My blog posts come about in odd ways. Some are suggestions or recommendations from blog readers, or from friends. Some strike me as I go through life. Some are serendipitous—a video appearing on the sidebar in Youtube while I’m watching something else. And some are like this: an idea which strikes two people at almost the same time. Anu and I don’t always see eye to eye (pun intended), but more often than not, we look at things in exactly the same way.
Therefore, it came as no surprise that Anu’s ‘zulfein’ songs post gave me the idea for an ‘aankhen’ songs post (and, even less surprising, that Anu had already thought of an ‘aankhen’ songs post too). Or that, as I was publishing my post, I thought, “I should do a post on either nigaah or nazar next.” Or, that Anu should send me an e-mail later the same day, in which she wrote: “Perhaps I should do ‘Nigahein’ as a complementary post.”
Anyway, to cut a long story short: Anu and I decided we’d do twin (but not quite; look-alike, as in Hum Dono or Mujrim, might be a more appropriate description) posts. And then Anu suggested we ask our third soul sister, Bollyviewer, if she’d like to join the party as well: with a post about nayan/naina songs. Bollyviewer, good sport that she is, agreed. So here we are, with a trio of song lists. Head over to Anu’s blog to read her post on nigaahein songs, to Bollyviewer’s for her post on nayan/naina songs—and read on for my list of ‘nazar’ songs.
‘Nazar’—like ‘nigaah’—means glance, gaze. It can also, like nigaah, imply a viewpoint, an opinion. In Hindi cinema, and when it comes to film songs in particular, nazar invariably ends up being related to romance: just as eyes meet and two people fall in love, so is it with the nazar. Glances meet and stay locked. Or shy away, and look through lowered lashes… there are situations aplenty, and songs to match.
So, without further ado, the songs. Each of these has the word ‘nazar’ (or its variations, such as ‘nazron’ or ‘nazrein’) in its very first line. And each song is, as always, from a pre-70s film that I’ve seen.
1. Zara nazron se keh do ji (Bees Saal Baad, 1962): Waheeda Rehman’s village belle is engrossed in trying out the sights of a sugarcane ‘gun’ when her date turns up. And he, already utterly besotted, sets about telling her to make sure her aim is right; she mustn’t miss the target. But he’s not referring to the imaginary gun; he’s referring to that sharp gaze of hers. And not just her gaze, he goes on to tell her: mazaa jab hai tumhaari hara adaa qaatil hi kehlaaye: the fun is in every little gesture and every feature laying people low, left, right and centre. The entire song is a paean to the perfection of this woman, who without any weapons, is able to ‘kill people’—the pleasantest death possible, as her admirer would testify.
Biswajeet isn’t a favourite of mine, but Hemant is, and this song is a delightful one.
2. Najar laagi raja tore bangle par (Kaala Paani, 1960): A flirtatious song, even one sung by a tawaif to a prospective client, can be full of references to nazar, and yet have nothing of about the meeting of the nazar (or, as Nalini Jaywant’s tawaif pronounces it, najar). No; it’s all about how her gaze has fallen on the home of this man, and how it has made her decide that if she were granted a wish, she would wish to be allowed to be a part of this house. As a creeper of chameli, clinging to it. As a songbird, singing constantly in its environs. As a bride, by his side. All because of her najar falling on his home (and, presumably, him). No great lyrics—as the derisive shaayar Dev Anand’s character is pretending to be points out—but great music.
(Incidentally, my husband hates this song. Years back, on a weekend trip to a small heritage hotel called Fort Uncha Gaon, we ended up sitting at a hotel bonfire for the evening’s entertainment. This was provided by a group of local folk performers, consisting of a couple of men and three children. They were fine while they sang folk songs; then they sang Najar laagi raja tore bangle par, and while they didn’t sing it badly, the children—who were the dancers—danced vilely. My husband always remembers that, and how abysmal it made the evening).
3. Nazron ki dil se, dil ki nazar se (Anari, 1959): The link between the heart and the eyes: gazes meet, and the heart is won over. Gazes meet, too, and speak volumes without anything being actually uttered; and that is how love grows, how love is sustained.
While the music and the lyrics of Nazron ki dil se, dil ki nazar se are beautiful, what I also especially like about this song is the way it’s picturized. In keeping with the words, the movements of the two lovers are very slow, very gentle. They speak with their eyes: you can see the affection, the love, as they look at each other; it’s almost as if the holding of hands at the end of the song has already happened through their eyes.
4. Chaandi ka badan sone ki nazar (Taj Mahal, 1963): Two qawwalis jostled for space on this list. One was from Barsaat ki Raat, a film that’s almost synonymous with qawwalis: Pehenchaanta hoon khoob tumhaari nazar ko main. The other was this, and it won its place in this list not just because Pehenchaanta hoon khoob doesn’t really begin with those words (and therefore, technically, doesn’t have ‘nazar’ in the first line), but also because this is such a good qawwali.
A body of silver, a gaze of gold, sings the besotted lover; and on top of that, this genteel fragility… and the woman he adores berates him for insulting her, for having the temerity to presume he can even open his mouth before her. And so it continues, he praising her to the skies, comparing her to heaven while she alternately dampens his ardour and hints that she is not above returning that passion.
A superb coming together of great talents: Sahir’s lyrics, Roshan’s music, the voices of Manna Dey, Asha Bhonsle, and Suman Kalyanpur.
