This post has been in the pipeline a long, long time. When I first started this blog way back in November 2008, the very first ‘ten favourites’ song list I compiled was for Madhubala songs—and (unlike what I now do, which is to steer clear of assigning ‘absolute favourite’ status to any particular song), I actually went out on a limb and marked one Madhubala song as my favourite. That was Aaiye meherbaan baithiye jaan-e-jaan. And, even as I was putting that down on my list, I thought to myself: “I must do a list of my favourite crooner and club songs someday.”
Well, here it is, finally. It’s not as if I’ve spent the last many years thinking of this post; but the ‘Crooner Songs’ folder has been there on my laptop all these years, even with some screenshots taken of the songs I knew had to be part of the list.
In any self-respecting, urban-centric film of the 50s and 60s, a club song was almost de rigueur. It would probably be picturized on someone of the likes of Helen, but not necessarily: at times, what was needed was not someone who was a fabulous dancer, but someone who could project the oomph one associated with the club singer.
The song came in different avatars: from a floor show in a club, with the singer/dancer surrounded by people sitting at tables; to a grand party. From situations where the singer was also the dancer, to those where she merely stood and sang while others danced. Sometimes the song was there merely for entertainment value: as a backdrop to a rendezvous, often to underline the fact that the venue (hotels and clubs in Hindi cinema being notorious for all the clandestine and criminal activities they got up to) was the sort of place you had women like these dancing for ghair mards. Mostly, it was just a standard come-hither song; but every now and then, there was more to it. There were songs with hidden meanings, aimed at alerting the baddies to cops lurking among the patrons (or vice-versa). There were songs that teased, songs that blackmailed, songs of all sorts.
So here they are, ten of my favourite club and crooner songs, all from pre-1970s films that I’ve seen. Note that when I refer to ‘clubs’, these also include restaurants, hotels and the like, which have floor shows of various kinds.
These are, as usual, in no particular order.
1. Kya ho phir jo din rangeela ho (Nau Do Gyarah, 1957): For me, this is one of the all-time great club songs. Shashikala acted in Nau Do Gyarah as a dancer who will stop at nothing, not even crime, to get what she wants. She’s bold, brassy, and undeniably attractive as she holds centre stage, cigarette case in one hand, cigarette in a long holder in the other, shimmying across the set while a very young Helen accompanies her. The music (SD Burman’s) is superb, and the way Geeta Dutt’s and Asha Bhonsle’s voices meld and play together is wonderful: so peppy and sexy.
2. O babu o lala mausam dekho chala (Dilli ka Thug, 1958): Hindi film composers have often, and with reason, been accused of plagiarism: at worst, blatantly lifting a tune from another (uncredited) source; at best, being ‘inspired’. This is an example of inspiration in its best way: Ravi takes the base tune of Rum and Coca-Cola, and jazzes it up so brilliantly, with so many fabulous variations, that it retains only a ghost of a resemblance to the original tune. And Smriti Biswas, clad in a sheath dress and flirting with a handsome and very suave Iftekhar, is sultriness itself. Plus, Geeta Dutt, so absolutely the queen of the club song: I think she, even more than Asha, made this genre her own, she was so good at it.
3. Dil ki manzil kuchh aisi hai manzil (Tere Ghar ke Saamne, 1962): If Shashikala and Helen came together in Kya ho phir jo din rangeela ho, two other dancers featured in this sizzling and very pleasant club song from Tere Ghar ke Saamne: Helga and Edwina Lyons, both lip-syncing to the voice of Asha Bhonsle, dance and sing their way through Dil ki manzil kuchh aisi hai manzil. Helga is beautiful, and the very intricate music (SD Burman’s) is a delight, though it’s inspired from the song El negro zumbon, from the 1953 Italian film Anna.
