really comes on tv after long long gaps. we all watch the scenes in which neelum cleans home. does household chores. my mother was praising the movie. that it is funny. i have realized, people we watch movie for entertainment. when a film is released it has great value. it reflects the taste of that time and audience. but after years it may loose its significance. after watching a movie again and again we can judge that this movie is great, normal or below average. i can give examples. i watched kuch kuch hota hai in hall. i cannot watch it anymore. i find it bore now. i cannot watch kabhi khusi kabhi gum. after subsequent viewing and passage of time. changing of times. a movie real quality can be judged more aptly. mahabharat is critically acclaimed but the fact is our real joy is when me and my friends say this dialogue in high tone. yeh meri akhand pratigya hai. we can watch this scene again and again. even when waqt comes my concern is to watch aagey bhi janey na tu. i say yeh nahi dekha toh kya dekhi waqt. my concern is to watch this song only. i cannot watch PAP fully. but i can watch songs shot in england and effiel tower scene any day. rest i cannot watch. i think sometimes we watch movie forcefully. just to know what will happen next ?? only sometimes we want to watch it for entertainment. nadiya k paar first half hour is fun. one can watch but after interval i loose interest. an example is also karz . the movie is good but when i see i don’t like crazy things done like wearing black dress with bones made on it. i say what is it ?? junglee was coming yesterday. i find it ajibo that a girl doesn’t know she is expecting. i have watched suraj ka saatwa ghoda again and again to understand it . i like rajit kapoor narration of stories. i can watch it any day. in rest movie when stories actually happen can’t watch . i have watched byomkesh bakshi so many times and again see it. the point is we like some scenes only. which we can watch again and again. no movie is fully bad or good. like you always write. what i like. what you don’t. sometimes first half is strong. sometimes second half. no movie is perfect. i cannot think of any scene of now which i can watch again and again in shree 420 or sangam. even if they are made by legendary film maker.
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Love the list ! Woh tere pyaar ka gham is my favourite Mukesh sad song too ! And of course the irresistible visuals of Shashi looking soulfully sad and resigned. I guess “My Love” is probably mostly remembered for the “SORRY MY LOVE, KISSING NOT ALLOWED” end credits :P
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Hehe! :-D Yes, those end credits. I ended up watching all of My Love only last week (my earlier attempt, years ago, had been aborted because of a damaged VCD), and was very amused to see that last line.
Glad you liked the list. :-)
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i like his film-valas films a lot,,,(outside of the parameters of this post nut nonetheless…as we celebrate his Phalke)
starting with junoon …Ishq ne todi sar pe qyamat ,,,vanraj bhatia haunts
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Oh, yes. I’m all for people going outside of the parameters of the post, especially when it comes to celebrating the career of a film personality. And this song is good, though I must admit I prefer the lyrics to the music.
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i like both..perhaps because i saw junoon as a very young child first time and the strain was haunting !
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You know, it’s odd, but the only time I ever saw Junoon was as a young child (in fact, very young – probably not even 9), and my only memory of it was of that scene towards the beginning, when the church is attacked. That really scared me back then, and it was the only thing that remained in my mind. And the memory of Jenifer Kendall and Nafisa Ali, looking so very English in their gowns.
I should watch this again.
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yes !
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and this one ..mann anand anand chayo from vijeta..very little xcreen time for shashi kapoor..but still to his credit ,,
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This one was new to me. Lovely song, though where does Shashi Kapoor appear?
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he does…on and off , if you watch the whole song, especially towards the beginning as he is woken up by the strains of this song that his wife (rekha) is singing..and then going about his chores.
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Ah, okay. I had hoped he would at least lip-sync, so watched only that part where the man’s voice comes on… and realised it wasn’t Shashi Kapoor.
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and this is another shashi kapoor song ( again poetic licence) o nodi re from Siddhartha
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a long clip this is..the song in the beginning only
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O nodi re is a gorgeous song. I’ve heard it plenty of times before, but hadn’t known it was from a Shashi Kapoor film. I wouldn’t call it a Shashi Kapoor song, though, since he doesn’t lip-sync to it. :-)
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true that.. :) like i said, poetic licence
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i also wanted to post from Kalyug, interesting song, but since it is used as a refrain in the movie , it is strictly not picturised on shashi kapoor though the movie is his home production, so it IS a shashi kapoor song:)
similarly from utsav.,,
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I was thinking, ‘It’s about time’ when I heard about the Dadasaheb award. :) It’s funny, though, that I can’t think of many Shashi solos that rank among my favourites. You have listed some of them – the ones from Dharmputra, Kanyadaan, Sharmilee, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Pyaar ka Mausam…and Vinay listed the Thehriye hosh mein aa loon from Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain.