5. Shokh nazar ki bijliyaan dil pe mere (Woh Kaun Thi?, 1964): My favourite of Madan Mohan’s scores for any film, Woh Kaun Thi? is known mostly for the songs that Lata sang—especially the memorable Lag jaa gale. But there’s this song too, sung by Asha Bhonsle and lip-synced by Praveen Choudhary, which is a stunner. Also come-hither, as Lag jaa gale was, but in a completely different way. This is a woman who has long (but silently) been in love with her colleague; now, with his wife dead in a train crash, she finally summons up the courage to let him know. This is not the confident, come-and-love me seductiveness of a woman married to a man; it is the rather more covert pleading of a woman not certain of how her confession will be received. Go on, make me swoon over your gaze; let lightning fall on this heart of mine every time you smile, she sings. His smiles encourage her, but by the end of the song, he seems to realize that his good-natured camaraderie has been misinterpreted.
6. Dekhke teri nazar beqaraar ho gaye (Howrah Bridge, 1958): One of the very few films from the 50s and 60s that actually had the guts to feature a heroine who was a dance girl (and that too in the Western tradition, not a tawaif), Howrah Bridge tends to be known for two other club song-and-dance sequences: the sultry and sublime Aaiye meherbaan (Madhubala was never more gorgeous), and the fast-paced Mera naam Chin Chin Choo, picturized on Helen. This song, slower but still seductive, is as wonderful as those, in its own way. Madhubala, dancing with Herman Benjamin and Abe Cohen (and another dancer, all of whom look—even when they’re supposedly ‘imprisoning’ her—as if they were handling her with kid gloves). Ashok Kumar, watching on, though not with much interest, and looking ready to leave any moment. As he eventually does, to her humiliation and disappointment.
7. Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon (Jahanara, 1964): A doomed love between a princess and a commoner. A poet, who knows that the woman he can never marry—just because she is a Mughal princess, and is not permitted to marry anyone—sings of his love to her, through a poem. He reminds her of all that he is to her: nazar ka suroor: the comfort, the pleasure of her gaze. Aashiqui ka guroor, the pride of her fascination, of her love. Even if they can never meet, even if he must stay away from her, of this he is confident, and he tells her so: tere dil mein main bhi zuroor hoon, I know that I am in your heart. A poignant, heartbreaking song of a love that is powerful and deep, but never can be. And sung with so much feeling by the inimitable Talat.
8. Unse mili nazar ke mere hosh ud gaye (Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan, 1968): Personally, I don’t see why any woman would find her senses flying out the window just because she locked gazes with Rajendra Kumar, but then, there’s no accounting for tastes. Saira Banu’s character in Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan certainly thinks this man is quite phenomenal—just looking into his eyes has given her enough of a song to take her through coming home (a women’s hostel); having a leisurely bath and shower; getting ready for bed; and even, dreamy-eyed, remembering those glorious moments of their first meeting.
I like the music and rendition of this song, even if the two lead characters aren’t among my favourites. Plus, the way the song ends puts it on par with Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra as a song that ends very dramatically.
9. Ek nazar bas ek nazar (Munimji, 1955): My ‘aankhen’ songs list was crowded with songs picturized on Dev Anand, or from films in which he had starred. One was Aankh khulte hi tum, from Munimji. Here, then, is yet another song from Munimji, picturized (as was Aankh khulte hi tum) on Nalini Jaywant. This is a happier song: the lovers are together, and all is seemingly well on this cozy little outing in the forest. She tries to attract his attention (with unabashedly seductive moves—languorously lifting her arms, letting her hair down almost to his face, letting her eyelids droop in a way that makes her nazar very sultry). Telling him to look at her once. Just once, and that will be all. He is more than happy to oblige, and the last verse of the song (before Pran’s villain appears sneakily on the scene, gun in tow) becomes a bidding to look once at the camera.
10. Jaan-e-man ek nazar dekh le (Mere Mehboob, 1963): And, to end this post, a song that echoes, in its very first line, the words of the previous song. My beloved, look at me, just once. The situation, however, is very different. Far from the romantic little rendezvous of the Munimji song, this is a social occasion: a song sung at an engagement. Sadhana and Rajendra Kumar’s characters are betrothed. Her friends gather to celebrate, and her best friend Naseem Ara (Ameeta) sings a song. What the heroine does not know (though her uncomfortable fiancé does) is that her friend’s song does not merely give expression to the feelings of the young lovers, but to her own, too. She is in love with this man, and has believed him to return that love, until her illusion has been shattered.
Naseem Ara’s song is, on the surface, teasing, flirtatious. It is only in unguarded moments that you see the pain in her eyes, and it is only in the last verse—Ji mein aata hai yahi, chheen loon tera sanam; lekin ae mast adaa, maan ehsaan mera, main har jazba-e-dil tujhpe qurbaan kiya (I feel like snatching away your beloved, but my beautiful friend, accept this favour of mine; I sacrifice each emotion of my heart for your sake)—that she says what really is in her heart. And says it with such mischievous light-heartedness that the blushing bride-to-be does not realize that this is, indeed, true.
And, as for the aankhen songs post: there are loads more out there that fit this theme. Which are your favourites?
Dustedoff 
Madhu, just read my intro. :) I swear this is uncanny.
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It is! Good Lord.
But am I surprised? Not really. :-)
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Trying this comment again, since my earlier one was eaten by the gremlins.
