Indian rains ! How romantic !. Review on Twenty Best Hindi Rain Songs

It's rainy season in India and rains have always been a source of romance, love and emotion for the bollywood filmmakers. So several great songs have been created in films that fill the male-female hearts with the fragrance of romance and feelings for the opposite sex. However, rains are related to Indian agriculture too. So memorable songs have been created in that perspective also. In this review, I am presenting some memorable Hindi songs created with rain or the rainy season (Saawan) as the backdrop.

I have not included a great song - Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua in this list because I have already included it in my review of romantic Hindi songs.

1. Aha Rimjhim Ke Ye Pyare Pyare Geet Liye, Aayi Raat Suhaani Dekho Preet Liye (Usne Kaha Tha - 1960) : This song is the numero uno in the list of my favourite rain songs. It's a lovely duet of Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar which is picturized on Sunil Dutt and Nanda. Shailendra is the lyricist and Salil Chaudhary is the composer. This movie has been made on an immortal story from the Hindi literature, penned by the legendary Hindi literator - Pandit Chandradhar Sharma Guleri. I advise all the melody-lovers as well as literature-lovers on MS to watch (not just listen) this song on internet. You will find the experience as unforgettable and would love to watch this song again to feel the fragrance of the Indian soil in the rainy season, filled with jolliness, enthusiasm and love.

   
   




2. Hariyala Saawan Dhol Bajaata Aaya (Do Bigha Zameen - 1953) : As I have said earlier, rains are inseparably associated with Indian agriculture and therefore, it is a source of immense joy for the rural folk, especially peasants. This song is a great song which represents the joy of the Indian villagers when the season of Saawan knocks their doors. It's a highly melodious and foot tapping song written by Shailendra and composed by Salil Chaudhary. It's in the voices of Lata, Manna De and chorus. This great song adds to the greatness of the immortal classic movie of Bimal Roy.

   
   




3. Barsaat Mein Humse Mile Tum Sajan Tumse Mile Hum Barsaat Mein (Barsaat - 1949) : The memorable song in Raj Kapoor's super hit movie, the everlasting magic created by the team of Shankar-Jaikishan, Shailendra and Lata (with chorus). Watching this song on screen is also no less an experience which is picturized on debutant Nimmi and others with Raj Kapoor and her beau Prem Nath watching from the background.

   
   




4. Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat (Barsaat Ki Raat - 1960) : The evergreen song of Rafi (also sung by Lata in the movie), sung by Bharat Bhooshan in the movie for the unforgettable drenched beauty of Madhubala, the venus of the Indian screen. It's penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by Roshan.

   
   




5. Saawan Ke Jhoole Pade, Tum Chale Aao (Jurmaana - 1979) : Lata's great song, penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Pancham Da (R.D. Burman), picturized on Rakhee. The words and the melody both are great. It's based on the classical Raag Pahaadi.

   
   




6. Saawan Ki Raaton Mein Aisa Bhi Hota Hai (Prem Patra - 1962) : A heart-soothing duet of Talat and Lata from the classic movie of Bimal Roy, picturized on Shashi Kapoor and Saadhna. Lyric's credit goes to Gulzar and the great melody is the creation of Salil Chaudhary. It's a song filled with the gusto emerging in the lovers' hearts in the nights of the rainy season.

   
   




7. Rimjhim Ke Geet Saawan Gaaye Gaaye Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein (Anjaana - 1969) : A classic Rafi-Lata duet picturized on Rajender Kumar and Babita. Lyric is of Anand Bakshi and composition is of Laxmikant Pyarelal.

   
   




8. Rimjhim Gire Saawan Sulag Sulag Jaaye Mann (Manzil - 1979) : A very romantic song sung by both Lata and Kishore separately for Moushumi Chatterjee and Amitabh Bachchan respectively. Composed by R.D. Burman and penned by Yogesh.

   
   




9. Rimjhim Ke Tarane Le Ke Aayi Barsaat (Kala Bazar - 1960) : A melodious and jovial duet by Geeta Dutt and Mohammad Rafi sung for Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand, penned by Shailendra and composed by R.D. Burman.

   
   




10. Umad Ghumad Kar Aayi Re Ghata (Do Aankhen Baarah Haath - 1957) : A very beautiful lyric penned by Bharat Vyas and composed by Vasant Desai which depicts the gusto and happiness of Indian peasantry with the arrival of thick clouds which create a hope of good rainfall and consequential good crop. It's an underrated excellent duet of Lata and Manna De.

