Heman Kumar…. The man with the soothing voice and a master of melodious tunes… A true genius, who excelled both as a singer as well as a music director.
In this list, I am compiling two separate lists for this great man…. The first list as a Singer ans the second one as a music director. Hope you enjoy reading this list as much as I enjoyed making this.
But First, a brief about the genius….
About Hemant Kumar
When the LPs of the movie Zameen Aasmaan were released in 1948, not many people noticed a new singer called Hemant Kumar Mukherjee… so much so that, this ambitious young man from Calcutta had to return to Calcutta from Mumbai.
But he returned after three years with a bang…. With a masterpiece called Anand Math. The “Vande Mataram” in the voice of Lata Mangeshkar was widely acclaimed, but not Hemant Kumar. He had to wait one more year till he got his popular acclaim with Jaal and the song being Yeh raat yeh chandni. Later, he concreted his place with Nagin.
He kept on doing the job of singer as well as a music director, both in Hindi as well as Bengali films for quite some time. In 1960, he produced his first film with Bees Saal Baad. It is said that, after Bees Saal Baad, he had to pay income tax amounting to Rs. 4 Lakhs in that era!
Hemand Da has given equal number of hits in both Hindi and Bengali films. He has sung for many of the noted music directors, though mostly he has sung either for his composition or for SD Burman. In spite of being master of such a lovely voice, he never hesitated to use other singers like Mohd. Rafi or Kishore Kumar when there was a need.
Now onto my countdowns!
Hemant Kumar – The Singer
10. Halke halke chalo sanwre
Hemant Kumar had a unique way of making each duet sounding special. My love for this genius tarted with this duet from Tangewali with Lata Mangeshkar. Beautiful melodious tune.
9. Rahi tu mat gabhraanaa
The title song from Door Gagan ke Chhaon Mein never fails to inspire me… Beautiful music by Kishore Kumar and equally beautiful voice from Hemant Kumar.
8. Ye nayan dare dare
In the thriller movie Kohra, Hemant Da came up with this beautiful romantic number in his own voice and music. It had a beautiful mixture of romance and fear in this number.
7. Ya dil ki sunon
When a sad Dharmender speaks out in the voice of Hemant Kumar…. Either you listen to my heart or let me be silent…. The words get to our heart with an unusual effect. The music and voice of Hemant Kumar with Kaifi Azmi’s words, have a great effect.
6. Naa tum humein jaano
This song from Baat Ek Raat Ki has two separate solo versions. I like both, but still I prefer the Hemant Kumar version…. It is so slow, soothing and engrossing that one feels like listening to it over and over again.
5. Na yeh chaand hoga
Ultimate song when it comes to promises… The movie Shart has been forgotten and so are its stars…. But this song remains as popular as it ever was. Beautiful lyrics by SH Bihari. Music by Hemant Kumar again.
4. Tum pukarlo
By many, this song is considered to be the best of Hemant. It has a distant humming to it that feels like pulling you with the song. Again, Hemant Kumar excels in his own music.
3. Yeh raat yeh chandni
One of the early hits of Hemant Kumar came with the Dev Anand Starrer – Jaal. I like both the solo as well as duet versions of this song. The solo has a plyful mood to it and talks of the excitement of the night. The duet on the other hand, talks of the sorrows of life. Awesome…
2. Chhupaalon yuun dil mein pyaar
Definitely one of the greatest classical based duet songs ever to hit Indian cinema. This number is one of my favourites and every time a top 10 list of Hemant Da comes up, you are bound to see this… and why not? The song has magic in it….
1. Jaag dard-e-ishq
Anarkali may have been better remembered for Lata Solos…. but for me, this duet song of Hemant – Lata stars as the most mnesmerising song of the movie…. This is my personal favourite of Hemant Kumar. Rajinder Krishen’s words and C Ramachandra’s music have made magic with this song.
Hemant Kumar - Music Director
Here I will list down only those songs, composed by Hemant Kumar, but not in his voice.
10. Nani tero morni ko mor
This is the ultimate children’s song till date. I don’t know the movie or the singers, but the song is definitely set in a great child like innocence.
9. Bhanwra bada naadaan hai
Geeta Dutt’s voice was tested to the height of being “naughty” with this song from Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam.
8. Hum laaye hain toofaan se kashti
De di humein aazaadi bina
Aao bachchon tumhe dikhaaye
I could not decide which song is better among these three identical patriotic songs. I have learnt them from my childhood when I had not even heard of Hemant Kumar. Sung by Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Pradeep respectively, all these songs are from the film Jagriti.
7. Tan dole mera man dole
This song had topped the Binaca geet Mala in 1950s… Till date the snake charmer tune used by Hemant Kumar in this movie remains as the standard in the industry.
6. Hawaon pe likh do
Kishore Kumar’s voice was always used on a very serious note by Hemant Kumar. This song from Do Dooni Chaar has been one of my most favourite Kishore Kumar Numbers.
5, Woh shaam kuchh ajib thi
Talking of the Hemant-Kishore combo… who can forget the soulful song from Khamoshi? This song shows the spectrum of Hemant Kumar as a MD, from naughty numbers to romantic to patriotic to sad songs….
4. Mera dil ye pukare aajaa
This solo from Nagin is very dear to me. I find Lata’s voice so pure and so musical in this song. Hemant Kumar has used the minimum musical instruments and he has done wonders using this beautiful voice.
3. Naa jaao saiyaan
Who has not heard of this number from Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam? The pathos of a desparate wife trying to woo her husband…. Again… great composition.
2. Kahin deep jale kahin Dil
If Hemant Kumar set the standards of snake charming music with Nagin, he did the same for the thriller music with Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil in Bees Saal Baad. Undoubtedly the most popular “haunting melody” of Indian cinema.
1. Vande Mataram
Do I need to say anything about this song? Even more than half a century since its release, this song remains as the icon of patriotic songs in India. Lata Mangeshkar’s voice is good enough to make one feel patriotic and Hemant Kumar’s music is awesome.