Lovely post, Madhu, and loved the intros to each song as well. So many of my favourites here, and some songs that I’d forgotten about – Jaaneman ek nazar dekh le, for instance: I loved that picturisation, where the lyrics mean different things to different people; where Rajendra Kumar knows she’s singing to him, and of him, etc. I’d also forgotten Dekhke teri nazar, and Shokh nazar ki bijliyaan is not a great favourite.
Of your list, my all-time favourites are Nazron ki dil se, Najar laagi raaja tore bangle par and Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon. Some of the other songs on my list were:
Bechain nazar, betaab jigar from Yasmin. I notice someone else has already posted the video, so I won’t clutter up your comment space with it.
Nazar phero na humse from Deedar
A very pretty Naseem Banu in Nazar mil gayi jaane kiski nazar s from Anokhi Ada
The next two are not exactly favourites, but they are both pleasant songs.
A pretty Biswajeet in Do Kaliya giving a literal meaning to a roll in the hay. :)
Tumhari nazar kyun khafa ho gayi from Do Kaliyan
and, finally:
Nazar aati nahin manzil from Kaanch aur Heera
(Hope this comment posts!)
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I still can’t figure out where that comment of yours disappeared. It’s not as if turned up in the spam folder, or even for moderation. WordPress zindabad. :-(
Tumhaari nazar kyon khafa ho gayi was on my shortlist, but there were other songs I liked more, so that fell by the wayside.
I hadn’t head Nazar mil gayi before – what a lovely little song, and she looks so beautiful (the resemblance to a somewhat older Saira Banu is pronounced in some places there).
Thank you for the songs, Anu.
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What a superb post this is, Madhu. :-)
Not visited your blog in a while now, Madhu, need to rectify that.
You know what the main draw for me to visit your blog is? Not the lists or the film reviews per se (which by themselves are very good) but just your writing. :-)
Lovely set of songs – am glad you got “dekh ke teri nazar” from Howrah Bridge in there. Such a lovely song – but gets overshadowed by the other two biggies everytime.
LOL at your “no accounting for tastes”. :-) Btw, have you seen the Rajendra Kumar interview – one he did in London or Canada? It’s available on youtube – in 2 parts.
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Raja, so good to have you back on my blog, even if only fleetingly. It’s always a joy to ‘see’ old friends. :-) I’m glad you liked this post – and that you liked the inclusion of Dekhke teri nazar; I always think it’s so unfairly underrated and overshadowed by the two biggies of Howrah Bridge.
Haven’t seen the Rajendra Kumar interview, and not really keen on seeing it either. ;-)
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Superb! Lovely songs…nazar na lage:)
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Thank you. :-)
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It is good that you included ” Shokh nazar ki bijliyaan dil pe mere giraaye jaa ” from Woh kaun thi. To me, it’s a great song. One of the best songs of Asha Bhonsle and only a trifle less than the immortal. ” lag jaa gale ke phir yeh ” . The songs playful tune diverts us from the pain of words. See the last stanza :
Manzile- Ishq door hai, door bahot hi door hai
aa mera haath thaam le, rooh thakan se choor hai
As you have rightly said, she is fully aware that he will never be hers but still keeps hoping against the hope ! And at one point of time during the song, her eyes tell it all ! A wonderful but highly under-rated gem !
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked this list, and I’m glad that you agree with the inclusion of Shokh nazar ki bijliyaan. I love Lag jaa gale, but I do think this song is far better than all the other songs – Naina barse rim-jhim rim-jhim, Jo humne daastaan apni sunaayi, Tiki riki tiki riki taako ri etc. The music is lovely, and as you point out, so are the lyrics.
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Wonderful list Madhu didi! I loved all the songs. What I liked about the songs didi, was the fact that each song implied a different meaning of nazar. I could think up of a few:
Aapki nazron ne samjha from Anpadh (1962).
Unse nazrein mili aur hijab aa gaya from Ghazal (1964). Though I remember you saying you didn’t like the songs from this movie.
Kahe more nazariya from Panna (1944).
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Thank you, Rahul! Aapki nazron ne samjha (as you can guess from the first screen cap) was on my mind – it was even on my shortlist – but I decided to drop it, because the sort of servility it suggests irritates me. I love the music and the rendition of that song, but the lyrics put me off a bit. ;-)
I hadn’t heard Kaahe maare najariya before. Am just listening to it; good song. Thank you for that.
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I’d guessed you’d have a reason for not including that song didi, but I added it because it was one of the few I knew :p
The Kahe more nazariya song, didi, I heard from this movie Mirch Masala (1985) which I’m sure you’ve heard of. In that this is one of the songs Naseruddin Shah plays on his gramophone, the others being Kookat koeliyan from Bharthari (1944) and Woh gaye nahi humein milke from Hospital (1943)…since the movie was set in the pre independence era..
Thank you didi!
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Ah. It’s been so long since I watched Mirch Masala, I’d forgotten about the gramophone and the songs played on it. It was a good movie, and I loved the spunk of the women in it. Thank you for reminding me of that, Rahul!
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Yes didi… And it had such a talented star cast! Shah, Om Puri, Suresh Oberoi, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval, Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak, Dina Pathak, Raj Babbar… Apart from Smita Patil of course.
I know you know the names didi… Its just that you feel so awestruck when you look at this list 😮
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Yes, that cast is awe-inspiring. Some of the best names of the industry back then, at least when it came to acting. :-)
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Lovely list!
This Mehdi Hassan number, which I might have suggested previously in the piano post.
Also the qawali “Mast Nazron se” by NFAK – I love the way that the lyrics go from praise, love, allure to dirë warnings!
