Ten of my favourite title songs

Given that I’ve done so many song lists, it surprises me, too, that I’ve so far never done a list of my favourite title songs. Blog reader Naghma (who has suggested some great themes for song lists over the years) suggested this one too, and I was a little taken aback to realize that—though I’d done a credits songs list, and had another noted down for climax songs or songs that end a film—I’d never even thought of doing a title songs list.

So here it is: ten of my favourite songs that echo the title of the film they’re from. Note: not songs that share the same title as another film (for example, there’s Dekh tere sansaar ki haalat kya ho gayi bhagwaan, which inspired the 1957 film Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan; or Yeh raat phir na aayegi from Mahal, which inspired the 1966 Biswajit-Sharmila Tagore thriller of the same name). Also, to make things a little more challenging for myself, I’ve restricted these songs to those where an entire phrase from the song is also the title of the film; not just one word. Thus, although China Town features in the song Rangeen bahaaron se hai gulzaar China Town, it’s not an entire phrase, just that one place name—which is why it’s not on this list.

And, as always, these songs are all from pre-1970s Hindi films that I’ve seen. In no particular order:

1. Ek ghar banaaoonga tere ghar ke saamne (Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, 1962): From one of my favourite Dev Anand films comes this utterly delightful song, of a frustrated lover vowing to build a house opposite that of his beloved. Besides the great music and the wonderful picturization, with an inebriated Dev Anand singing to a tiny Nutan, smiling and cheering him on from his drink-filled glass, this song has a dimension not often encountered in love songs: it isn’t merely a love song. Instead, Ek ghar banaaoonga (written by Hasrat Jaipuri) echoes the storyline of the film somewhat: Ghar ka banana koi aasaan kaam nahin, she points out—and that, as is so resoundingly brought home in this story about lovers who must contend against their warring fathers, is the crux of the matter.

2. Yeh raaste hain pyaar ke (Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, 1963): Loosely based on the famous Nanavati case, the last case to be tried by jury in India, this film starred Sunil Dutt as a husband whose wife (Leela Naidu) has an affair with his friend (Rehman) while her husband is away. An unusually bold premise for a Hindi film in that era, when adultery was not something a ‘heroine’ would be guilty of. Here, while the adulterous wife and her lover party at a poolside do, his jilted lover (Shashikala) looks on and denounces them, warning them of what is to come. These paths of love are tortuous, walk carefully on them, for there are many pitfalls…

Yeh raaste hain pyaar ke, from Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke

3. Dil deke dekho (Dil Deke Dekho, 1959): Usha Khanna’s debut film had plenty of very catchy tunes, including four which were obviously inspired (heavily, too) from hit Western tunes. This, from what I’ve heard, may have been a simple case of Usha Khanna being too young and unsure of herself to put her foot down when confronted by a comparatively domineering Nasir Husain, whose love for these tunes could have made him want to include copies of the songs in this film. However it might have been, this title song is obviously lifted from Sugar in the morning, though Usha Khanna does give it some interesting embellishments that help make Dil deke dekho her own song, too.

4. Yoon toh humne laakh haseen dekhe hain (Tumsa Nahin Dekha, 1957): Nasir Husain seems to have made several films in which the title of the film was echoed in a song; Dil Deke Dekho was one, Tumsa Nahin Dekha was another. Shammi Kapoor, in the film that proved to be his breakthrough, enabling him to finally get star status after years of slogging away, mostly ignored, is a sight for sore eyes. He’s handsome, and he’s so much fun as he both woos and teases an Ameeta who is increasingly amenable but keeps up a pretence of being miffed.

Besides the fact that this is a great song—good music, and a fantastic rendition by Rafi—I particularly like the picturization of Yoon toh humne laakh haseen dekhe hain. It could have been static and boring (all the action takes place on one ghoda-gaadi), but it is so very dynamic instead: Shammi Kapoor is physicality personified, and there’s so much interesting interaction happening, it never palls.

5. Banda parvar thhaam lo jigar (Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, 1963): From one ghoda-gaadi song to another, from one Nasir Husain film to another. Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon is, to me, one of the most satisfying entertainers of the mid-60s: it’s so easy to enjoy without taxing your brains or your emotions too much. OP Nayyar’s music is fabulous, and Asha Parekh and Joy Mukherji make for a good-looking couple. In this song, he, flimsily disguised as a gaadivaan, sort-of abducts her, well aware that she is already seriously attracted to him and will not mind being taken off for a rendezvous on the run. Here too all the action is limited to the vehicle, but to relieve possible monotony, there are extras waving from the roadside, hanging on to the poplars, and even following the lead pair in ghoda-gaadis of their own.