4. Aage bhi jaane na tu (Waqt, 1965): This song was the reason I didn’t title this post ‘club songs’; because Aage bhi jaane na tu takes place at a private party. I remember, in fact, my mother watching this song long ago, and remarking that Erica Lal (who lip-syncs to the song) is very believably the crooner: her mannerisms, her style, everything. Besides that, I love the music (Ravi’s), the lyrics (Sahir’s; he seems to have written a fair number of songs of this carpe diem style) and Asha’s superb rendition. Plus, this is one of those very rare songs in Hindi cinema where the story doesn’t stop for the song. Not only are significant things happening while the crooner is singing, there is crucial action, dialogues and all, during the interludes.
5. Rut jawaan jawaan (Aakhri Khat, 1966): Like Aage bhi jaane na tu, Rut jawaan-jawaan too is about seizing the moment, of grabbing the present without fearing when it will end. And, like Aage bhi jaane na tu, this is another song where the interludes are occasion for the story to continue: in this case, for a dialogue to go on. A wonderful song, both in terms of music and rendition, with Bhupinder both onscreen and off, and (from what I’ve heard) also actually playing the guitar in the recording of this song. The trumpet, incidentally, was played also onscreen and off, by the famous Chic Chocolate. An unusual instance of a male crooner, and so good.
6. Neele aasmaani bujho toh yeh naina babu (Mr & Mrs 55, 1955): One of the less popular songs of Mr & Mrs 55 (the score of which seems to be dominated by Jaane kahaan mera jigar gaya ji, even though pretty much every song in this film is a good one). Madhubala and Guru Dutt play a couple, married for the sake of convenience but attracted to each other—and playing a game of cat-and-mouse, push-and-pull, in this scene set at a club. As she dances with other men, he watches on: and a crooner sings a love song. Cuckoo was an unexpected choice, I think, as the crooner (why would you have a Cuckoo song in which she doesn’t dance, only sings? I don’t count the few seconds of dancing at the beginning of the song). But Cuckoo does play the part of the crooner well, and the song is a good one.
7. Dil ki gireh khol do (Raat aur Din, 1967): A club song with a difference: this one is sung, not by paid performers at the venue in question, but by two guests who get carried by the ambience. Dil ki gireh khol do is set in Calcutta’s famous Firpo’s restaurant (established by the Italian Angelo Firpo in 1917), which was once a favourite with Calcutta’s European population, and till well into the 60s, was known for its superb live band, and the fact that Firpo’s had the only ‘sprung dance floor’ in India: it gave an additional lift to dancers’ feet. In such surroundings, wouldn’t a happy-go-lucky woman, out to paint the town red, decide to lose herself in the moment? To dance with a stranger, to reach out and embrace the world? Nargis looks very alluring and exotic, in a mature sort of way. And the way Lata and Manna Dey have sung this song: superb.
8. Kahaan phir hum kahaan phir tum (Night Club, 1958): How could I possibly leave out a film that was named Night Club? This Ashok Kumar-Kamini Kaushal starrer (which had Iftekhar in a small but rare role as a gangster) was, as is obvious from its title, set around a night club, and—naturally—had several songs set in the club. Sanam jab ghar se nikalke chalo, Main hoon jaadugar—and, my favourite of them all, Kahaan phir hum kahaan phir tum. A young Helen (who, in the same year, and in another Ashok Kumar-starrer suspense thriller, shot to fame with Mera naam Chin Chin Choo) is very watchable here (when was she not?), lip-syncing to Geeta Dutt’s voice.
9. Thodi der ke liye mere ho jaao (Akeli Mat Jaiyo, 1963): A hot mess of a film, going all over the place, Akeli Mat Jaiyo stands out for me because of this song. Not only because Minoo Mumtaz really sizzles, but because the music (Madan Mohan’s) and the rendition (Asha Bhonsle’s) is so good. The way the song goes from slow, languorous, to fast, peppy. The fact that Minoo Mumtaz’s character, though a dancer at the Hotel Astoria, is not a ‘bad girl’, really: she lives in a women’s hostel, and she is best friends with the heroine (Meena Kumari).