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Ah, yes. I remember listening to Mujhe tum nazar se gira toh rahe ho. Thank you for that, Bawa – even though I recognized it as soon as it began, I listened to it all the way through again just because it’s so lovely.
I don’t think I’ve heard Mast nazron se (I have to admit to being a bit of an iconoclast – I am not much of a fan of NFAK). Will check that one out.
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Well-written, and an interesting topic. nazar, in Hindi-Urdu, I feel is like the words daaman and aanchal in having multiple meanings and shades of meaning. Not just context, cultural connotations matter, making translation very difficult sometimes.
A few additions to your excellent list:
Nazar bacha kar chale gaye wo
Tumhari nazar kyon khafa ho gayi
Nazar aati nahin manzil (1972, so a couple of years beyond your limit)
Aap ki nazron se samjha (a sweet Madan Mohan gem)
Unki nazron se mohabbat ka jo paigam mila (Runa Laila, from the Pakistani film Hum Dono, 1966)
Meri nazrein haseen hain ke tum ho haseen (Ek Musafir Ek Hasina)
Bechain nazar, betaab jigar (Another favourite of mine. Talat Mahmood, Yasmin)
Jhuka jhuka ke nazar (Mere Sartaj, 1975. Again,outside your limit, but I’ve posted it for it’s rarely heard. A decent song, now forgotten probably because the film was a massive flop, with no notable actors.)
I’ve saved arguably the best for the last – the incomparable Sajjad Hussein composition “Ae dilruba, nazrein mila” (Lata Mangeshkar in Rustom Sohrab, 1963). Rarely has Arabic music been used better in Hindi cinema.
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Remembered these after posting my comment above.
Bechain dil, khoi si nazar (Yahudi. A young Helen dancing with Cuckoo.)
Nazar wo jo dushman pe bhi meherbaan ho (OK, this line isn’t part of the mukhda, but the song begins with it.)
Nazar mein bijli, ada mein sholay
Dhoonde nazar nazar mera chaand hai kidhar
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Some good songs, there, especially the one from Yasmin. I must try and watch that film someday – it has such lovely songs.
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I’m so glad you liked the songs. Thank you, both for the appreciation as well as the songs. I hadn’t heard a couple of the songs here – Nazar aati nahin manzil and Unki nazron se mohabbat ka (I’d never have believed that was Runa Laila – she sounds odd. Somewhat drawling and offtune, a bit. But maybe that’s just me). Also Jhuka-jhuka ke nazar: that was new to me.
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What a lovely list of songs! I had totally forgotten Dekhke teri nazar beqaraar ho gaye. Aside from the more famous two songs from that movie, I remember Yeh kya kar dala tune which is my favorite from that film. But Dekhke teri nazar beqaraar ho gaye will also be on my playlist, now.
And here are my nazar offerings:
Nazron ke teer mare kas kas kas from Do Ustad
Abhi na phero nazar from Biradaari
Jahan teri yeh nazar hai from Kaalia
Meri Nazar Hai Tujh Pe from The Burning Train
Kareeb Aa Yeh Nazar Phir Mile from Anita
Teri nazar teri ada sabse haseen from an unreleased film
Jaane teri nazron ne kya kar diya from Grahasti
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Abhi na phero nazar was on my longlist, as was the song from Anita, but neither made the cut. ;-) The other songs – oh, how could I have forgotten Nazron ke teer maare kas-kas-kas?! Okay, it would still not have been on my list (since I’ve not seen the film) but I should at least have remembered it. :-)
I also have this odd love for Jahaan teri yeh nazar hai. What a delightful song that is.
Oh, and thank you for introducing me to Teri nazar teri ada. I found myself wondering whom that would have been picturised on. If the film (I wonder which one it was) was made, I wonder why it wasn’t released.
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As always a nice collection of songs – but more than the actual songs, I love the themes that you pick. Makes my mind bounce around in so many different ways as I look for other songs to fit the theme.
Before I get to the songs, some general comments based on things said in the post and in the comments:
1. For me, the best Madan Mohan soundtrack is Haqeeqat. I don’t think there is one song in it that does not move me. “Zara si aahaT hoti hai” is brilliantly sung by Lata and the lyrics of “Ab ke saal” are moving beyond words. Again Lata’s minimalist expressions are so powerful. I am very fond of “Woh kaun thhi”s music, but this one is superior in my eyes. The other MM soundtrack that is fantastic is “Dekh kabeera roya” – would that the film was better.
2. Milind mentioned the lovely song “DhooNDhe nazar nazar” – what a lovely variation of “Que sera sera”.
3. Yes Madhu, “Yasmin” has amazing songs. I have steered clear of watching the film since I am scared it will be another “Dekh kabeera roya” :-)
Now for some songs on “nazar” – for now, I am focusing on just Asha songs, my sub-theme in your theme :-)
1. Jaaye jahaaN meri nazar – Asha Bhonsle in “Kalpana”, music by O P Nayyar
2. Meri nazar hai tujhpe – Asha Bhonsle in “The Burning Train”, music by R D Burman
(In this song, she sings for both Parveen Babi and Hema Malini in different styles)
3. NazreN uThaake zara dekh le – Asha Bhonsle in “Chacha Zindabad”, music by Madan Mohan – this video is just fun to watch because of the editing that somebody has done. And what a fun song.
