Finally, it is raining.
One look at the lush green trees underneath the dark blue cloudy skies, cool breeze that flies through the hair, little raindrops that fall lightly, and my heart bids me goodbye and goes flying in the vast, limitless skies with hazy clouds.
Suddenly everything looks more beautiful – the lovely pink roses that have been kissed by the raindrops, the green leaves that sigh with breeze and that heavenly scent of earth drenched with fresh rains.
For the unevolved people like me, it’s time to go rushing out in the rain, dancing and jumping into puddles. For the more evolved souls, it’s about sitting with a hot cup of tea, staring at the green trees and listening to some beautiful numbers -
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*O ghata saanwari, thodi thodi baawari
Barsi hai kya barsaat kya
Har saans hai mehki huyi
Abke baras hai ye baat kya?(Abhinetri)*
Combine the rains with the trembly, sweet vocals of Lata Mangeshkar and the result is sheer magic. As a young girl watches the silvery rain drops on a lonely night and wonders about the love that may come into her life, this is song is as rhythmic and melodious as it can possibly get, with the sounds of the falling rain interspersed with the music.
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*O sajna barkha bahaar aayi
Ras ki phuhar laayi
Anhkhiyon mein pyar laayi(Parakh)*
Another beautiful Lata song. A woman pining for her lover on a rainy night – dreaming about him and calling out to him. The sweetest song which will transport you to that bygone era when love used to live quietly in the heart, unexpressed and unrequited, yet, it would dance to the rhythm of the falling rain drops.
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*Dekho zara dekho barsaat ki jhadi
Tan ko bhigoye boondon ki ladi
Mausam suhana hai, kya aashikana hai
Bajni lagi hai tik tik dil ki ghadi(Ye Dillagi)*
I like this song so much because the otherwise staid and very propah businessman Akshay Kumar loses all his inhibitions, runs out and does the best rain dance I have ever seen. Though initially an amused Kajol watches on, the mood is infectious and soon she is dancing alongside – the dance is spontaneous and matches the unbridled rhythm of the heavy downpour.
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*Rimjhim ke taraane leke aayi barsaat
Yaad aaye kisi se woh pehli mulakaat(Kala Bazaar)*
Though the rendition is amazing, it’s the picturization of this song that wins hands down – Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman walking together under one umbrella, staring fixedly in front of themselves, lost in love. The song is in the background as the two lovers remember their first meeting and walk on, obviously bound to each other by an invisible chord.
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*Deewana hua badal
Saawan ki ghata chhayi
Ye dekh ke dil jhooma
Li pyar ne angdaai(Kashmir ki kali)*
Both the original and the remix version of this song are wonderful - Celebration of the rains with the magic of love in the air. After a long period of loneliness, someone special walks into your life and suddenly, everything around starts looking beautiful and enchanted. Can it be true? Has it really happened?
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*Abke sajan saawan mein
Aag lagegi man mein
Ghata barsegi, magar tarsegi
Magar mil na sakenge do man ek hi aangan mein(Chupke chupke)*
This is a brilliant song from the comedy caper ‘Chupke chupke’ about two lovers who are underneath the same roof but cannot meet due to circumstances . The angst is well expressed by the ‘tch tch tch’ repeated often in the song. It’s a teasing, frothy number that never fails to raise my spirits. Especially on a rainy day.
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*Sun sun sun barsaat ki dhun sun
Bijli chamki, simat gaye hum
Baadal garja, lipat gaye hum
Ye hai kitna achcha shagun (Sir)*
Brilliantly sung by Kumar Sanu, this song is about the rhythm of the falling rain and the ignited feelings as a result.(I have never understood the logic behind equating rain with passion as is usually the Bollywood norm). However, this song is very hummable, soft and melodious. And somehow the words ‘achcha shagun’(good omen) makes one associate rains with good news.
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*Kuchh tere dil ne kaha
Kuchh mere dil ne kaha
Ab hum kya kahen, kya karen
Jab dil baatein karne lage(Tere Mere Sapnay)*
This is not a rain song per se. However, it begins with the most realistic thunder and rain sounds – and the magical vocals of Hariharan and Sadhna Sargam make it a ‘must hear’ song – rains or no rains. It’s very romantic and mushy, and will touch the chords of your heart ever so lightly.
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* Bheegi bheegi bheegi jaadu bhari lamhon ki raatein
Dekho karne lagi hoon main boondon se baatein(Takshak)*
Can someone talk to raindrops? Yes, of course. It’s refreshing to talk to raindrops, dance among them, touch them and let them drench your soul. It’s heady and it’s ethereal. Love or no love – life is a celebration. And talking to raindrops is the best way to start it. Hold out your hand and catch a pearly raindrop in your palm and try to hold it. It disappears, right? That’s how life is – it’s going past you so fast that you can’t hold it. So, enjoy every moment while it lasts.
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