10. Aaiye meherbaan baithiye jaan-e-jaan (Howrah Bridge, 1958): If Minoo Mumtaz, playing the ‘girl next door who also dances’ in Akeli Mat Jaiyo was a bit offbeat, Madhubala’s character Edna in Howrah Bridge was even more unusual: a heroine, no less, who is a dancer. Edna dances and sings, in a range of performances of which the highlights for me are Dekhke teri nazar and Aaiye meherbaan. This one, especially, is a joy to watch (and to listen to): the music (OP Nayyar’s) and Asha’s rendition are wonderful, nuanced and rich and utterly seductive; and Madhubala is gorgeousness itself. I love the way, when she makes Ashok Kumar get up and dance with her, he has this look of almost bemused pleasure on his face: as if he can’t get over the fact that this beauty is dancing with him.
Which are the club songs you enjoy? Please share.
Dustedoff 
Oh God, I recognize only 3 songs (from the list): Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu, Aaiye Meherbaan and Dil Ki Girah Khol Do…
I love Dil Ki Girah Khol Do…
There’s a song ‘Raat Akeli Hai…’ that sounds like a club/cabaret song but it’s not. :)
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When I published this post, I thought “Will anybody remember Raat akeli hai, because that has the feel of a crooner song?” :-)
That one, though, appeared in this post, on Come Hither songs:
https://madhulikaliddle.com/2017/10/01/ten-of-my-favourite-come-hither-songs/
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In case you haven’t heard it, I’d like to mention another club song of Madhubala’s: Aa Aa Meri Taal Pe Naach Le Babu from Kal Hamara Hai (1959). Though lyrically and compositionally inferior to Aaiye Meherbaan, Madhubala looks equally stunning in both songs. I’m unsure if it fits because it seems to be picturized on a stage, but I distinctly remember her character being a club dancer. Unlike Howrah Bridge, this headache-inducing film does resort to many common tropes. Madhubala plays twins, one a sanskari daughter and the other a misguided western dancer, both of whom fall in love with Bharat Bhooshan. Throw in the subplot of him being falsely accused of murder, and surely you can predict what ensues. In any case, it is a fun song, and Madhubala’s vivacious and sensuous dance is the highlight.
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Thank you for reminding me of this song. I’ve heard it before, but it’s been ages, so I’d forgotten all about it. Fantastic song, and how lovely Madhubala looks! The film does sound a wee bit intriguing (I’d see it just for Madhubala in double role… but Bharat Bhushan? Hmm).
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Smriti Biswas was one of my favourites till I read somewhere that she had played a real life vamp in the Guru Dutt-Waheeda-Geeta Dutt matter.
This selection is a really good one. Will try and watch the movie in which Iftekar plays a gangster. Saw him play a small time goon in Jagte Rajo. A tiny role but he made a mark.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this. Night Club I had seen so many years ago that I’ve forgotten pretty much all of it, except that Iftekhar had a small role as a gangster, and that Kamini Kaushal was really miscast: she just didn’t fit the role.
I hadn’t known about Smriti Biswas being the villain in the Guru Dutt story. I’ve always liked her a lot, this is sad news.
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I was delighted to find Kahan Phir Hum, Kahan Phir Tum on the list. A lot of things happening in that one.
Here are two of my favourites:
Patli Kamar Hai from Barsaat because Cuckoo never looked as lovely as she does in this. And of course, Premnath is absolute eye-candy:
And this one from Awara because Shamshad is awesome and Raj captures the ambiance of a seedy club so well
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Talking of Patli kamar hai: I think that was the first film in which I saw Premnath as a young and dashing man – before that, all I’d seen him in were his later films, when he’d really gone to seed. This one came as quite a revelation!
Thank you for this song and for Ek do teen. Both are great choices for the theme.
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What a lovely theme, Madhu. It just made my day. I love every single song you listed, but of course, my favourites are Aaiye meherbaan, Dil ki girah khol do, Aage bhi jaane na tu, Rut jawan jawan and Kya ho jo phir.
I would like to add Dil jale to jale from Taxi Driver, Ye khile khile taare from Qaidi no: 911 and Chhoti si zindagi from Pocketmaar.
And of course, my favourite Geeta Dutt number:
Hoon abhi mein jawaan ae dil from Aar Paar.