4. Tujhse nazar milaane me – Asha Bhonsle in “Teri soorat meri aaNkheN”, music by S D Burman
5. Aawaz di hai aaj ik nazar ne – Asha, Bhupinder in “Aitbaar”, music by Bappi Lahiri
Very nice song. This film is the Hindi re-imagining :-) of Dial M for Murder. Both singers are very good and Bappi created a lovely song.
6. Jhuki jhuki pyaar ki nazar – Asha, Geeta in “Johnny Walker”, music by O P Nayyar
Probably among my favorites in this list. What a composition, great singing. And it has Shyama; anybody know who the other woman is?
7. Gustaakh nazar chehre se haTa by Asha, Rafi in “Jaali Note” music by O P Nayyar
A Madhubala/Dev Anand film with great music. Though this song has the incomparable Helen.
8. Pehli nazar me hum ne to apna by Asha, Usha, Kishore, Rafi in “The Burning Train”, music by R D Burman
Interesting thing about this song is that none of the singers ever sing anything solo. It is either all of them or both the female singers, or both the male sings. Unusual and don’t think it has been done in any other song.
Will probably come back with more since this theme is a gift that gives on giving.
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Hi,
Meena Kumari in Pakeezah & Zindagi Aur Khwab
Thank you
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I had Aaj hum apni duaaon ka asar dekhenge on my longlist, but the word nazar appears in the second line, not the first, so it didn’t meet that criterion. I love the song, though, so I’m glad you posted it here.
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Thank you! Glad you liked this post. :-) Three of the songs you’ve mentioned from the pre-70s period – the ones from Jaali Note, Meri Soorat Teri Aankhen and Kalpana – were on my longlist, but didn’t make it till the final. Gustakh nazar chehre se hata is especially one I like a lot.
Thank you, too, for introducing me to the song from Chacha Zindabad. So much pep, and yes – the editing is really pretty deft! Made me want to get up and dance, it was so much fun.
We shall agree to disagree about Dekh Kabira Roya. :-) I count that as one of my top ten favourite Hindi films – in an industry that made so few outright comedies (especially back in the 50s and 60s, when the comic side plot was always there, in a slapstick irritating way), this came as a breath of fresh air. I love the farcical feel of it – it never takes itself seriously. Love it to bits. Coincidentally, only yesterday I and another cinema-mad friend were raving about it again as being a fine example of sadly underrated Hindi comedy.
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You know what, I respect your film tastes a lot. So I shall give Dekh Kabeera Roya another shot. I watched it back when I was a kid when it came on Doordarshan and was not amused :-) Should try it again as an adult. But it is among the best overall soundtracks. What amazing gems.
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Hehe. That’s a coincidence, because that’s the first time I watched Dekh Kabira Roya too – on Doordarshan, sometime in the mid-80s, I think. My sister and I have fond memories of that, because we remember seeing the name of the movie in the newspaper’s TV listings, and saying, “Dekh Kabira Roya? That sounds like a mythological or other social drama type!” We had decided we wouldn’t watch – until our father, who’s a music buff, said, “This film had fantastic music.” So we watched it for the music, but with little hope of liking it – and enjoyed it a lot!
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Has noone mentioned “Jhuki jhuki si nazar…” yet?!!!
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Now you have. :-) I wouldn’t have included it in my list, because I confine myself to songs from before the 70s, but Arth had probably one of the best scores of the 80s – I am a little surprised that while people have mentioned several other songs from that decade or the 70s, this one got missed.
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Madhulika, I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here. I used to have a blog where I wrote about movies, books and songs…The blog is no longer active but I will be here more regularly from now on. This post is an example of a perfectly enjoyable blog!
By the way, I must confess that You are one of my favourite authors! I have read The Eighth Guest & other stories and am a huge fan of Muzaffar Jung!
Love how you transport us to another era. Perfect blend of mystery and history!
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Thank you so much, Rajani – both for the appreciation for the blog, and for the appreciation for Muzaffar Jang! It’s always such a pleasure to hear from people who like my writing. :-)
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Great post and good comments which cover the two songs I thought could have made it. From your replies, I understand why those have missed the glory.
I refer to Anpadh and Arth songs.
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Thank you!
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The Rishi-Neetu pair only had “Nazar” for each other, and here are two songs; remarkably, both filmed in snow —
1) Tere Chehre Se Nazar Nahi Hatthi (Kabhi Kabhie)
2) Nazron Se Kehdo Pyar Mein Milne Ka Mausam Aa Gaya
And how can 70’s Dev be far behind, this time with a film on illegal immigration to the UK, “Des Pardes”. Dev, who is usually the “Handsome Brown Male” equivalent of the “Beautiful Blonde Female” (both dumb) stereotype; has an ahead-of-times film.
Let me elaborate —
1) Brown males may try to phasao Gori Mem
2) Illegal Immigrants involved in crime
There is also a scene where the illegal immigrants are hiding behind a door (Illegal Brown Immigrants behind a Wall anyone).
Perhaps Dev’s brain was better his looks :)
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Arre nazar na lage saathiyon was something I’d forgotten about – even forgotten having heard it. Seriously, these three very aging heroes (and not aging gracefully) don’t really look like chhailas who would dolo any dils. :-D
So glad you posted Tere chehre se nazar, especially. I love that one.
