Madan Mohan left the army and found his true calling in music. His love for music shows in his compositions. He is one among many aspirants who want to enter the field of acting but end up in some other related field. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Kaifi Azmi, and Rajinder Krishan were his favourite lyricists, somehow I have ended up including 18 songs written by these three in my review.
He was called the Prince of Gazals by Lata Mangeshkar. In a unique fashion he combined the Indian and Western elements of music to give us unforgettable compositions. His untouched or unused melodies were used in the film Veer Zaara. Some more untouched tunes are there tobe hopefully used in future compositions.
1) Maai ri main kaase kahoon pi apne jiya ki
Dastak / Lata Mangeshkar, Madan Mohan / Majrooh Sultanpuri
maai ri haan ..maai ri main kaase kahoon pi apne jiya ki..maai ri
os nayan ki unke meri lagi ko bujhaye na
tan man bhigo de aake aisi ghata koi chhaye na
This is my most favourite of all the songs composed by Madan Mohan. I fell in love with this composition when I was too young to understand its meaning. It touches the core of my heart. A daughter would have opened her heart to her mother if she were her friend.
2) Yoon hasraton ke daag muhabbat mein dho liye
Adaalat / Lata Mangeshkar / Rajinder Krishan
yoon hasarton ke daag, muhabbat mein dho liye
khud dil se dil ki baat kahi, aur ro liye
This is his most famous gazal. The Madan Mohan – Lata Mangeshkar combo has given us some unforgettable songs/gazals.
3) Aaj socha toh aansoo bhar aaye
Hanste Zakhm / Lata Mangeshkar / Kaifi Azmi
aaj socha toh aansoo bhar aaye
muddaten ho gayi muskuraaye
har kadam par udhar mud ke dekha -2
unki mehfil se hum uth toh aaye
aaj socha
This song is the expression of feelings of a lady who lives dual life and is a puppet in the hands of circumstances. This is one film which has lovely songs in it.
4) Ai dil mujhe bata de tu kispe aagaya hain
Bhai Bhai / Geeta Dutt / Rajinder Krishan
ai dila mujhe bata de, tu kispe aagaya hain
woh kaun hain jo aakar, khwaabon pe chhagaya hain
masti bhara tarana, kyon raat gaa rahi hain
aankhon mein nind aakar, kyon door jaa rahi hain
Falling in love creates an aura around you, your heart is filled with joy. It results in sleepless nights but if you sleep blissfully, you can only see your lover in it. Suddenly you find melody in everything that surrounds you. Such an enchanting feeling!
5) Aapke pahloo mein aakar ro diye
Mera Saya / Mohummad Rafi / Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
aapke pahloo mein aakar ro diye - 2
daastan-e-gam sunakar ro diye
aapke pahaloo mein aakar ro diye
zindagi ne kar diya jab bhi udaas
aagaye ghabara ke hum manzil ke paas
Lost in the memories of his dead wife, speaking of his feelings in front of her picture. Whom to tell the tale of his agony but to his departed soulmate.
6) Jhumka gira re
Mera Saya / Asha Bhonsle / Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
jhumka gira re haay
jhumka gira re Bareli ke bazaar mein
jhumka gira jhumka gira jhumka gira
haay haay haay jhumka gira re
I suppose everyone has heard of this peppy number. This song tells the story of how a girl falls in love, it is interspersed with Phir kya hua to maintain continuity in the story being told. I would tease my Mom by singing this song as she hails from Bareli.
7) ) Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim
Woh Kaun Thi / Lata Mangeshkar / Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
naina barse, rimjhim rimjhim
naina barse, rimjhim rimjhim
piya tore aavan ki aas
naina barse, rimjhim rimjhim
naina barse, barse, barse
During the picturisation of this song, Lataji fell ill and the song couldn’t be recorded in her voice. Madanji stepped in and recorded the song in his voice. I had the rare opportunity to hear this song in his voice on https://musicindiaonline.com but now this song is no more there.
8) ) Tujhe kya sunaoon main dilruba
Aakhri Daao / Mohummad Rafi / Majrooh Sultanpuri
tujhe kya sunaoo main dilruba
tere saamne mera haal hain
teri ik nigaah ki baat hain
meri zindagi ka sawaal hain
Opening his heart to his ladylove, waiting for her glance as if his existence is dependant on her glance. It is picturised on Nutan in a picnic setting, she is shown wringing her hand, she is unsure of her emotions and she is an actress who knew to portray her emotions very well.
9) Jaana tha humse door, bahane bana liye
Adaalat / Lata Mangeshkar / Rajinder Krishan
jaana tha humse door, bahane bana liye
ab tumne kitani door, thikaane bana liye
jaana tha
rukasat ke waqt tumne jo aansoo humein diye
un aansuon se humne, fasaane bana liye
ab tumne kitni door, thikaane bana liye
Separation causes a lot of agony, who can console her heart when it pines for her loved one. Her lover has gone beyond her reach.
10) Main toh tum sang nain mila ke
Manmauji / Lata Mangeshkar / Rajinder Krishan
main toh tum sang, nain mila ke
haar gayi sajana, ho, haar gayi sajana
main toh tum sang, nain mila ke
har gayi sajana, ho, har gayi sajana
Falling in love makes her feel loser or is it the betrayal by her lover that she feels so low. She thinks she would have been better off if she had not fallen in love.
11) Meri vina tum bin roye sajana
Dekh Kabira Roya / Lata Mangeshkar / Rajinder Krishan
meri vina tum bin roye sajana sajana sajana
meri vina tum bin roye
saanwariya tum jahan base ho main woh gaanv na jaanoo
bitegi kab biraha ki yeh paapan sham na jaanoo
haye madhur milan kab hoye
sajana sajana sajana, meri vina tum bin roye
Using the Veena metaphoricaly to convey her feelings, this song is filled with the yearning for her love. A lady, longing to meet her lover is unaware of his whereabouts otherwise she could have got in touch.
12) Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein sham kar loonga
Naunihal / Mohummad Rafi / Kaifi Azmi
tumhari zulf ke saaye mein sham kar loonga
safar ik umr ka pal mein tamaam kar loonga
nazar milaayi toh poochhoonga ishq ka anjaam
nazar jhukaai toh khali salaam kar loonga
Beautiful hair is what attracts most lovers maybe physical attraction is also important incentive to fall in love. Here the man in love is ready to spend his entire life with his ladylove or withdraw graciously from her life with just a flicker of glance.
Jagah poori nahin padhi toh mera kya kasoor, comments section Zindabad :D
