Two voices, celebrating love. Review on Ten Best Bollywood Dduets

Some of the most romantic songs recorded have been duets: chances for people who, romantically involved or not, enjoy performing together, enough to create a rendition that touches couples for decades to come.The type of cinema most widely accepted in India is the one that revolves around any love-chronicle. Romantic duets which encompass lyrics that interpret discourses between couples, form an integral part of any such cinema. It almost took me forever to wade through enchanting duets and cheesy, badly-sung duets to create ‘my perfect duet play-list’:-

1. Dil ki nazar se, nazron ki dil se. [Film- Anari; Singers- Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Shailendra; Music - Shankar Jaikishan]: - This is the numero uno duet in my book. It has been sung with a lot of heart and passion. The song carries both, a candid and a poignant feel about it. The subtle change of mood in the song is quite charming. Moreover, the lyric is very easy going and can be vividly comprehended.

   
   




2. Ek shahenshah ne banwake haseen taj mahal. [Film- Leader; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Shakeel Badayuni; Music - Naushad]: -This song is an absolute contrast to the one rated above as far as the mood is concerned. As for class, it is par excellence. The words are difficult to grasp but the aura that the song creates about itself is awesome. It gives a feeling of love being the only remedy to all worries on earth.

   
   

3.  Yeh raatein, yeh mausam, nadi ka kinara. [Film- Dilli Ka Thug; Singers- Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music - Ravi] If there was one song that allured and enticed me to do something beyond the normal, it’s got to be this one. The voices of Kishore Da andh Asha Ji resonate around any ambiance in which this song is played.

4.  Pyar hua iqraar hua hai. [Film- Shree 420; Singers- Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Shailendra; Music - Shankar Jaikishan] The readers must have been waiting for the arrival of this eternal love song. No words are befitting enough to describe the charm of this song. It’s simply a classic.

5.       Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa toh nahi. [Film- Aandhi; Singers- Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Gulzar; Music – R. D. Burman] ‘Aandhi’ was the best soundtrack of R.D. Burman and this song was the best one in it. The flow of the song is quite different from others. There’s a ‘halt and run’ touch in it.

6.       Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum. [Film- Chori Chori; Singers- Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Hasrat Jaipuri; Music - Shankar Jaikishan] The song starts off very smoothly with Lata Ji carrying off the pacy lines with immense comfort. But it is the introduction of Manna Da’s voice that gives the song its real lift to greatness.

7.       Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai. [Film- Madhumati; Singers- Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Shailendra; Music – Salil Choudhury] The call of a lover for his beloved is best reflected in the spirit of this absolutely breath-taking melody of yester-years. No beauty on earth can resist a summon so pure, yet so naughty.

8.       Jane kaha mera jigar gaya ji. [Film- Mr & Mrs. 55; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Geeta Dutt; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music – O. P. Nayyar] Speaking of naughty, is there any one that beats this jaunty and spry chant. It makes me happy even when I have had the worst of days.

9.       Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat. [Film- Barsaat Ki Raat; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Sahir Ludhianvi; Music - Roshan] Cherishing the memories of a glorious past, this melody gives nostalgia a very strong push. It was sung with deep fervour and fixation. The lyric and instrument use is note-worthy.

10.   Woh hai zara khafa khafa. [Film- Shagird; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music – Laxmikant Pyarelal] If you have an estranged relation or a disappointed partner, give humming this song a shot. It has a lot of power in it- pleasing power. It melts my heart into secret raptures.

11.   Dhalti jaye raat, kehle dil ki baat. [Film- Razia Sultana; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle; Lyrics- Anand Bakshi; Music – Lacchiram] This song teaches lovers to abstain from procrastination. Confession at the earliest- that’s the message. The song takes a dreamy flight and meets a perfect landing- very well poised, with a calming sense about it.

12.   Tere mere milan ki yeh raina. [Film- Abhimaan; Singers- Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music - S. D. Burman] The moments in this song where both Kishore Da and Lata Ji sing in unison are seriously gratifying. Its a long rendition, but never for a moment did the feel of the song shake. From index to appendix- lyrcs, composition, singing- it’s an outright masterpiece.

13.   Beeti na bitayi raina. [Film- Parichay; Singers- Bhupinder and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Gulzar; Music - R. D. Burman] Leave aside Bhupinder’s questionable diction and this song is just as good as any ranked above it. The absence of one’s beloved in a sombre, desolate night is clearly understood by the throw of this song.

14.   Jo wada kiya woh nibhana parega. [Film- Taj Mahal; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music- R. D. Burman] Many may have rated this song within the top five, but keeping in view personal opinions, I have to say that it deserves all the accolades that have been showered upon it.

15.   Na tum hume jaano. [Film- Baat Ek Raat Ki; Singers- Hemant Kumar and Suman Kalyanpur; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music- S. D. Burman]The voice of Hemanta Da is so soothing. The hustle and bustle around us comes to a halt. The undemanding and unconditional attributes of love is very well handled through the entire length of the song.

1. Kahin na jaa, aaj kahin mat jaa. [Film- Bade Dilwale; Singers; Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri; Music - R. D. Burman]For a change it is the female who calls for the male to march ahead with her in the path of life. The drive through the song is very refreshing. It reaches a high pitch but never at any point does it become loud.

   
   




2. Saawan ka mahina, pawan kare shor. [Film- Milan; Singers- Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Anand Bakshi; Music - Laxmikant Pyarelal]This was a song that best depicted the communion of rural and urban cultures.The witty management of rawness and crudity of tone makes it an all time great.

   
   




3. Yeh raat bheegi bheegi. [Film-Chori Chori; Singers-Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics- Shailendra; Music- Shankar Jaikishan]Manna Da is simply outstanding in this song. For once, Lata Ji has been overpowered.The song elegantly explains how little things assume a bigger meaning once love takes over.

   
   




4. Abhi na jao chor kar ke dil abhi bhara nahi.[Film- Hum Dono; Singers- Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle; Lyrics- Sahir Ludhianvi; Music -Jaidev] The thirst for love never quenches-'dil abhi bhara nahi'.Love which brings along several impediments still has a binding string that keeps one wanting. Superb song!

   
   




5. Humsafar mere humsafar. [Film-Poornima; Singers-Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar;Lyrics-Gulzar; Music-Kalyanji Anandji]The extent to which a couple can flatter each other is commendable. This song best explains it.