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The last line should read —
Perhaps Dev’s brain was better than his looks :)
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Lovely list Madhu. I agree with you about your comments on Hosh ud gaye song.. The way it ends is so dramatic and is certainly something that makes it more attractive…
My addition is from “Aek Nazar”, slightly beyond your time line – 1972 – Movie title also has “Nzar” in it – Pyar Ko Chahiye Kya Aek Nazar / Kishore / Laxmi-Pyare
It appears that some of the scenes from another song of this movie “Patta Patta Boota Boota Haal Hamara” were re-purposed in this song. I like the fact that Pyar ko chahiye kya is a background song but it still maintains the same intensity as Patta Patta..
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Thank you so much, Ashish! (by the way, you’ll have a long life – I was thinking of you just yesterday, because you’d given me a suggestion for a song list which I think I will finally be able to compile).
Pyaar ko chaahiye kya, ek nazar was another song I’d completely forgotten about. Even though I confine myself to pre-70s songs, I invariably end up remembering, even while I compile my lists, songs from beyond that period… this one should have come to my mind, but didn’t. Nice song.
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Thanks Madhu for thinking about me. I have not been able to spend much time lately on your blog but it’s always a pleasure to read your posts regardless of what the topic is.
I know the songs in your post have “Nazar” in the first line but I have one obscure song that has “Nigah” in the first line. It’s from a 1979 movie Lubna. Music is by Manas Mukherjee (Shan’s father) and lyrics by Nida Fazli. I personally love this song though I bet many may have never heard it. I think it starts to grow after hearing it two or three times. The lyrics and music both work well together with Rafi’s silken touch.
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I’d never heard this song, Ashish. Lovely; thank you for that!
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Hello Madhu, just happened to see your post on FB about this list of songs.
Strangely, I had been humming Nutan’s song from Chhabilee befor that, which fits the list perfectly. :)
The choice of songs is of course great.
Bees saal Baad, Mere Mehboob, Taj Mahal etc – all such melodious & memorable songs. I’m listening to them one by one right now. Its been a long time since I listened to these melodies.
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Thank you for dropping by, Reeba – and for the Chhabili song. I don’t remember having heard Ae mere humsafar rok apni nazar before. Lovely song!
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And its sung by Nutan. I think the only song she ever sang.
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If I’m not mistaken, she does a sing a bit here and there in Dil Hi Toh Hai.
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I find your Hindi films related post enchanting. Great visiting these lovely songs. I will add one of my own too.
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Yes, Jhuki-jhuki si nazar is a beautiful song. So poignant. Thank you, and I’m glad you liked the post. :-)
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Here are a few more:
1. Nazar na lag jaaye, kisiki rahon mein…https://youtu.be/3LyK5Z9YLvg
2. Nazar ke saamne, jigar ke paas…https://youtu.be/qvW2nxnj9Tw
3. Jaane na nazar, pehchaane jigar…https://youtu.be/90ooNta8icg
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I am surprised no-one came up with Jaane na nazar before! Thank you for that.
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Very interesting exercise, like following a peculiar tag: reminds one of Hamlet’s “words words words”! I have being following some words which are not part of the general Hindi lexicon but are the preserve of Hindi songs only: off-hand one recalls ‘naadan’, ‘matwala’, ulfat, ‘pehlu’, ‘nigahen’, ‘gardish’, ‘ikrar’. Readers can supply a host of others! Phenomenon requires answers and can be clue to more such sets of songs!
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I think some of those words aren’t usually encountered in Hindi because they are, strictly speaking, not Hindi but Urdu. Naadaan, for instance, is very commonly used in everyday Urdu speech.
Also, if you watch old Hindi movies (which were, more often than not, more Urdu than Sanskritized Hindi), you will find a lot of these words used in dialogues as well. What may have happened is that the lyrics retained the Urdu words more than the dialogues did, as time went by…
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Ya, that’s true, but then there are lots which are not used in common Urdu, like dagar, matwala, pehlu, harsu which are short and conducive to be used in songs in deference to metre…but thanks for shedding light on the subject…and looking at your other topics one cannot but admire the reach and vigour of your thought!
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“conducive to be used in songs in deference to metre…”
Excellent point. :-)
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Between yours, Anu’s and Bollyviewer’s posts, this has been such a musically satisfying morning. Thank you to all! I love so many of the songs posted by you (very happy to see “shokh nazar ki bijliyan” included in your list, as you know it’s my favorite from “Woh kaun thi?”) and others that I may not get any work done today- i’m going to be too busy listening to all these wonderful songs. And I’m going to add a couple more to the list:
Nazar nazar se ho rahi hai baat pyar ki – Main Nashe Mein Hoon, Lata Mangeshkar
Nazar na lag jaye – Night in London, Mohd. Rafi
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Thank you, Shalini – especially for that appreciation of Shokh nazr ki bijliyaan. ;-) I always feel sad that that song, despite being so lovely, tends to fall by the wayside when Woh Kaun Thi?‘s music is discussed.
A few others have posted Nazar na lag jaaye, but Nazar-nazar se ho rahi hai was new to me. Nice.
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And this one from Aitbaar ‘kisi nazar ko tera ‘
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Oh, yes! Lovely.
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Greek – Duniya mein hum aye hain.mp3 Greek – Duniya walon se door.mp3 Greek – Insaf ka mandir hai.mp3 Greek – Man dole .mp3 Greek – Mera joota hai japani.mp3 Greek – Pyar hua ikraar hua.mp3 Greek – Sab kuch seekha hamne.mp3 Greek – Ulfat ka saaz chedo.mp3 Greek- Sathi haath badhana.mp3 Hi Madhulika
I am enjoying the lists and the interaction among Indian music lovers! A long time ago I used to follow RMIM – the group also met and I was able to join them when they met in Washington DC.
