Kalyanji Anandji and Mohammed Rafi – Top 20 Bollywood songs

Kalyanji Anandji has worked with almost all leading playback singers late 1950s through 1980s, though they always preferred to keep a low profile. Yet they own some of the finest songs to their credit. They composed music for over 250 Bollywood movies, with 17 golden jubilee hits and 39 silver. Here I list 20 of the best Bollywood songs sung by Mohammed Rafi, tuned by Kalyanji –Anandji combination. They include both romantic and fun-filled songs, along with a few sad and dance numbers too. Read Top 20 Bollywood Songs of Kalyanji-Anandji & Kishore Kumar Combination.

Kalyanji Anandji and Mohammed Rafi collaborated for many Shashi Kapoor movies since 1960s

Among all actors, Kalyanji Anandji frequently collaborated with Rafi to give memorable songs for several Shashi Kapoor movies, mostly belonging to romantic genre. In fact Shashi Kapoor’s Jab Jab Phool Khile established the career of Kalyanji Anandji in Bollywood. The film’s success also cemented Shashi Kapoor’s position in Bollywood. Aamne Samne, Dil Ne Pukara, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Shreeman Shreemati, Raja Saab etc are a few more works in the 1960s and early 1970s, when Kapoor had a romantic image in Bollywood.

Kalyanji Anandji duo has also recorded the songs of Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Manoj Kumar, Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan in the voice of Rafi, many of them were silver jubilee and golden jubilee hits. In fact the duo recorded a friendship song of three actors – “Hum Teenon Ki Woh Yaari” with three singers – Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Nitin Mukesh (as a substitute of singing legend Mukesh) for the movie Neeyat, a few months before Rafi’s demise.

Top best 20 Bollywood songs of Kalyanji Anandji and Mohammed Rafi combination

So let us travel back to the decades of 1960s and 1970s and refresh ourselves with some of the finest tunes of this combination. Hope you will appreciate my choice of songs. Yet I may miss some of your favourite songs. Excuses.

1. Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re from Geet (1970), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re was the USP of the album, and was repeated several times, as a solo and duet as a sort to maintain the continuity of story. I shall begin this list with very popular song of Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar filmed on Rajendra Kumar, as I want to share something interesting with the film and its music, you may not heard before.

Most of us relate songs of Aradhana with Kishore Kumar. But there is one Telugu super hit film with the same title released in 1976. It was a remake of Rajendra Kumar’s 1970 super hit film, Geet with wonderful songs composed by Kalyanji-Anandji. Interestingly out of the 7 tracks of the album, Rafi sang 5 of them. Even the original tunes of ‘Mere Mitwa‘ (sung by Rafi and Lata) and ‘Tere Naina Kyon Bhar Aaye‘ (with modifications) composed by Kalyanji-Anandji were retained, and Rafi sang its Telugu versions – ‘Naa Madi Ninnu Pilachindi’ and ‘Neekaela Intha Niraasa‘ respectively. Male version of Tere Naina Kyon Bhar Aaye was originally sung by Mahendra Kapoor.

2. Waada Karle Saajna from Haath Ki Safai (1974), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

The duet featured Simi Garewal aside Vinod Khanna, and it was a flashback sequence after parting. Vinod Khanna won Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Haath Ki Safai for this film; his single Filmfare award in acting category.

3. Pardesiyon Se Na Ankhiyan Milana from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

The songs of Jab Jab Phool Khile established the career of both Kalyanji-Anandji and Anand Bakshi in Bollywood, who later collaborated for many movies later. Laxmikant Pyarelal worked as assistants to composers in this movie. Post golden jubilee success of the movie, the duo composers also frequently worked with Shashi Kapoor in most of his romantic films released later. In this particular song, Shashi Kapoor is seen rowing the boat with this song on his lips. As a part of preparation of the role, the actor spent several days with the boatmen in Kashmir.

4. Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thi Bulbul from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

Though it’s a solo track of Rafi, voice of Nanda can also be heard in the song. In the first half of the song, Nanda is riding on a horse and Shashi Kapoor who plays her tourist guide is narrating her a story.

5. Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

Shashi Kapoor and Nanda was one of the leading pairs of 1960s. Though Nanda was a well-established actress, and Shashi Kapoor, only a struggling actor, she never hesitated to work with him. Jab Jab Phool Khile became the first blockbuster hit of Shashi Kapoor’s career, and his first solo hit too. Years later when the movie was remade as Raja Hindustani in 1996, his niece Karishma Kapoor reprised Nanda’s role. Just like her uncle, the movie’s huge success established her career and also gave her no: 1 position in Bollywood.

6. Tu Raat Khadi Thi Chhat Pe from Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

The female voice of this song is Usha Timothy, a less-heard name in Bollywood. Just like Suman Kalyanpur, her voice quite resembles Lata Mangeshkar, and it’s very hard to distinguish. In fact when the movie got released, many believe it to be the voice of Lata’s. This dance number with influences from folk songs was filmed on Mala Sinha and Manoj Kumar.  

7. Tu Bhi Aaja Ki Aa Gayi Rut Mastani from Maryada (1971), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

The song was filmed on Raaj Kumar and Mala Sinha, who played one of the two romantic jodis of the movie. Mala Sinha played twin sisters in the movie, and Rajesh Khanna played the second hero. Kishore Kumar’s voice was used to record the songs for Khanna, and Rafi’s voice for Kumar.

8. Yuhi Tum Mujhse Baat Karte Ho from Saccha Jhoota (1970), Lyrics – Indeevar

One of the rarest songs sung by Rafi for Rajesh Khanna post Aradhana success, Lata Mangeshkar’s voice was frequently used for Mumtaz then. The actors are seen in an intoxicate state, fully out of mind because of a mistakenly taken drug, where they forget everything and express love for each other. The song was immensely popular when it got released.

9. Bekhudi Mein Sanam from Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1968), Lyrics – Akhtar Romani

The duet featuring Shashi Kapoor and Babita was the most popular song of the album. It’s one of the rarest Bollywood songs written by Akhtar Romani. Interestingly the actress later married Shashi’s nephew Randhir Kapoor. The movie also included the popular Rafi solo – Chale The Saat. The beautiful words were penned by Akhtar Romani, a less-heard name in Bollywood.

10. Chale The Saath Milkar from Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1968), Lyrics – Qamar Jalalabadi

As mentioned above, Chale The Saath Milkar is a Rafi solo from the album, filmed on the lead pair, Shashi Kapoor and Babita. It was the most popular romantic track of the entire album. Post the success of Jab Jab Phool Khile, which established the career of both the hero and composer, Kalyanji-Anandji frequently worked with many of the romantic movies of the actor later. Dilbar Dilbar Kahte Kahte Hua Diwana is yet another popular Rafi song from the album.

11. Humko Hone Laga Hai Pyar Tumse from Dil Ne Pukara (1967), Lyrics – Indeevar

This beautiful song was filmed on Sanjay Khan and Rajshree, and sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. The movie also included an evergreen sad solo of Mukesh, Waqt Karta Jo Wafa, filmed on Shashi Kapoor.

12. Aao Tumhe Main Pyar Sikha Doon from Upaasna (1971), Lyrics – Rajendra Krishan

One of the less-heard duets in Rafi and Lata’s voices, the song was filmed on Sanjay Khan and Mumtaz who did numerous movies together in the early 1970s. The romantic song was filmed in a lovely garden with blossoming flowers.

13. Main Tujhse Milne Aayee from Heera (1973), Lyrics – Indeevar

The song was filmed on Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh, who did many movies together in the 1960s. By the time the movie was released, both the actors had just lost supremacy in Bollywood. The song was well noticed for its lyrics.

14. Govinda Ala Re Ala from Bluff Master (1963), Lyrics – Rajendra Krishan

The festival song best suited for Janmashtami celebrations was filmed on Shammi Kapoor and a Rafi duet. Bluff Master is one of the rare films of Shammi Kapoor and Kalyanji-Anandji together. Though the song got noticed, the composers had to wait a couple of years to get the major breakthrough.  

15. Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The from Aamne Samne (1967), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

The movie featured one of the top romantic pairs of 1960s and 1970s – Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore. Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door was the top song of the album, and a duet of Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

16. Nain Mila Kar Chain Churana from Aamne Samne (1967), Lyrics – Anand Bakshi

It’s a club song and dance sequence where Shashi Kapoor appears as a performer. The actor is seen in a fun mood throughout the song. When the actor utters the wordings “Sharmila Deedar”, actress Sharmila Tagore in seen seated with a wine glass in her hand. Shashi approaches her with his dance steps and praises, but she is not interested in him.

17. O Tumse Door Rehke from Adalat (1976), Lyrics – Gulshan Bawra

The beautiful romantic song was filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and Neetu Singh. Interestingly one year earlier, Amitabh Bachchan played step-father to Neetu Singh in Yash Chopra’s blockbuster, Kabhi Kabhi. Soon after Big B turned a super star with his action oriented film roles, Kishore Kumar became his ghost voice. Yet Rafi recorded a few songs of Amitabh Bachchan, and O Tumse Door Rehke is one such memorable songs.

18. Akele Hain Chale Aao from Raaz, Lyrics – Shamim Jaipuri

Raaz was the second release of Rajesh Khanna, and his performance in a double role was well appreciated. It was his first break as a full-fledged lead actor. Akele Hain Chale Aao, a sad solo filmed on Khanna became immensely popular, though the actor didn’t become familiar to audience. Read more about Rafi’s singing for Rajesh Khanna. Its lyricist Shamim Jaipuri is still less known to the industry. It’s his single written song in the entire album, and the song had a female version of Lata Mangeshkar filmed on Babita.

19. Pyar To Ek Din Hona Tha from Ek Shrimaan Shrimati, Lyrics – Rajendra Krishan

It’s party/dance number filmed on Shashi Kapoor and Babita, and sung by Rafi and Asha Bhosle. Just like Kalyanji-Anandji’s association with Shashi Kapoor, the composers have also given music for quite a few movies for Babita (though Laxmikant-Pyarelal gave maximum tunes to Babita’s movies in her short Bollywood career). Ek Shrimaan Shrimati and Haseena Maan Jayegi are among those instances where Shashi Kapoor and Babita worked together, and Kalyanji-Anandji composed the songs. Kab Kyoon Aur Kahan (co-starring Dharmendra), Raaz (her first signed film) and Ek Hasina Do Diwane are a few more. The composers have tuned numerous dance numbers and party songs for Shashi Kapoor and Babita, which became immensely popular in the second half of 1960s.

20. Kya Dekhte Ho from Qurbani, Lyrics – Indeevar

It can be said that it’s the last popular song of this popular combination, which gave numerous romantic songs and party numbers in the 1960s and later. The movie was released just one month before Rafi’s demise. Rafi sang this very popular duet aside Asha Bhosle, and the song was filmed on Zeenat Aman and Feroz Khan. I am concluding here.

I have added a few more popular songs of this combination. Definitely you would prefer to add them to your playlist, if you are a Rafi fan. You can also read: Top 30 Music Albums of Kalyanji Anandji. 

A few more songs of Kalyanji Anandji and Mohammed Rafi combination

1. Sukh Ki Hai Saab Sathi from Gopi

2. Affo Khudaa Hum Ko Tum Pe Pyar Aya from Jab Jab Phool Khile

3. Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (Sad) from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

4. Sochta Hoon Ke Maine Tumhen from Raaz

5. Dilbar Dilbar Kahte Kahte Hua Diwana from Haseena Maan Jayegi

6. O Dilbar Janiye from Haseena Maan Jaayegi

7. Aajkal Hamse Roothe Hue Hai Sanam from Aamne Samne

8. Sare Shaher Mein Aap Sa from Bairaag

9. Kuchh Kahen To Khafa from Ek Shrimaan Shrimati

10. Aaj Galo Muskuralo Mehfile Sajalo from Lalkar

11. Pyar Se Dil Bhar from Kab Kyoon Aur Kahan

12. Dil To Dil Hai Kab Kyoon Aur Kahan

13. Gali Gali Sita Roye from Chalia

14. Deewane Hai Deewanon Ko from Zanjeer

15. Humne Aaj Se (Jaaneman) from Raja Saab

16. Chahe Paas Ho Chahe Door Ho from Samrat Chandragupta 

Also go through the gallery of Kalyanji-Anandji Topics. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read. Hope you will like it.