6. Badal jaaye agar maali chaman hota nahin khaali (Bahaarein Phir Bhi Aayengi, 1966): Unlike most of the other songs in this list—where romance, in some form or the other, seems to dominate—in the title song of Bahaarein Phir Bhi Aayengi, the tone is one of hope, of comfort. No matter if it is deepest winter now, no matter if all seems bleak and gloomy: spring is waiting, and it will come, no matter how unlikely that might seem at the moment. There will always be a dawn, all we have to do is work towards it without losing heart. The song gets a bit cheesy in its picturization, especially when Dharmendra looks so condescending towards the tired labourer and the little boy , but the song itself is one I like a lot.

7. Na jaa kahin ab na jaa (Mere Humdum Mere Dost, 1968): And, while we’re on Dharmendra, another title song from one of his films. Dharmendra, incidentally, seems to me to hold a record of sorts when it comes to title songs: besides the ones on this list, there are also the title songs of Aaya Saawan Jhoomke, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, Tum Haseen Main Jawaan and Aayi Milan Ki Bela, all of which starred Dharmendra (though he wasn’t the leading man in the last-named). Mere Humdum Mere Dost irritated me on several levels, not just because of the silly deceit shown, but also because it featured a grotesquely skewed pairing between an ageing and blobby Om Prakash and a pretty and vivacious Mumtaz. Plus more irritants.

But this song, at least, is lovely to both listen to, and to watch: Sharmila Tagore and Dharmendra are very easy on the eye.

8. Jiya o jiya o jiya kuchh bol do (Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, 1961): Another of those numerous title songs which are all about romance—and, interestingly, a title song that appeared in two versions. The first appearance of Jiya o jiya kuchh bol do is in its male version, where Sundar (Dev Anand) tries to court Nisha (Asha Parekh) in transit: she on the train, he on the roof of a car driving along beside the train track. In its later avatar, the song is a more angsty one, sung by Nisha to a miffed Sundar, who’s convinced she has been unfaithful. While the male version is a fun, peppy one, I personally like the female version a bit more.

9. Suno sajna papihe ne (Aaye Din Bahaar Ke, 1966): Yet another romantic song that echoes the title of the film. Dharmendra and Asha Parekh starred in Aaye Din Bahaar Ke as two lovers whose relationship is wrecked because of various nasty secrets, misplaced loyalties, misunderstandings, and whatnot. As a film, I find it wearily melodramatic—but it does have some nice songs, and this one isn’t just good to listen to, it’s also pretty to watch, what with all those flowers, and the lead pair.

10. Mehnatkash insaan jaag utha (Insaan Jaag Utha, 1959): And, to end the list, a somewhat unusual song: this isn’t a romantic song, but one with a decidedly socialist bent to it. Insaan Jaag Utha, about a fugitive thief (Sunil Dutt) forced to take refuge at the construction site of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, had several songs pictuirized against the setting of the construction site. There was a romantic song (Yeh chanda Roos ka na yeh Jaapaan ka), a teasing song (Jaanoo jaanoo ri), and there was this, where the labourers at the site sing as they go about their work, encouraging each other, and expressing their pride in their mehnat.

That’s my list of favourite title songs. Which title songs would comprise your list? Please share!

90 thoughts on “Ten of my favourite title songs

  1. The challenges and restrictions make your posts even more interesting. And I think it is the first time that I am recognizing all the songs you have listed. 

    And oh, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne…is such a lovely song!! And yes, the picturization is SO beautiful…everything that you mentioned. Jiya O…too. Love it. 

    It’s a lovely list. Aan Milo Sajna comes to my mind but I don’t really like this song. I like ‘Mere Humsafar, Mere Hamsafar’ (Jitendra and Sharmila Tagore), but I’m not sure if it qualifies. 

    I used to love old songs but these days I am more interested in new songs (not sure why). So if I make a list now, I’ll probably choose new songs. :))

    Liked by 1 person

  2. This is quite a nice theme for a list. I was surprised that you hadn’t made a list of it as yet. Your knock out criteria of not taking songs, which would become a film title in the years to come, would yield good results as well. My favourite one is tere mere sapne from Guide. There are more but I will remain true to your theme.