I was looking at one of your old threads about ‘inspired’ hindi songs. A friend and colleague of mine (Greek) gave me a cassette of old Greek songs that were actually inspired by hindi songs. She has also written a book about the influence of Hindi movies on Greek films – unfortunately it is in Greek! I am attaching some of the songs I have which you may want to share!
Nishi
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Thanks. I had heard about the popularity of old Hindi cinema in Greece, and that songs had been inspired, too, but had never come across any of these. Your comment only gives me the names of the files, so that’s not much use to me; if these are on Youtube (or Dailymotion, or other audiovisual sharing sites (maybe Soundcloud would work too), that would help.
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The prologue is very amusing indeed. So this is a nazar-nigaah-nain tripost.
Quite a rewarding theme.
And lo, one gets greeted by aap ke nazron ne screen shot.
I like zara nazron se keh do ji more for Hemant’s voice then I do for the song I think. I wonder, how I would react to the song, if it had been sung by, let us say Mahendra Kapoor.
When I saw your announcement of the post on fb, najar laagi raja tore bangle par, was the first song that came to my mind. My mind doesn’t dwell on one song and it took the connection of Nalini-Dev-SDB to the next song, ek nazar, bas ek nazar from Munimji. Maybe you’ve mentioned this song in your list, let’s see. BTW, I always think how the lyrics of the antaras of najar lage and sun mere bandhu re are similar.
I’ll skip nazron ki dil se and move to the next song, otherwise Anu will have another reason to think, that I hate her.
I love Roshan’s qawaalis and thus I like chandi ka badan as well, though I prefer pehechanta hoon khoob above it.
What a sublimely beautiful song is shokh nazar ki bijliyaan, though I don’t really like to see the video of it, since Manoj Kumar’s nazrein are for me anything but shokh nazar ki bijliyaan. But tastes do differ, so…
Of which tune does dekhke teri mazar remind me of? Is it only me or do you think as well, that Ashok Kumar looks more like Madhubala’s father than her lover here?
What a lovely song main teri nazar ka suroor hoon is! Can listen to Talat’s voice anytime. A pity that he got only so few songs to sing.
I’ll skip unse mili nazar as well. Around this time, S-J started getting on my nerves, they sounded the same and loud too.
Oh, you did include ek nazar bas ek nazar! Love it.
Naushad’s music for Mere Mehboob was so goooood! Love all the songs in it or at least the ones I know.
I bet all the relevant songs to nazar and nazrein have been covered up in the comments.
Thanks for the nice post, Madhu
May your nazrein fall on more ingenious themes.
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Harvey, I love your succinct comments about the songs! “I’ll skip nazron ki dil se and move to the next song, otherwise Anu will have another reason to think, that I hate her” and Manoj Kumar’s nazrein are for me anything but shokh nazar ki bijliyaan. But tastes do differ, so…”
:-D
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Lovely post! In fact, all three posts, yours, Anu’s and Bollyviewer’s, are wonderful and I am humming away! I know I haven’t been here for some time now. I had to go to India for a month, and my Internet access was restricted, because I didn’t have broadband this time. After I returned, things have been crazy here, what with painting the house and then guests and router issues at home. Things seem to be settling down now, in fact, today is the first quiet day for me in a long time.
Love all the nazar songs, especially the ones from Anari, Mere Mehboob and Kala Paani. Here’s one that I was looking for:
from the movie, Ghazal.
I was also looking for Nazar bachaake chale gaye woh … from Dil Tera Deewana, but I see that someone has already posted it.
And I am so glad you didn’t include Aapki nazaron ne samjha …, because it annoys me that she should be thanking him for deigning to consider her worth loving.
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Thank you, Lalitha! So good to have you back. I can imagine how busy you must have been. Welcome back. :-)
The Ghazal song is lovely; I wish the movie had been less melodramatic – it had a fine cast, and was something I’d really been looking forward to. But yes, at least it had good music.
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Marvellous theme and almost all songs with Nazar (or a variation) have been posted by you and the readers of the blog. I haven’t yet spotted “Tumhari Mast Nazar” from Dil Hi to Hai – a hummable and melodious duet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MVUpqn7Tjw
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Yes, Tumhaari mast nazar is a good song. Thanks for adding that! It had been on my longlist but didn’t progress further. :-)
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One more “nazar” song –
I remember hearing this song when we lived in Bombay, on our GEC radio, which needed some shaking periodically to produce music. It was an old AC/DC radio, with an antenna running across the room, and always had a lot of static, which would go away with some shaking, only to reappear after some time. But that was where I learned to enjoy these songs.
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Yes, Shalini posted Nazar nazar se ho rahi hai too.
I love your description of the radio, Lalitha! :-D
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Another excellent post as usual brimming with wonderful songs. T can’t resist adding another; a popular Ghalib ghazal – Taskeen ho hum na roye jo zauq e nazar mile. There is a choice of renditions starting from classical ghazal singers such as Begum Akhtar, Iqbal bano, Malika Pukhraj to the medley style of Rahat Fateh Alji Khan or modern versions from Fariha Perveez – one with a mistake and one correct etc. In keeping with the criteria of the list, I shall link to a lilting performance by Noor Jehan in Mirza Ghalib (1961, Pakistan).
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I had never heard that before – but liked it a lot! Thank you so much. What a fine way to start the day.