Other than that, it seems to me that the Shashi songs I like are all duets. :) But these two are also pleasant songs:
Suhani chaandni raatein from Mukti, also rendered by Mukesh
and
Thoda ruk jaayegi toh tera kya ho jaayega from Patanga
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“and Vinay listed the Thehriye hosh mein aa loon from Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain.”
…though Thehariye hosh mein aa loon is a duet, not a solo.
I am not too fond of Suhaani chaandni raatein. The music is nice, but I don’t much care for Mukesh’s rendition of it – I think his voice edges on the shrill on the higher notes.
Thoda ruk jaayegi is loads of fun. I’d got it on my long list, but since I haven’t watched Patanga, I had to drop that. :-)
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I didn’t get past ‘Raj Kapoor, I tend to not like’…..you got to be kidding me?! Sacrilegious for any Hindi movie lover surely!
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I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to say what any Hindi movie lover should like or not, but I’d say a mature movie lover would respect the rights of others to hold views divergent from their own.
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Couldn’t resist commenting on the whole “RK, SK and SK” brothers thing. My favorite is Shammi. Next comes Shashi (esp 60s Shashi) Actually I love them in black and white.
RK – I put off watching until I’d exhausted pretty much the other two’s filmographies. After some rave reviews of Shree 420, started watching it but … really, didn’t feel the magic. But then Chori Chori happened and I loved him and Nargis in that. Then Andaz and it was great too ! (Until everyone goes mad at the end) I even liked the weepy Barsaat. There are some great snaps of RK in it. Looks like I share similar views about Raj playing the Charlie Chapline type tramp :)
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“Actually I love them in black and white.” Same here! :-)
And, thank you for that rational approach to the debate. I cannot fathom why people get so accusatory if someone else doesn’t share their opinions.
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I must confess I wholeheartedly agree with you. I always found RK’s on screen persona pretty annoying (and that’s being polite). Having said that, I must admit he was (at least in his early days) a genius as a director.
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Yes, that onscreen persona is very annoying. That is what really puts me off. I’m not as excited about his direction, either, which I find a little erratic – I liked his work in films like Bootpolish, Shree 420 or Jaagte Raho, but was utterly disappointed in stuff like Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai or Aah. To be honest, it’s been so long since I watched films like Barsaat, Aag and even Awara that I cannot comment on those – I didn’t like them when I saw them years ago, but it just might be possible I’ll like them now. Can’t say.
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Love this post, and most songs from your list. While your songs are better, I would not forget these (my 70’s as usual) :)))
1) Shashi & 60’s start Rajashri. At least this should be allowed for linkage to 60’s and home overlap in my case :)))
2) Shashi plays an engineer, my profession, so this has to be there to teach people how not to be engineers (or pehaps how to be) :). I too wish I could get a job where I could ride a motorcycle to work, while impressing a whole lot of :))))
3) The best way to learn music :)))
4) A lot of film critics thought this was Manmohan Desai’s best 70’s film, hopefully we all can gree this is a good song :))
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Thank you, Samir! Good to see you back here. :-)
Hum toh jaan se pyaari hain tumhaari aankhein is a good song, and I’d been toying with including it. But (besides the fact that Naina was completed so long after), there were other songs I liked more. If duets were part of the post, Gaa re mere sang mere saajna would’ve been here; it’s such a cute song. Oh, and if I’d included 70s songs. Ek raasta hai zindagi would’ve been right up there. I am inordinately fond of that song. :-)
I’d forgotten about Na koi dil mein samaaya. Yes, good one, too.