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Thank you, Anu! I’m so glad you enjoyed these – and the ones you’ve listed are lovely ones too. In fact, I like all the club songs of Taxi Driver: so good, all of them.
I had forgotten Yeh khile-khile taare, so since I’m watching that again, I might as well embed it here:
And Chhoti si hai zindagi:
Hoon abhi main jawaan is such a gem. Totally sultry and beautiful.
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Lovely songs, as always! I remember the song ‘sapna mera toot gaya’ , haunting, not sure which year or name of the film, Aruna Irani and Roshan. Then there is ‘Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche’, I think in a party, not a club. Shammi has danced in a lot of clubs in his movies! I also like the number ‘jaan pehechan ho’ from Gumnam, no idea on who the song was picturised on, they wear masks!! but a peppy number.’ Tu auron ki kyun ho gayee’ from Ek baar muskurado’ had some nice songs in the club. The 1980s had a lot of great dance club songs. Dev Anand in lootmar-‘jab chaye mera jadoo’ is pure gold.
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Thank you! Glad you liked this.
Jaan-pehchaan ho is picturised on Laxmi Chhaya as the lead female dancer, and Herman Benjamin lip-syncing to Rafi’s voice. That is one of my favourite dance songs – delightful. I also agree that there were some great club songs in the 80s (and 70s too); Jab chhaaye mera jaadoo is a classic, so perfect as a dance number.
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Great list as always! It’s nice to discover songs I hadn’t heard before.
The only one I can think to add, that would fit your timeline, would be Babuji Dheere Chalna from Aar Paar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffpZXcdVIR0
All others I can remember are from the 70s or 80s – with the latter truly being the club song decade (though not always to good effect!) – Pyaar Karne Wale (Shaan), Jawani Jaaneman (Namak Halal), Laila Main Laila (Qurbani), Mere Naseeb Mein (Naseeb), etc..
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I’m glad you enjoyed this, thank you!
And yes, Babuji dheere chalna is a gem. Lovely song.
The 70s and 80s, I agree, had some really good club songs – the ones you’ve mentioned, of course, but I’d like to add another to that list, a special favourite of mine: Raat baaki baat baaki. Parveen Babi was a pro at the club song. :-)
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Oh yes Raat Baaki is beautiful. I agree Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman were both so good at playing the sultry crooner.
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Yes, Zeenat Aman too – I think they were both very sultry in a Westernized sort of way, so they could really pull it off.
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Lovely theme..and Kya ho jo Phir is always so stunning…absolute marvel ..
Many songs to add, but let me start with a quintessential Calcutta Club/Crooner Song , Kaisi Paheli hai ye Zindagani, from Parineeta …
Calcutta was the club/crooning capital of India as we know and here’s to that lovely city..
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My mother grew up in Calcutta, in the 50s and 60s, so the era of the crooner – Pam Crain, the first name that comes to mind – is very familiar to Mummy. I remember, when she saw Parineeta and this song, Mummy said, “She reminds me so much of Pam Crain.” The style, I guess, and the ada. Thank you for this one, ak – one of my favourites.
Here’s another newish song that I think gets the crooner style right; from Khoya-Khoya Chaand, Yeh nigaahein nigaahein jhuki-jhuki:
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Yes Khoya Khoya Chand was good !
And so was Bombay Velevt, for sheer audacity I think..
You might want to see this :)
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Thanks for sharing that tidbit about Pam Crain..and the memories of growing up in Calcutta of 50s …
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/original-diva-of-park-street-goes-silent/cid/1287939
Here are some obituaries for Pam Crain… i wish we had a video of hers …
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This was such a good read, thank you for sharing, ak. Yes, I wish there was at least one video of hers! Would’ve loved to see.
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Oooh, thank you for Jaata kahaan hai deewaane! I had no idea that had been repurposed here. Though so sad to realize that barring a handful of people commenting on that link, nobody seemed to know of the original. :-( To be expected, I guess.
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After Calcutta, it was Bombay , for the clubs and the crooners ..so here is Mohabbat Buri Bimari from Bombay Velvet ..
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Ooh, this one was new to me! So good. Thank you so much, ak. Loved this one, the song, the ambience, Anushka, everything. So much style.