    
    




11. Dum Dum Diga Diga Mausam Bheega Bheega (Chhaliya - 1960) : An unforgettable song of Mukesh, written by Qamar Jalaalabadi and composed by Kalyanji Anandji. Raj Kapoor made it immortal by his outstanding on-screen performance.

    
    




12. Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si, Soti Raaton Mein Jaagi Si (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi - 1958) : One of the best and most popular songs of Kishore Da, penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Sachin Da (S.D. Burman). Kishore Kumar not only sang it but virtually immortalized it by performing marvellously on the screen too, singing for his lady-love Madhubala.

    
    




13. Jalta Hai Jiya Mera Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein (Zakhmee - 1975) : Kishore-Asha duet full of romance, love and gusto drenched in the rain. Penned by Gauhar Kanpuri, composed by Bappi Lahiri and picturized on Rakesh Roshan and Reena Roy.

    
    




14. Ab Ke Sajan Saawan Mein, Aag Lagegi Badan Mein (Chupke Chupke - 1975) : A great romantic song, surprisingly in a memorable comedy of Hindi cinema, sung by Lata picturized on Sharmila Tagore (singing for Dharmendra). Written by Anand Bakshi. Composed by S.D. Burman. The naughty 'cheh cheh' appearing intermittently (by Dharmendra) makes this song a treat to listen.

    
    




15. Chhatari Na Khol, Ud Jaayegi, Hawa Tez Hai (Do Jhooth - 1975) : A jovial, naughty and teasing duet of Usha Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, written by M.G. Hashmat and composed by Shankar Jaikishan (in fact, by Shankar only because Jaikishan had passed away some years back). This song has been picturized on Moushumi Chatterjee and Vinod Mehra and very pleasant to watch as well as to listen.

    
    




16. Saawan Ka Maheena Pawan Kare Sor (Milan - 1967) : An evergreen duet of Lata and Mukesh, picturized on Nutan and Sunil Dutt, penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The situation is that Sunil Dutt is teaching Nutan how to sing. The performances of actors have made it all the more sweet.

    
    




17. O Sajna, Barkha Bahaar Aayi (Parakh - 1960) : Lata's classic song from Bimal Da's memorable movie, composed by Salil Chaudhary and penned by Shailendra. Picturized on Saadhna.

    
    




18. Ghar Aaja Ghir Aaye Badra Saanwariya (Chhote Nawab - 1961) : R.D. Burman composed this great classical song in his maiden venture of composing music. Shailendra has penned it and Lata has sung it with the flare of Hindustani classical music. Picturized on Ameeta. It's based on Raag Malgunji.

    
    




19. Ajahun Na Aaye Baalma, Saawan Beeta Jaaye (Saanjh Aur Savera - 1964) : A classical duet by Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur in the music direction of Shankar Jaikishan. This song is based on Raag Peelu and the emotional lyric has come from the pen of Hasrat Jaipuri. This song has been picturized on Mahmood and Shubha Khote.

    
    




20. Lagi Aaj Saawan Ki Phir Wo Jhadi Hai (Chandni - 1989) : Originally I wanted to include this song in my list of sad songs but I am including it here because I feel that it's a timeless emotional song with the backdrop of rain, hence should be a part of this list only. It's a song very close to my heart, sung by Suresh Wadkar and emotionally performed by Vinod Khanna on the screen. The highly emotional, pain-soaked words have been written by Anand Bakshi and the melancholy-filled melodious composition has been done by Shiv-Hari (the legendary Santoor player Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and the legendary flute player Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasiya). Yash Chopra has picturized this song with a great intensity of emotion, emerging straight from the depth of a broken heart.

    
    

Some additional rain songs which are really memorable are as follows :

1. Garjat Barsat Saawan Aayo Re (Barsaat Ki Raat - 1960) : A classical song based on Raag Gour Malhar, sung by Suman Kalyanpur and Kamal Barot, written by Sahir, composed by Roshan and picturized on Shyama and Ratna.

   
   




2. Saawan Aaye Ya Na Aaye, Jiya Jab Jhoome Saawan Hai (Dil Diya Dard Liya - 1966) : A melodious joyful Rafi-Asha duet picturized on Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rehman, written by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad.