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Interesting, just a couple of days back, I was thinking of making a post of my favourite songs (both solos and duets) and had listed them down! And 5 of them are here in your post :-)
Ooh, you hate Pardesiyon se na akhiyan milaana and Ek thha gul too! Ditto :-)
I love Kaise Kahen hum pyar mein humko from Sharmilee – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci2AIS-79Vk
And then there is Thoda ruk jayegi toh tera kya jayega from Patanga – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHEN0OS2TQ
I also like a duet from Juari that I also happen to like (maybe because it has Tanuja) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i7jMJlqPIc
And of course there is Din hai bahaar ke from Waqt! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWZ-5spm_OY
Shashi Kapoor was not my favourite, but I did like him very much in some of his earlier movies! (You know who my favourite is!). He was so charming, boyish and utterly adorable. Good that he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke finally. :-)
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Harini, I am not surprised! :-) I love the songs you’ve suggested, too. Kaise kahein hum pyaar ne humko was on my shortlist too: I kept dithering between it and Khilte hain gul yahaan, then chose the latter.
I didn’t recognise Jaan-e-mann Allah khabar until I listened to the song. Yes, sweet song (and Tanuja pairs beautifully with Shashi Kapoor – they’re there together in another lovely little song from Benazir, Dil mein ek jaan-e-tamanna ne jagah paayi hai:
And I love Din hain bahaar ke too. Actually, every song from Waqt is worthy of inclusion in lists. Such a brilliant set of songs.
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taking the liberty of posting this too
ai jazba e dil from muhafiz..because this too is a Shashi Kapoor in a way :)
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What a gorgeous song this is. A bit of a stretch, though.
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:) agreed… just celebrating him i suppose
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:-)
In that case, here’s another. I am a little surprised that, despite all the Shashi duets and the Shashi-in-the-70s songs that have appeared in the comments, nobody’s yet posted this song, which even gave the name to one of the 90s’ biggest hits. Le jaayenge le jaayenge dilwaale dulhaniya le jaayenge:
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i personally could never stand this song though it was(and i suppose continues to be ) very popular !
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Yes, I don’t much care for it, either. But it was hugely popular (I think my not liking it has something to do with its popularity – it was so ubiquitous, one heard it all the time).
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i would actually prefer this over that ! :) Kunjam Kunjam from Iman Dharam
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Hmm. Ages since I heard this song. Not bad, though I don’t particularly care for it. :-)
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or these two from namak halal… jawan jaaneman haseen dilruba or raat baki t. Although no lip syncing here but he does look dapper :)
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I love both these songs. Even if Shashi doesn’t lip-sync to a single note. But at least the songs are addressed to him. and he does look great. :-)
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he does , doesn’t he? :) I loved him in Householder too…with the beautiful Leela Naidu. I dont know if that movie has any songs?
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None, as far as I remember. Though there’s music from other films – including Junglee – playing in the background in various scenes, like when they’re going in a bus through Mehrauli. Or at a wedding. I liked The Householder too. More, I liked Shashi Kapoor’s pairing with Leela Naidu – they were very sweet together.
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A nice blog.The font could be bigger so as to be more reader friendly!
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Thank you. The font size is, unfortunately, part of WordPress’s theme, and cannot be customized. But you can change your browser settings to view it as a larger font. For instance, if you’re using Google Chrome, clicking on the ‘Customization and Controls’ button on the extreme right upper corner allows you to zoom in as much as you like.
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Dear Madhulika, in the film” Do aur Do Panch” there is a lovely song in the lips of Shashi Kapoor sang by Kishore Kumar ” mere zindegi ne mujhse….” composed by Rajesh Roshan. In that same film, there is a hilarious song where Kishore Kumar disguises his voice in order to match the sore throat of Shashi Kapoor,”tune abhi jaana nahin.” although Kishore Kumar had sung the same song properly for Amitabha Bachchan, I love to listen to the sore throated one. Please check these, would you?
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The sore throated song you are referring to is this one:
the Singer is NOT Kishore but Rajesh Roshan himself!
and the other one:
I think ‘do aur do paanch’ is one of the most underrated comedies in India.
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Thanks, Chris. I had no idea that Rajesh Roshan sang the song. It is an eye opener. I agree that Do Aur Do Panch is underrated as a comedy. The chemistry and comic sense od Shashi Kapoor and Amitabha Bachchan are beautifully presented in this film.
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Thank you for that clarification, Chris!
Agree, Do Aur Do Paanch is seriously underrated as a comedy. I guess there were so many Amitabh Bachchan-Shashi Kapoor films being churned out those days, and all of them big masala hits, that this one sort of sank. A pity, given it’s so much fun.