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And this one is for the 80s clubs and discotheques..and for Nazia Hassan…
Aap jaisa koi from Qurbaani
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Ah, yes! As some others have commented (and I agree) the 80s were a good time for onscreen club songs. :-)
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A lovely post…First song that comes to mind ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’. ‘Aage Bhi Jane na tu’, ‘Dil Ki Girah’, ‘Kaisi paheli’ are also lovely songs. The other songs I heard for the first time.
Some of my favourites are:
‘Mud Mud ke na dekh’ though in the second half it takes fast pace.
‘Kya hua tera waada’
Would ‘Inteha ho gayee’ song classify as club/crooner song? I am not sure if it is a club, looks like boat but he does croon.
I think Shammi Kapoor had his fair share of club songs. He is too boisterous for crooning though.
‘Aaj Kal tere mere pyar ke charche’
‘Tumne mujhe dekha’
‘Dil Ke Zarokhe mein’
And how about ‘Jawan-E-Janeman’
Finally two songs of recent times
‘Dil Ko Tum Se pyar hua’
‘Senorita’
There are lot of party songs happenings in club/pub/some such venue.
Maybe a post on those????
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Yes, lots of songs – Shammi, and in the 80s – that fit the bill. Not Senorita, though, since that’s not in a club, and there are no crooners around. :-)
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You have an uncanny knack of ferreting out songs many of which we have forgotten!
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:-) Thank you!
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Continuing from where I left off..
This one is a delight… Darling aankhon se aankein chaar karne do from Saat Khoon Maaf…
And of course there is Usha Uthup in this :)
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Very nice! As you can imagine, I hadn’t heard this one. A very pleasing take on Kalinka.
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And talking of male crooners … this one is an absolute delight …
Naina da kya Kapoor from Andhadhun
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I had completely forgotten this one! I’ve watched the film (loved it) and had liked the song too from back then, but this slipped my mind. Thanks. :-)
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The latest entrant is Babuji Bhole Bhale from Jubilee
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Nice! This reminds me that I should watch Jubilee… I seem to be very far behind on this one.
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Oh, do! I just finished watching the first four episodes and am totally hooked to it. Wamiqa (the girl in the song above) is a brilliant actor and deserves to be a superstar. So is Sidhant, the chap who plays Jai Khanna in the serial. Oh, do watch! Pronto! :)
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I will! BTW, I saw someone mention (on Twitter, IIRC) that if ever a Shammi Kapoor biopic is made, they should cast Sidhant in the lead role. :-)
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I would say that the club songs are making a comeback, as a new Indian audience starts clubbing again. The 50s, 60, 70, (and maybe even 80s) were a hangover from a colonial past, and the stereotypes of the club and crooners from the late 20th and early 21st century. Very apparent in the 50s movies and that is where you have some utterly classical club songs and ambiences. But that was not an ethos of man average Indian , especially those not from Calcutta or Bombay. 80s, 90s and 2000s saw a very different cinema, catering to an audience that was/is non-metro. But now into the second decade of this millennia, one can see the clubs making a come-back, in real life and in reel life as well.
Even if many of them still situate themselves in the swinging 50s and 60s, the audiences can identify with them as a part of their current urban lived experience as well.
I think we will see many more clubs/crooners/singers in the near future as well, as live singing becomes more mainstream, as an experience and a vocation as well.
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I think live singing never really left the scene, but perhaps this whole thing of ‘club music’ – the Westernised feel, as opposed to the live ghazal singer – is really coming back now.
Insightful and interesting comment, ak. Thank you for that – it makes a lot of sense, and I agree with what you say.
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This may be a little bit more burlesque-ish, but may I present here as a club/crooner song :)
Girls just like to Swing from Dil Dhadkne Do
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I like this! Yes, more burlesque, dance hall style.
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Another relatively new one … Muskaan Jhoothi hai from Talaash
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Another film that I’ve seen and liked, but a song I’d forgotten. Nice, though.