    I like all the songs in your list. I am listing a few songs, which also might have been on your short list and surely would have come on my short list.

    kabhi aar kabhi paar laga teer-e-nazar
    There is another word between the title of Aar Paar but I think it should qualify as a title song. Same is true for:
    ye jawani hai deewani

    Some songs, which I like and fulfill your criteria:
    jahan main jati hoon from Chupke Chupke

    dil apna aur preet parayi  

    dil tera deewana hai sanam

    mere mehboob tujhe mere mohabbat ki qasam

    zindagi ka safar

    mere sajan hai us paar

    The last song is not a typical title song in that, that the title is not in the mukhda, but in my opinion this song sums up the story of the movie so well that I thought it deserves to be here. Not only that the song justifies the title but also the decision of the heroine.

    Thank you for the entertaining blog post.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Your knock out criteria of not taking songs, which would become a film title in the years to come, would yield good results as well. 

      That’s an idea! And thank you for providing a song to add to that list. I must do this sometime. :-)

      And thank you for some really nice songs, Harvey. I especially like Mere mehboob, Dil apna aur preet paraayi, and Yeh jawaani hai deewani.

      Like

  3. Madhu,

    Nice list and nice concept. You must be the first person to like the female version of Jab pyar kisi se hota hai :) .

    I remember a title song Teri talash mein. The movie must have sunk without a trace, but the song somehow remained lodged in my memory.

    AK

    Like

      • strange that you never thought of this subject. This should have been first. But such things happen. Obvious elude us !

        i am so happy that you like ‘ aa Dil se Dil Mila le ‘ from Navrang. I also like it like anything! The way Asha has totally changed her tone especially for this one is marvelous !

        Liked by 1 person

        • One thing which really struck me about this song is how unusual it is for a playback singer to mould their voice to an actor. Rafi, of course, did that frequently, but I think he was one of the very rare singers who could do that – yet here Asha manages to sound almost exactly like the actress (I don’t recall her name). And it’s not an easy song to sing, anyway, so I wonder how difficult it might have been, to change your voice and sing a tough song at the same time. Impressive!

          Like

    • I also like the Lata’s version of jab pyar kisise hota hai. I wouldn’t say I like it better than Rafi’s version. Both have different rasas to it, so for me, I couldn’t compare them.

      I also like Lata’s version rim jhim gire savan as much if not more than Kishore’s version, although she sounds screechy in it at times.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I think for me liking Lata’s version of Jab pyaar kisise hota hai is more because of the lyrics than her particular rendition – I find the lyrics more interesting in the female version than in the male.

        Like

  4. Nice post. Recalling title songs is always fun. There are innumerable title songs, so I like your restriction of having a phrase as a title. Some sonsg that I could recall:

    Wo bijlee hai hum shola – Vallah Kya Baat Hai

    Kabhi humne nahin socha tha – Tumse Achha Kaun hai

    Badra chhaye – Aaya Sawan jhoomke

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Oh! Plenty of them.

    DIL EK MANDIR hai.

    EK DIL AUR SAU AFSANE.

    Dilruba maine tere pyar mein.. .. DIL DIYA DARD LIYA.

    DIL APNA AUR PREET PARAYI.

    DIL TERA DEEWANA hai sanam.

    DIL NE PHIR YAAD KIYA.

    YE HARIYALI AUR YE RASTA .

    JAPAN, LOVE IN TOKYO.

    JAB YAAD KISI KI AATI HAI.

    Rote hue aate hain sab.. .. Woh MUKADDAR KA SIKANDER.

    JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI.

    Liked by 1 person

      • Hi!

        With “plenty of them”, I am surprised that two popular ‘title songs” from two well-liked films of Basu Chatterji were not listed!

        Unless I got something wrong with the “criteria” ….

        I am course referring to:
        (1)
        ” Rajnigandha Phool Tumhaare” (sung by Lata Mageshkar) from the 1974 film “Rajnigandha”.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kWR1leNbtg

        ————————
        And
        (2)

        (Na Jaane Kyon Hota Hai Ye Zindagi Ke Saath,
        Achanak ye man……………..chhoti chhoti si baat”
        (Sung by Lata Mangeshkar)

        From “Chhoti si Baat” (1976)

        ‐‐———————
        Sending these from my cellphone, so not quite sure the LINKS will work…
        Also pl do let me know if I did not get the rules of the game!

        You’d have guessed why these songs were on my mind. I even remember them being filmed!

        Memories….

        Praba Mahajan

        Liked by 1 person

      • Dear Madhu, what a fabulous array of songs from you! No less …the response(s) to them!

        I did post in today, ( admittedly late…!) with my two-bit worth….
        I thought I saw the ‘sent successfully’ or words to that effect…

        The next thing I noticed was : Your comment is awaiting ‘moderation’. This disappeared along with my post!
        Pl do help, when possible…

        My best, always.