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Here’s Meri zindagi ne mujhko:
…and Tune abhi jaana nahin:
Both such fun songs. Thank you for reminding me of this film! It’s been ages since I saw it, and do want to watch it again. It was so light-hearted and peppy and funny.
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Hi Madhu,
Happy to see a post on Shashi Kapoor. Your description of him matches how I see him as well. A bit underrated, yet he explored many roles as opposed to his more famous brothers. I liked his role in Kabhi-Kabhi a lot actually. At one time he was labeled as Amitabh Bachhan’s best heroine. :) I think he did fabulous work in Kabhi-Kabhi, Trishul and Deewar and was on par with Amitabh from my perspective.
I love the songs you have listed and many were added. Not a major Mukesh fan, but the song you listed “Woh Tere Pyar Ka Ghum” is among my favorite of his songs. Super lyrics and expressions. Never thought Anand Bakshi could write lyrics that would match Sahir’s caliber.
Also liked solo songs “Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka”, “Maine Tujhe Manga Tujhe paya”, “Khilte Hain Gul Yahan”, “Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan”. His many good songs that I like are duets though including “Thehariye Hosh Main”, “Aaj Madhosh Huwa Jaye Re”, “Mohabbat Bade Kaam ki Cheez hai”
One Rafi solo song I like is “Sari Khushiyan Hain” from 1970 movie Suhana Safar. Music Laxmi-Pyare.
Another solo song that I like, is actually a comic song (you will never know by lyrics but the tune might give it away) is from Do aur Do Panch (way past your cut-off 1970) by Kishore. Music by Rajesh Roshan. Shashi does a great job!
Couldn’t resist from listing a melodious duet composed by Rajesh Roshan from 1980 movie Swayanvar is “Mujhe Choo Rahi Hain” by Rafi and Lata. Perhaps one of the last few songs sung by Rafi. On Shashi and Mousmi.
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“At one time he was labeled as Amitabh Bachhan’s best heroine. :) ”
LOL! Very apt. And I would have thought Vinod Khanna would have been the ‘other woman’! These three acted – sometimes Shashi Kapoor, sometimes Vinod Khanna – with Amitabh Bachchan in some of his best films from the 70s and 80s.
I love all three songs you’ve posted. I’d completely forgotten about Mujhe chhoo rahi hain… he teamed up well with Moushumi Chatterjee (though, to be fair, I think Shashi teamed up well with just about any actress!)
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Glad you liked those. Here are a few others:
Solo – Rafi – Aey Jaane Bahara Jaane-Karam (1969 – Jahan Pyare Mile, Music by SJ). I prefer this over the overplayed Chale Ja Chale Ja from the same movie.
Solo – Rafi – Aajkal Hamse Ruthe Huwe hain (1967 – Aamne Saamne – Music Kalyanji Anandji) – A fun, mischievous, adorable Shashi!
Duet – Rafi/Lata – Ni Sultana Re from Pyar Ka Mousam (If you can ignore Shashi’s funny dancing skills :) )
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Lovely! Three really nice songs, Especially Ni sultana re, for which I have an especially soft spot. I love that song.
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Of the Kapoor brothers I agree Raj looks too old to be a lover in Sangam and similar films. well Shammi was no actor too boisterous for comfort.
Shashi is the likeable young Man in Junoon and Chor Macheye Shor intense but all too human
Most of his songs were hits except in a few forgettable films
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“Most of his songs were hits except in a few forgettable films”
True, And there are a number of songs – from his early films – which were hits, even if the film itself has largely been forgotten by now.
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Let me present A Mohammad Rafi solo from Neen Hamari Khwab Tumhare
Yoon Roottho Na Haseena Meri jaan pe Ban Jaayegi
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Ah, yes. Yoon rootho na haseena was on my shortlist too, but I eventually omitted it. This was an interesting film, quite a different sort of Muslim social,
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Your list is complete and as usual your readers have further added to it. As for me I like all the songs from Hasina Maan Jayegi and Pyaar Kiye Jaa., so here is one from Haseena Maan Jayegi
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Shilpi, O dilbar jaaniye is quintessential Shashi Kapoor-in-the-late-60s, isn’t it? So handsome, seductive, the practised wooer. :-) I like this song.