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Last one ..pushing the envelope here … for a male crooner (?) , Tu Hi Meri Shab hai from Gangster…
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Easy listening, even if it’s not exactly club/crooner. :-)
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yes… its difficult to sift and differentiate a multitude of formats from the club/crooner requirement of this post… the cabaret, the bar dance, the show , the private party performance and so on…
deliberately left out a whole lot of those..
I could add a few which straddle the fence :)
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So i will add another old one here …on the thin line ..
Teri meri yaari badi purani from Charitraheen
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And another one …what would you call this ?
Humne Sanam ko Khat likha (this one for Smita Patil !!) from Shakti
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When I think club/crooner, I always think of a much more Westernised ambience, if you know what I mean – Humne sanam ko khat likha somehow doesn’t come across in that category to me as far as tone goes, but yes, given it is a club, and people are sitting around eating/drinking/watching, it fits.
While on the topic, here’s another song, which was in my shortlist and I was wondering if anybody would mention it. Since nobody has, I might as well bung it in. Rangeen bahaaron se hai gulzaar China Town, from China Town.
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Thanks ! This was delightful !!
Yes, Humne Sanam Ko Khat Likha is more of the Ghazal live singing experience that you mentioned in response to my earlier comment :)
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This post has given me a lot of lovely songs to go back and listen to. Just what I needed to lift my spirits. Thank you! 💖
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I am so glad you enjoyed this. Thank you!
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Dear Madhu – brought back some great memories. In particular kya ho phir jo din rangeela ho. A very dear friend who passed away recently always used to sing ‘phir to bada mazaa hoga’ when we were having fun and I used to tell her – there is no such song – pre-Google days. Remember her fondly each time I hear it!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Nishi. Thank you for the appreciation!
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I am generally of the camp more likely to appreciate a multitude of versions of a given song or melody than to laud original genius, but Ravi nicking “Rum and Coca-Cola” still gave me a smile. Perhaps you already know, but this song was the basis of a copyright suit that is still a well-known case study in the legal history of popular music. The melody is a Martiniquais folk song, while the well-known chorus lyrics were written by the Trinidadian calypso musician Lord Invader. Then Morey Amsterdam copyrighted his adaptation of Lord Invader’s lyrics in the U.S., with two of his colleagues credited as composers. Amsterdam’s version is, shall we say, rather more complimentary towards the U.S. military and economic presence in Trinidad than Lord Invader’s had been! Amsterdam’s adaptation is the basis for the well-known Andrews Sisters version, which became a hit in the U.S. Lord Invader sued for copyright infringement in a case that, because of the international jurisdictions involved, became incredibly complex. The end result was that Amsterdam was allowed to keep his U.S. copyright registry for the song, but that he owed Lord Invader a massive sum in back royalties. The plus side for Lord Invader was that he had to hang around New York while this case was being pursued and became a respected part of the international calypso scene there. Here is his version:
And one of the Martiniquais ones:
Like you, I am usually hesitant to name a “favorite” anything, but for club songs, there can be no contest. I love everything about “Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu”: the music, the lyrics, the picturization, and how it fits into the larger film.
Thank you for introducing me to “Rut Jawaan Jawaan”! An unusual example, and I’m certain I had never heard it before.
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What an interesting history to that song! Thank you so much for this – it was really fascinating. And I loved listening to the versions of that; the progression and evolution of the tune is quite fantastic.
I have an especially soft spot for Aage bhi jaane na tu: it’s easily one of the top songs in this genre.
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Enjoyed the list. Lots of songs already added here.
Would add some club songs by singers who were not generally considered for such occasions.
1 Aa jane Jaa by Lata Mangeshkar
2 Sun Re Sun Albele by Suman Kalyanpur
3 O dilwale nigahen mila le by Mubarak Begum
Has anyone added
Tu mungla by Usha Mangeshkar? Would it fit?
And,
Mera naam hai Shabnam?
Few club songs by Alisha chinoy
Dil ko hazar baar roka from murder also fits here
And,
Tinka Tinka zara zara from Karam. Was very popular during its release in 2005
And,
If I’m not wrong,
Kajrare kajrare is a club song too, or precisely it’s a bar.
