During his lifetime, the great Chetan Anand directed sixteen films. Out of which, five contained music by Madan Mohan.
A Playlist of Chetan Anand’s Best Songs
Kar chale hum fida jaan-o-tann saathiyon (Haqeeqat): Must play on every patriot’s playlist, this moving number is emblazoned with passionate lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and, of course, Mohd Rafi’s singing. Kaifi Saab’s daughter Shabana says she gets goosebumps each time she hears her Abba’s words.
Do dil toote do dil hare (Heer Ranjha): Every composition by Madan Mohan for Chetan Anand’s was a melodic masterpiece, none more so than Lataji’s luminous lament on lost love. Fifty years later, it still brings tears to the eyes. Her rendition of Heer in the same soundtrack reduced everyone, including the macho leading man Raj Kumar, to tears during the recording.
Aaj socha toh aansoon bhar aaye (Hanste Zakhm): Kaifi Azmi-Madan Mohan and Lataji whip up a Ghazal that makes time come to a standstill. This sparkling gem of a melody has a fourth s(i)tar attraction: Ustad Raees Khan’s Sitar.
Hai tere saath meri wafa (Hindustan Ki Kasam): Lataji had once said about this stunning Ghazal, “If I had sung nothing else except this song, I would still be happy.”
Mushkil hai jeena bedardon ki duniya mein (Sahib Bahadur): Not too many have seen this obscure Dev Anand-Priya Rajvansh film. But the song, with its soaring, dipping, cyclonic movement, is one of Lataji’s finest.
Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakhm): Who can forget Mohammed Rafi’s iconic love ballad. It was meant to be a solo, but when the film’s leading lady Priya Rajvansh heard the Madan Mohan composition, she also wanted to be a part of it. Hence, Lataji was brought in.
Jayen toh jayen kahan (Taxi Driver): S. D. Burman and not Madan Mohan in this Chetan Anand noire thriller where Chetan’s brother Dev Anand got to sing this plaintive Ghazal in Talat Mahmood’s voice.
Ayegi ayegi kissiko hamari yaad aayegi (Jaan-e-Man): Chetan Anand remade his own Taxi Driver. This is the only Chetan film with music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and boy, did the duo rise to the occasion! The title song by Kishore Kumar is a marvel of craftsmanship. But my pick is Lataji’s heartbreaking song of desolation.
Baharon mera jeevan bhi sawaron (Aakhri Khat): Not Madan Mohan, but Khayyam pulled out all stops, especially in this evergreen number by Lataji. The other much less famous Lataji song is the poignant lullabye Mere chanda mere munne.
Humein tumse pyar kitna (Kudrat): By the time Chetan Anand made this underrated reincarnation thriller, Madan Mohan was gone. Chetan picked R. D. Burman for the score. As expected, the composer did soar, especially in this soul-stirring Ghazal by Kishore Kumar. There is a raga-based version of the same Ghazal by Parveen Sultana for which she won the Filmfare Award, but Kishore didn’t! Such is life. Chetan Anand directed one more film, Haathon Ki Lakeerein, which featured the music of newcomer Pyare Mohan. The melodic magic was massively missing.
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