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We are in perfect alignment on the Kapoor brothers, Madhu. I like Shashi a lot but not to Shammi levels and mostly can’t bear Raj. You (and the commenters) have also already mentioned most of my Shashi favorites (was delighted to see the Dharmputra song included in your list), but here are two more that I love:
Zikr hota hai jab qayamat ka (Mukesh/My Love)
And I’m totally cheating with this one since Shashi doesn’t sing the song, but he is in scene :-)
Kaise manau piyawa (Mukesh/Char Diwari)
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“We are in perfect alignment on the Kapoor brothers, Madhu. I like Shashi a lot but not to Shammi levels and mostly can’t bear Raj.”
Whew! Shalini, thank you for the support. I was beginning to feel woefully outnumbered (why, oh why, do these people get so agitated about other people’s preferences? Why not live with it? I mean, I know you can’t bear Mala Sinha, though I do like her in some roles – but that’s okay. We agree to disagree on that…)
Anyway, back to the topic. :-) Zikr hota hai was on my shortlist, but lost out to Woh tere pyaar ka gham. And I had never heard Kaise manaoon piyawa. What a gentle, lovely song. Thank you for introducing me to that.
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Yup, don’t understand why people take things like which movie star someone else likes/dislikes so *personally*. Folks act like you’ve rejected their Mom or Dad instead of simply expressed an opinion on a professional artist!
RE: Char Diwari, I believe it was Shashi’s first or second lead role and certainly his the first pairing with Nanda. Don’t exactly recommend the movie, but the songs are lovely and the Shashi and Nanda combo is sweet.
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About Char Diwari and lovely songs with no Shashi tho, there’s a lovely solo by Lata Mangeshkar featured on Nanda which I can never resist raving about
Love it for being the first song I’ve seen pictured on a married woman in Hindi cinema which doesn’t completely revolve around her husband/his family/his children etc. It shows beautifully the child’s playfulness peeping from beneath the woman’s responsibilities. Love it for Lata’s innocent voice which matches Nanda’s equally innocent face. For capturing the emotions which the cry of “Rain!” still evokes in me. Rushing out to bring in the clothes, the most obvious and mundane reaction which transforms into sheer poetry once in the presence of rain.
The movie itself evoked a bit of a mixed reaction from me. But I quite liked the sweet saas-bahu interaction there and Shashi and Nanda as a young couple. SO SWEET :)
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What a lovely song! I have heard Jhuk-jhuk-jhuk jhoom ghata chhaayi before, but had forgotten about it. Really nice. Now, even if Chaar Diwaari isn’t that great a film, I do want to watch it. :-)
P.S. I love your description of what “rain“! evokes in you. I can relate to that. Lovely!
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“Folks act like you’ve rejected their Mom or Dad instead of simply expressed an opinion on a professional artist!”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I hadn’t known Chaar Diwaari was the first film in which Nanda and Shashi Kapoor appeared together. I had wondered which film it was, considering they co-starred in so many.
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I think dusted off tries to go against the grain just for the sake of it. I understand why the commentators praising Raj Kapoor are peeved by comments made especially regarding the so called ‘tramp image’. That’s certainly not how I remember Raj Kapoor-he’s made and acted in some premier movies that have stood the test of time & looks wise was always a favourite in my family with an uncanny resemblance to Clark Gable in his heyday. Shammi Kapoor was likeable in short bursts (mainly song sequences) but no great shakes, Shashi Kapoor was handsome if a tad bland & Rishi Kapoor has only really come into his own as an actor recently with his ‘dark’ roles. Prior to that I’d always remember the heroine of his films & never him (eg. Chandni, Henna, Prem Rog, Prem Granth,Saagar). Kareena & Karishma are forgettable, the former taking irritating to a whole new level. I think after Raj Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor is the standout talent.
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“I think dusted off tries to go against the grain just for the sake of it.”
Now you’re making me laugh! Seriously, you do worship your idols, don’t you? :-D
And no, I am not going against the grain just for the sake of it. I cannot bear RK other than in the couple of roles I’ve mentioned, and I see no reason to make excuses for that. Why should I pretend to like someone just because the world does (or what you consider the world does)?
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The one song of shashi kapoor that I like is waqt karta jo wafa.