I think
Sajna ve sajna from Chameli is a song picturised in a bar. Club and bar are not the same, I guess! Still here it is,
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Very good list of songs, Anupji! I was wondering if anybody would remember Aa jaan-e-jaan. O dilwaale nigaahein milaale and the song from Tarzan Comes to Delhi were new to me, so special thanks for those.
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And
Did the other songs fit?
The ones from beyond 70s?
🤔
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They do! Though I think there’s a feel to Sajna ve sajna which is very Indian-Punjabi, not the Westernised sort of touch I think of when I think of crooners and club songs. But I could be wrong.
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This is an awesome post. like nearly all the songs listed here, also in the comments. Also recalled some other songs,
1. ‘awara ae mere dil’, the other song from ‘Raat aur din’, I think it was picturised on Laxmi Chhaya.
2. A Beautiful Baby Of Broadway, and ‘o meri baby doll’ both from ‘Ek Phool Char Kante (1960)’
3. Sambhalo Apna Dil Dilwalo, from ‘Kala bazar (1960)
4.Nain Mila Kar Chain Churana , from Aamne Saamne (1967)
5. some songs from Night in London and China town
No one has mentioned certain famous songs of Rishi Kapoor, ‘chehra hai ya chand khila hai’ from Saagar; ‘bachna ae haseeno’ (hum kisise kam naheen) and the songs of Karz (I don’t like Om shanti om and dard e dil at all, But these are classics now. the music of L-P post 1970 gives me mixed feelings and sometimes does not appeal to me)
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Thank you for those songs! Some really lovely ones (especially Awara ae mere dil, which I am very fond it). Totally agree re: Rishi Kapoor – he had a lot of songs picturised in club settings. I hear you about LP’s songs post 1970. There are lots of songs there that I don’t like at all. Though I will admit that even pre-1970, LP weren’t among my favourite MDs…
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An enjoyable post! All the best ones and known ones in the list with so many of them added in the comments. Majority of them are an audio-visual delight.
Here are some that I believe, have not been mentioned:
Two from Baazi 1951, both picturized on one of my favorite Geeta Bali – Sharmaye kaahe ghabraye kaahe and Suno gajar kya gaaye (though I find her head gear weird here)
One from Anari 1959 – 1956, 1957 1958 1959 –
Funtoosh 1956 – Johny jeene mein kya hai
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Thank you for these songs! I am especially happy to see Suno gajar kya gaaye, I’d been hoping someone would remember that one. :-)
Also, 1956 1957 reminded me of another club song that features Raj Kapoor: Beliya beliya beliya from Parvarish:
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A Sheila Vaz number from House No.44 – Dum hai baaki to gham nahin
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Oh yes, wonderful song. :-)
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This one is more comic than anything – Amitabh dancing with Kiran Vairale
Rootho na rootho na – Ahsaas 1979
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I don’t recall having come across this one before. Yes, definitely more comic than anything else.
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Naughty boy Club Song, my contribution.
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I had watched Naughty Boy a long time back, so had forgotten Ho gayi Shyam dil badnaam Thank you for this one, it’s a good song.
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Perhaps due to some technical glitch or issues, the video could not be uploaded.
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No, it’s not a technical glitch. Sometimes the channel uploader on YouTube does not allow the video to be played unless you go to YouTube to play it. If you click on the link ‘Watch on YouTube’ that appears in that black box shown above, you can see the video. So all well. :-)
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Oh, great set of songs, Madhu! Love them all. Here’s a little gem from the Ravi-Asha Bhosle combo that I love for many reasons, among them: the effervescent Laxmi Chhaya, the woman who gets up and randomly starts singing in the middle of the song, the little scene playing out on the side between our innocent heroine Nutan and practiced seducer Rehman which sets in motion the main plot of this Kati Patang remake, and last but not least, Asha’s effortless rendition. Just fabulous!
Yeh dil hai teri hi nighaon ki nishana – Sanjh Ki Bela/Ravi/Asha Bhosle/Prem Dhawan
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You always have a nice song – and often a little-known one – to add, Shalini! Thank you for this one; it was new to me. Laxmi Chhaya is such a gem.