   
   




3. Tumhen Geeton Mein Dhalunga, Saawan Ko Aane Do (Saawan Ko Aane Do - 1979) : A very sweet duet sung by Kalyani Mitra and Jaspal Singh, picturized on Zarina Wahab and Arun Govil. The heart-touching lyric has been written by Gauhar Kanpuri and the melodious tune is the composition of Rajkamal.

   
   




4. Aaya Saawan Jhoom Ke (Aaya Saawan Jhoom Ke - 1969) : The title song of the movie, sung by Rafi, Lata and chorus, picturized on Dharmendra, Asha Parekh and others. It's another gem from the team of Laxmi-Pyare and Anand Bakshi.

   
   




5. Rama Rama Ghazab Huyi Gawa Re (Naya Zamaana - 1971) : A song by Lata, picturized on Hema Malini being drenched in rain (perhaps to exasperate her sex appeal), penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by S.D. Burman. It's still remembered for the on-screen performance of Hema Malini.

   
   




6. Aaj Rapat Jaayen To Hamen Na Uthaiyo (Namak Halaal - 1982) : A joyful Kishore-Asha duet with surprisingly pleasant jovial acting by late Smita Patil with Amitabh Bachchan. It's been written by Anjaan and composed by Bappi Lahari.

   
   




7. Rimjhim Rimjhim Runjhun Runjhum, Bheegi Bheegi Roott Mein, Tum Hum Hum Tum, Chalte Hain (1942, A Love Story - 1994) : A melodious duet by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Kumar Sanu, picturized on Manisha Koirala and Anil Kapoor, penned by Javed Akhtar and composed by R.D. Burman.

   
   




8. Jari Jari O Kari Badariya (Aazaad - 1955) : Lata's pure classical song whose lyric has been written by Rajender Krishna and composition has been made by C. Ramchandra. It's picturized on Meena Kumari.

   
   




9. Baadal Yun Garajta Hai, Darr Kuchh Aisa Lagta Hai (Betaab - 1983) : A melodious chartbuster duet of Lata and Shabbeer Kumar, picturized on debutant romantic pair of Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, written by Anand Bakshi and composed by R.D. Burman.

   
   




10. Kahan Se Aaye Badra (Chashm-E-Buddoor - 1981) : A memorable duet sung by Hemanti Shukla and Yesudas, written by Indu Jain and composed by Rajkamal. It's picturized on Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh.

    
    




11. Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein, Meethi Meethi Baaton Mein, Aisi Barsaaton Mein (Ajnabee - 1974) : A very good romantic song picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman getting drenched in the heavy rains. Sung by Kishore and Lata, penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by R.D. Burman.

    
    




12. Aakhir Tumhen Aana Hai, Zara Der Lagegi (Yalgaar - 1992) : An emotional duet in rain, sung by Udit Narayan and Sapna Mukherjee, picturized on Sanjay Dutt and Naghma, penned by Sudarshan Faakir and composed by Channi Singh.

    
    




13. Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Aake Mujhe Chhed Jaaye (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge - 1995) : Kajol performs memorably in rain on Lata's song sung in the music direction of Jatin Lalit which has been written by Anand Bakshi.

    
    




14. Ghode Jaisi Chaal Haathi Jaisi Dumm, O Saawan Raja Kahaan Se Aaye Tum (Dil To Paagal Hai - 1997) : A highly melodious duet by Lata and Udit Narayan, picturized on Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan in the direction of Yash Chopra. Uttam Singh has composed this lyric of Anand Bakshi.

    
    




15. Ghanan Ghanan Ghan Ghir Aaye Badra (Lagaan - 2001) : Lyric of Javed Akhtar, composed by A.R. Rehman for this much acclaimed movie of Aamir Khan has been jointly sung by singers like Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Shaan and Shankar Mahadevan.

    
    

Finally, I feel that the classic romantic song of Kishore Da - Roop Tera Mastana, Pyar Mera Deewana, Bhool Koi Humse Na Ho Jaaye (which got omitted from my review of romantic songs) can also be linked to rainfall because it takes place in the situation of a rainy night (Aaradhna - 1969). It's a composition of S.D. Burman with the lyric coming from the pen of Anand Bakshi. Rajesh Khanna sings it for his lady-love Sharmila Tagore in the movie.