        Praba Mahajan

        Liked by 1 person

        • Thank you for these songs, dear Praba – and I think WordPress sent them into moderation because of the links; it does that sometimes. But no harm done.

          As for why these two songs (yes, I admit, they’re both absolutely lovely) aren’t included in my list – that’s because my blog focuses on pre-1970s cinema. So all my song lists are of songs from before the 70s too. Sorry about that! But my readers are more than welcome to post songs from other periods (as you can see several others have done too), so I get the best of both worlds that way. :-)

          Like

          • Thanks so much for the courtesy of a prompt response. To clarify, I had posted with my 2-bit contribution, with my comment in part, as a response to several readers who had posted earlier…
            Not on your original list…with its fascinating detailed info!

            Liked by 1 person

  6. AKHIYON KE JHAROKE SE.

    GEET GATA CHAL.

    RAM TERI GANGA MAILI ho gayi.

    Ek Banjara gaye.. JEENE KI RAAH bataye.

    Dukhi pe dukhi ho Ya SATTE PE SATTA.

    Mujhko yaaro maaf karna MAIN NASHE MEIN HOON.

    Pardesiyon se na akhiyan.. .. Baag mein JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE.

    Man ki pyas mere man se .. Aise tadapoon ke jaise JAL BIN MACHLI.

    DIL AAKHIR DIL HAI.

    I can go on n on n on. But, I think I will stop now.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. This list reminded me of phir tere shehar mein, from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina. Not a title song, of course, but its mukhda contains this line: “phir wohi ishq tera, phir wohi dil laaya hoon.” Different lyricists, and different films too, but it seemed to me a curious coincidence.

    Some songs which I think would match your description:
    Yehi hai woh saanjh aur savera
    Dil ek mandir hai
    Tere naina talaash kare jise – doesn’t exactly fit your criteria, but I love it too much to not mention (:
    Chupke chupke chal ri purvaiya

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for this – not just for the very nice songs you’ve suggested, but for mentioning Phir tere shahar mein. Ever since Harvey suggested that that might be an interesting theme for another song list, I’ve been thinking of songs which might that criteria – of containing a phrase that was made into a film title for a completely different film. I hadn’t remembered this one, so thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Two rare songs immediately come to mind. There was an unreleased film of Madan Mohan titled ‘ Jahan Mile Dharti Aakash ‘ ( 1968 ). Its title song having same words was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

    again, another film titled ‘ Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi ‘ ( 1970 ) had a similar title song by Rafi.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Uff! Kicking myself for thinking all this while that you had done this list so why should I? :)

    The first song that came to mind when I saw the post’s title was Chaudhvin ka chaand ho. And then, Tere ghar ke saamne.

    Anyway, to add to your list:

    1. Bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang baandhi from Kathputli.
    2. Chaahe koi mujhe junglee kahe from Junglee
    3. Sab kuchh seekha humne na seekhi hoshiyaari from Anari
    4. Awaara hoon from Awara
    5. Bhool gaya sab kuchh from Julie
    6. Na jaane kyun from Chhoti Si Baat
    7. Barsaat mein tak dina dhin from Barsaat
    8. Suniye Kahiye from Baton Baton Mein
    9. Dil apna aur preet paraaii from the film of the same name
    10. And finally, because I have to bung in one Amitabh song: Rote hue aate hain sab from Muqaddar ka Sikander. :))

    From the ‘newer’ songs, I love this one:

    Tu tu hai wahi dil ne jise apna kaha from Ye Vaada Raha

    And from yet another Rishi Kapoor film: Chehra hain ya chaand khila hai from Saagar.

    And since someone up there has posted one of my favourite newer songs from Ae dil hain mushkil, here’s another relatively melodious number from Main Hoon Na: Kis ka hai ye tumko intezaar? Main hoon na. SRK has some lovely title numbers to his credit, but the funniest, hands down, has to be the title track of Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.

    Ala Barfi from Barfi (I love the lyrics, and Mohit Chauhan has done a great job singing it.)

    And now, I think I’ve done a good job of spamming your comments section, so I’ll leave. :)

    Liked by 1 person

    • But Anu, there’s a major difference between most of the songs you’ve suggested, and the songs on my list: your songs (Anari, Julie, Awara, Junglee, etc) are all one-word titles; my songs are all – deliberately – phrase-titles. So you can still do your list! :-)

      And will you be surprised to know that I too love the title songs of Yeh Vaada Raha, Saagar, and Main Hoon Na? All three are fabulous. I have to go check out Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and the title song of Barfi, not familiar with either.