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Madhuji, this is such a wonderful theme and the song selection also is great. Here are two songs which I guess have not yet been mentioned:-
1) Soch Samajhkar Dil Ko Lagaana from Jaal
and
2) Aaj Socha To Aansoo bhar aayee
This one though sung at a club is what I call a canorous eyesore. This song brings tears to your eyes when you see it because of the way it has been shot. Madan Mohan’s ghazal is so much out of place in a club set up. Add to that the fact that Priya Rajvansh is so inelegant. All in all it is a melody that goes down the abyss because of the way it is filmed. If you want tears in your eyes for the right reasons, it is best to only hear and not see the song.
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I had forgotten both of these, but thanks for them – they’re both good. I agree, though, that Aaj socha toh looks awful. Not just Priya Rajvansh’s woodenness but even something as basic as the gaudy colours of the set, her badly tailored dress, the fact that she’s wearing a bindi which absolutely doesn’t go with the dress – ugh.
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Babuji dheere chalna??
Songs from baazi ??
I was disappointed not to see them. But ok! The compilation is fabulousssss… :)
Also, recently streamed amazon series ‘jubilee’ had a club song resonant of past days…babuji bhole bhale, I hope you have heard it..
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this list. And yes, the songs from Baazi and Babuji dheere chalna are good, but ten songs, you know – I liked these ones the best of the lot. :-) Someone has posted the song from Jubilee in one of the comments. Liked it, yes.
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Dear Madhuji,
I would like to add this Song from the 1957 Film “BAARISH”
With warm regards
PARTHA CHANDA
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I had forgotten Mr John ya Baba Khan! Thank you for this one, Parthaji. Good song.
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I’m always one of the last to post. By the way, it was a nice collection and I thoroughly enjoyed most of the songs. Let me post some of my favorite foot-tapping club songs which are in my opinion marvelous but surprising never got popularity.
1. Teri Nazaron Ka Ishara Mil Gaya composed by C. Ramachandra
2. Jara Dekh Mohabbat Kar Ke composed by C. Ramachandra
3. Zindagi Mein Pyar Karna Seekh Leh composed by Ravi
4. Ruby O Ruby composed by LP
5. Aji O Suno To composed by OP Nayyar
6. Aao Ji Aao Na composed by Lala Sattar
7.
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Nice! I had forgotten the song from 12 O’Clock, so that is especially welcome. Also Aaoji aao na dil mein samaao – I had never heard that one before, but it’s very good.
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Posting a better copy of one of my favorite club song
1. Aao Ji Aao Na composed by Lala Sattar
2. Hum Hain Diwane Tere composed by Amzad (Not sure whether qualifies for club song)
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Hmm. I don’t think I’d slot Hum hain deewaane tere as a club song. :-)
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Hello Madhu ji
Just recollected few more club songs and sharing it below:
1.Ye Raat Aashiqana composed by OP Nayyar
2. VE NEERE NEERE AA SEENE NAAL LAA composed by Safdar Hussain
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The Naya Andaaz song I remembered when I heard it playing, but Ve neere neere aa was new to me. Quite an eye-opener, that – it is, I think, much bolder than Hindi cinema was – in that panting, for instance, at the beginning; or some of the camera work. Not what I’d have expected from Pakistani cinema. :-)
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You’re absolutely right. But Pakistan went through the change in late seventies which we’re currently witnessing in India.
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That’s really interesting. I find the parallels (or not) between Indian and Pakistani cinema intriguing – for instance, the sort of music Hindi cinema saw in the 50s seems to have come to Pakistan only in the 60s.
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I thought to share 50s and 60s songs of both Indian and Pakistani cinema with similar moods to show the similarity/difference:
1. Ghir Ghir Ke Aayi Badarwa by Lata
2. Teri Ulfat Mein Sanam by Zubaida Khanum
3. Jiya O Jiya O by Rafi
4. Tumhe Kaise Bata Doon by Ahmad Rushdie
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Very nice! I especially liked Tumhe kaise bata doon. Thank you for these.
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