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I am so happy that you used ‘Aapko ke nazron ne samjha’ as an opener! Even though I have major reservations with what the song insinuates, I can’t help liking it, as long as I can ignore the lyrics. And then you begin with ‘Zara nazron se’, I love that song! I chuckled as I read ‘ Personally, I don’t see why any woman would find her senses flying out the window just because she locked gazes with Rajendra Kumar’ because I was just wondering the same thing, some two hours ago as I watched the movie!
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Yes, ignoring the lyrics is a major part of enjoying Aapki nazron ne samjhaa – the music and the rendition are so beautiful, they’re waited on words so servile. :-(
Glad you liked the songs, Simrita.
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I found a couple of Nazar songs while browsing the internet –
Nazron main saamne se (Rajkumari) – Hyderabad ki Nazneen with Nigar Sultana – loved her in Mughal e Azam.
Nazron se aaj dil mein samane – Gambler (could not find the video) Loved the melody though.
Nazron se chup gaya hai taqdeer ka savera – Daaku ki ladki
Nishi
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Three good songs there which I’d never heard before. I especially liked Nazron mein aaj dil mein samaane ki raat – really good! Thank you for these.
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Hello, Madhu and everyone. Did you know that today is Surendra;s 106th birth anniversary?
Here’s a nice song to add to the list:
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I hadn’t known it was Surendra’s birth anniversary. Wow. I remember having heard Aaine mein ek chaand si soorat nazar aayi, but it had completely slipped from my mind. (Interestingly, that’s another meaning of nazar – as verb rather than noun – which I hadn’t even thought of when I wrote this post).
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Such wonderful songs on your list. Its not just the songs, we all have heard them often, its the descriptions, jo chaar chaand laga dete hain. e.g. dil ki nazar se, I will be watching with new eyes. So any more added in comments, its a treasure trove of such enjoyable songs. Coming so late to your blog, I dont have musch to add, just enjoy. However there is one peppy song I can add. Its from Rangeen Ratein.
ghoonghat hataaye ke nazrein milayeke….
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I am so glad you put this song in, Neeru! I had it on my longlist, but then scrapped it because there were other songs I liked more. But it’s a really nice song, so I’m happy to see it here. Thank you.
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I scanned the whole list and it’s a wonderful collection but I couldn’t find the song “Ek Nazar Teri Ek Nazar Meri” in the list. So I’m posting its you tube link as below:
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I had never come across this song before. Nice one – and I love the instrumentation. Thanks!
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Few more follows:
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Ek nazar kisi ne dekha and Tirchhi nazar se yoon na dekh were both on my shortlist – I especially like Tirchhi nazar se yoon na dekh. So glad you added them here. :-)
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I don’t whether the song below qualifies for this post because the word “Nazar” appears in the third line
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Dil toh kisi ko doge is such a delightful song (and I am a Johnny Walker fan), but ‘nazar‘ comes too far in to qualify. But thank you for posting this – loved listening to it again!
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hi madhuji,
indeed very nice collection!
every song is a gem.
happy that u included, shokh nazar ki bijliya and jane man ek nazar dekh le!
those r my all time favorites!
i will post some songs tomorrow,
i have to search my collection
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hi,
a few more Nazar songs…………………
Nazar ne uthate hi from gunda, by lata M D G s Kohli
then…..
Dhoonde Nazar Nazar…. from Dilli ka dada by asha mahendra kapoor M D Na Datta
Tujh se Nazar Milane Mein- by asha from Meri surat teri aankhen
Nazar Ko sambhalo by mukesh suman kalyanpur from Cobra Girl..
this is my personal favorite
i hope u like the songs…….
:-)
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a few more……………
this time a ‘Chitragupt’ collection of Nazar Songs…………………………
Nazar se aaj dil mein from gambler
Teri shokh nazar ka ishara from patang..
this must b familiar to u!
Tum Se Nazar Kuch from mummy daddy……
Mile to phir jhuke nahin from akashdeep….
abhi na phero nazar from biradari
Uthegi tumhari nazar dhere dheere by lata from Ek Raaz
i hope u will enjoy these songs as well………….
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still
a few more
kisi ki nazar ka mast ishara from rag rang M D Roshan
Apni nazar se unki nazar tak from humlog
it is said that, Kehta hai joker sara zamana from mera naam joker was inspired from this tune, ………….
Nazar Lage Pyari from Adal E Jahangir
and finally a familiar song from jab pyar kisi se hota hai…..
nazar mere dil ke paar hui
this last one must also b familiar to u!
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Nice songs. Yes, the last one I had heard before, but not the others. Apni nazar se unki nazar tak did sound a bit like Kehta hai joker saara zamaana – the tempo is very different, but there’s a definite resemblance. Thanks for this.
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Hi
I realise I’m a bit late posting a comment but I hope no one has mentioned the few nazar songs I’ve thought of.
1.Nazar uthne se pehle hi – Modern Girl 1961
2. Nazar mein rang aur masti – Jawan Mohabbet 1971
3. Nazar yeh teri tikhi na maar – Mr India 1961
4. tum jispe nazar dalo uss dil ka – Yeh raaste hain pyar ke 1963
5. Pehli nazar tere pyar ki – Tel malish boot polish 1961
6. Bahar nazar karoon – Baaghi 1964
7. Jaate jaate nazar bhar dekh lo – qawwali ki raat 1964
video is quite short
here is the audio
and finally
milti hai agar nazaron se nazar – do dillon ki dastan 1966
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Thank you! Some nice songs here, and several that were new to me.
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