      Like

      • Perhaps I should do it as a complement (and compliment? :) ) to your post. :)

        As for Ae Dil Hain Mushkil, while Ranbir Kapoor plays the whiny man child for the umpteenth time, I personally think it is one of Karan Johar’s best works – the conceit was great, the acting was excellent (even Ranbir’s was spot on) and the music – as always for Johar – is lovely. Do watch. (Especially for Aishwarya Rai who exceeded expectations, and thanks to Johar for giving her such a fantabulous ‘older woman’ role).

        And if you haven’t watched Barfi yet, do watch that too. Hilarious, poignant and again, excellently acted by both Ranbir and Priyanka. And… great, great music by Pritam.

        Liked by 1 person

        • I’m putting Ae Dil Hai Mushkil on my watchlist, thank you! And Barfi. I agree about the music from the latter – Aashiyaan (Thodi si khushi) happens to be a favourite song with both me and the LO. :-)

          Like

  10. So many lovely songs mentioned. 

    One of my favourite is ‘Lakh chhupao, chhup na sakega raaj ho kitna gehra’ from Asli Naqli.

    Followed by Hariyali aur Rasta

    Aaja Ayee Bahar from Rajkumar

    Delightful ‘Jaha Mein Jaati Hun’ from Chori Chori

    Waqt se from Waqt

    Aap ke anurodh pe from Anurodh

    Ahl-e-Dil from Dard

    Kabhi Kabhi title track

    Latest favourites are Dhadak title track and Kalank title track.

    And though I hate it Bol Radha Bol from Sangam.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Very good selection of songs (and I echo your dislike for Bol Radha bol, though of course it fits this theme). Thank you for the new songs – I’m on the lookout for good new songs these days, because new songs are what my family like to listen to when we’re driving somewhere, and if I have good new songs to offer, at least there are chances I will have something nice to listen to! :-)

      Like

    • Yes, indeed – quite a few songs by Rafi fall into this bracket.

      This comment of yours:

      And though ‘Badtameez kaho‘ won’t fit the theme, this madcap song has the distinction of naming 2 movies of Shammi K in first line.

      Reminded me of something my father had pointed out to me, years ago:

      In Hum tujhse mohabbat karke sanam (Awara), the last stanza mentions the names of the three RK Films productions till that point:

      “Yeh dil jo jala ek aag lagi,
      Aansoo jo bahe barsaat hui,
      Baadal ki tarah awara thhe hum,
      Rote bhi rahe…”

      Like

  11. Thanks for the such an awesome list.

    OT: Thanks for mentioning the song from china town. Over a decade or so, I am compiling a list of songs/poems that contain the word Gulzar(the fun exercise started on the Gulzar fan club). This song was missing in the list.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Wow! I did not realize there are so many title songs. Every song that I thought of has already been mentioned. But I think I found one.

    Pyar mohabbat song from Pyar Mohabbat. I did not see it listed here. May be I missed it ?

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Some songs from more Nasir Hussain films:

    Ni sultana re pyar ka mausam – Pyar Ka Mausam

    Yaadon ki baraat nikli hai – Yaadon Ki Baraat

    Hai agar dushman zamana – Hum Kisise Kam Naheen

    Pari ho aasmani tum – Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Some pre-70s ones:

    Zindagi bhar nahin bhulegi – Barsaat Ki Raat

    Tu hai harjai to – Tu Nahin Aur Sahi

    Gaya andhera hua ujala – Subah Ka Tara

    Dil mera ek aas ka panchhi – Aas Ka Panchhi

    Kabhi tanhaiyon mein – Humari Yaad Aayegi

    Aaha aayi milan ki bela – Aayi Milan Ki Bela

    Ye hai janam janam ke phere – Janam Janam Ke Phere

    Ajab hai malik tera jahan – Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan

    Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke- Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke

    Liked by 1 person

  15. After going through this whole list of songs, it appears to me that Rafi had complete dominance in Title songs. It seems most composers had Rafi in mind while composing Title songs. Let me paste below two such title songs. The first one is a very high pitch song and the second one is quite a romantic song.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IECcfilGJ18

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzPFCxqZj4M

    I’m not sure whether the song below fits the theme but still sharing:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuyi-5NbIoE

    Liked by 1 person

    • Aap aaye bahaar aayi is a song that I had in mind when I was drawing up this list, so especially happy to see that here. Asli Naqli I have seen and should have remembered, but didn’t. And Kaun apna kaun paraaya was new to me, I didn’t even know about this film.

      Like

  16. very interesting and enjoyable. I don’t know how I managed to skip this post.

    The first song that came to my mind was,

    kaise kahoon from kaise kahoon.

    I’ll be back with more.

    :-)

    Liked by 1 person

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