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Thank you for reminding me of that, Karthik! Yes, nice song. Even though I’m not much of a Mukesh fan, I do like this one.
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The lyrics by Indiwar are excellent and the music by kk quite original..
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What’s with all the aggression & defensiveness towards those that are disagreeing with your views? I don’t think my comments pertain to ‘worship’ in the slightest, rather appreciate good work. I certainly admire Raj Kapoor for some wonderful films linked to wonderful memories & in particular the superlative music in his films with the magical Mukesh & Shalinder. Rivalled only later by Rajesh Khanna’s movies vis a vis Kishore & RD Burman.
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Yes agreed, the blog host should be more magnanimous of counter opinions all of which are astute & well presented. I don’t see anyone trying to ‘convert’ anyone.
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So magnanimity, in your lexicon, means not standing up for your own opinions? I say I don’t like Raj Kapoor. I do not say nobody should.
Incidentally, all I can see here is a bunch of people trying to convince me that Raj Kapoor was brilliant, that his movies were fabulous, that he was so well-loved and well-respected. I don’t (and I’m writing this for the nth time!), DON’T have a problem with that. All I said was that I don’t like RK. To fling scorn at me just for voicing my personal opinion is hardly fair.
Let’s end this here, shall we? This post was meant to be a celebration of Shashi Kapoor, not a no-holds-barred quarrel about his brother. You people are welcome to go on bashing me on my blog for a personal opinion I expressed, but I’m not going to be responding any more on this topic.
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I’m being aggressive? And all of those leaping down my throat for not liking RK are being quiet and polite? You, accusing me of ‘going against the grain’ just for the sake of it, aren’t being aggressive?
Look, it’s simple: you like RK, I do not have a problem with that. You think he was fantastic, cool. Millions of others think so, also cool. I don’t think you’re stupid for that. Far from it, because I believe that people should be allowed to hold – and voice – their own opinions. I voiced my opinion about RK, I have heard the opinions of others. I respect your opinion, please respect mine. And don’t accuse me of things I don’t do.
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Cant stand RK either and that’s a personal opinion. I seriously dont understand why that should be a problem. In fact I have noticed that any Mukesh song that I like is usually not (or never) a RK song ! ( There i have said it..and now i wait for the brick bats?)
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Heh. I don’t consider myself much of a fan of Mukesh either (though when I compiled a Mukesh post some years back and other people commented on it and suggested other songs, I realised just how many of his songs I like). I do agree that I don’t like too many of the songs Mukesh sang for RK (in fact, I prefer the Manna Dey songs for RK, in films like Chori-Chori or Shree 420). That said, though, one of my absolute favourites of Mukesh is an RK song: Woh subah kabhi toh aayegi. I love the restrained, controlled way he’s sung it. The music is superb, too, as are the lyrics.
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Guys, I I have known Madhu for so many years now, never once has she been aggressive. In fact far from it. It is grossly unfair to remark as such. She truly respects other points of view but had her own and stands by it.
Madhu and AK, I concur with you on your observations on RK. I liked him best in the direction of Prem Rog and RTGM, which were very good movies on several counts.(He was behind the camera, that’s the best part :-) )
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Thank you, Karthik. :-)
I haven’t seen Ram Teri Ganga Maili – can’t bear Mandakini (and now the Mandakini fans will come shrieking to bash me up!) – but yes, agree totally about Prem Rog. I liked that a lot; must rewatch it sometime.
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Love love love Raj Kapoor.
As someone who originates from Russia, Raj Kapoor Saab was viewed with great affection there & credited with the internationalisation of Indian films. Awara was especially popular as was his pairing with Nargis…I still remember the hysteria when they visited the country & I was just a child then. I feel that none of the Kapoor brothers come within striking distance in terms of movies,acting or songs.
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Great selection of songs, Madhu. Like you, I also like Tum bin jaaoon kahan, Likhe jo khat tujhe, chale thhe saath milkar, khilte hain gul yahaan a lot. I also love the delightful O meri sharmilee.
I wanted to add Waqt karto jo wafaa from Dil ne pukara also to this list and found someone did it yesterday.
You clearly mentioned you do not like Ek thha gul from Jab Jab phool khile. I understand and respect your views.I like this song because this is a ‘different song’ unlike the normal hindi film song. The tune is a story telling style set to music. I also liked the lovely prelude and the hilly orchestration in this song. As you rightly point out, this does not mean that you have to like this song as well. All of us are entitled to our personal feel and opinion.
Though this post is mostly about Shashi Kapoor’s solo songs, there is a lovely Shashi Kapoor duet that is my favourite. Kabhi raat din from Aaamne Saamne is a lovely song with heavenly prelude and superb strings.
I enjoyed reading about his work and his songs in this post. This is an excellent and well timed post, Madhu.
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I don’t have a problem at all with you liking Ek thha gul aur ek thhi bulbul: all subjective, of course. :-) True, it is an interestingly different song in the sense that it’s a story set to music (somewhat like Kuchh din pehle ek taal mein from Laajwanti? – also, coincidentally, about birds).
Yes, Kabhi raat din is a lovely song. Though various other bloggers have derided Aamne Saamne, I actually rather liked the suspense in that film. And the songs were good.
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Pyaar Kiye Jaa was a somewhat lazy remake of a 1964 Tamil comedy called “kadhalikka Neramillai” (which literally means no time for love). I used the word lazy since it was a scene for scene remake by the same director.
Incidentally, the name of the protagonist in the original too was Ashok- the only name from the original that wasn’t changed. Rajasree, who appeared opposite Shashi Kapoor, played the same role in the original.
As a footnote, the role played by Mehmood was essayed in the original by Nagesh, one of the legends of Tamil cinema.
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I know. :-) I had reviewed Pyaar Kiye Jaa some years back on this blog, and a reader told me all about Kadhalikka Neramillai. I even went looking for a DVD, but couldn’t find a subtitled one. Watched a couple of the songs (the original of Kisne pukaara mujhe, for one), as well as the original (even if I couldn’t understand anything of the language!) of that classic scene about rain and dogs and haunted houses, between Om Prakash and Mehmood. Even I was struck by the fact that there seemed to be no difference whatsoever between the two films, barring the language.
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Really enjoyed this timely post as I’ve always had a soft spot for Shashi Kapoor (was sad to see him unrecognisable at recent awards function). Even then, I forgot about some of the nuggets that you reminded me of here eg. Kilhte hai gul…a song I love but could never somehow reconcile it with Shashi Kapoor largely because for me, Kishore da was always Kaka’s voice & in particular in this song, I just see Rajesh singing it so it’s always jarring for me to see it picturised on Shashi. Love the song nevertheless.
Also, hope u don’t mind me saying that I also enjoyed the spin off (inevitable & interesting) discussion on Raj Kapoor & it’s a shame it turned rather unsavoury which was completely unnecessary as everyone was making perfect sense in their own way. Personally, whilst I did not rate him particularly high as an actor, I thought he was a brilliant director,delivering both showmanship & social messages along with memorable music.
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“Also, hope u don’t mind me saying that I also enjoyed the spin off (inevitable & interesting) discussion on Raj Kapoor & it’s a shame it turned rather unsavoury which was completely unnecessary as everyone was making perfect sense in their own way.”
Thank you for also seeing my point of view. Personally, I don’t have a problem with anybody liking any actor. director, whatever – as long as they don’t expect me to share their opinions! I wonder what would happen if I were to review a film like Mother India or Guide – both of which are lauded as cult classics, but which i don’t care for…
That’s an interesting observation about Khilte hain gul yahaan. It never occurred to me that this was somewhat unusual (I think it is, since – if I remember correctly – Rajesh Khanna was the first person, other than Dev Anand, fr whom Kishore began singing playback).
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I had forgotten Kali ghata chhaayi! This song used to be hugely popular once upon a time – I remember hearing it a lot. :-)
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Sorry for this late post, but I came across this Shashi Kapoor song which I had not heard for a long long time. It is from a fairly obscure movie called ‘My Love’. I think its a nice song, and SK looks heartbreakingly handsome and melancholic in it. Mukesh singing for him is rather unusual.
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Did you read the post, by the way? ;-) Woh tere pyaar ka gham is song #8 on my list.
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Shashi Kapoor ko mai kabhi bhula nahi
paunga
Pramod Sabharwal
42/8 Trikuta Nagar Jammu (India )
Mob. +91 9419775726
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