Top 10 Bollywood duets of Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar composed by Shankar Jaikishen

Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar remained the most celebrated singers of 1950s and 1950s, and Shankar Jaikishen, the most successful composer. When the quartet assembles together for a single romantic song, it’s nothing short of a magic. They have contributed many popular duets in the early 1960s and late 1960s. In between, Rafi and Lata didn’t work together for 6 years because of some personal indifference related to royalty of songs. Through this column I shall list 10 of the best Bollywood duets of Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar composed by Shankar Jaikishen.

1. Ye Mera Prem Patra Padhkar from Sangam (1964) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

I shall begin this list with one of the top romantic songs of 1960s, filmed on Rajendra Kumar and Vaijayanthimala. In the 1960s, Rafi was the ghost voice of Kumar, who played a magnificent role in establishing him as ‘Jubilee Kumar’. Lata Mangeshkar used to be frequent playback voice for Vyjayanthimala. But for this particular song, Lata sings only a couple of final lines (only its Mukda), and very often this song is considered to be Rafi solo. But I would prefer to add this song to the list, as I have done while preparing the best of the duets of Rafi and Lata. Hasrat wrote this beautiful song when he fell in love with a Hindu girl named Radha. Interestingly Vyjayanthimala’s character name in Sangam is also Radha. 

2. Tujhe Jeevan Ki from Asli Naqli (1962) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

The movie starring Dev Anand and Sadhana had some of the finest tunes composed by SJ. ‘Tujhe Jeevan Ki’ is the single duet of entire album consisting of 7 songs. The movie was also a major hit.

3. Dheere Dheere Chal from Love Marriage (1959) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

This romantic track filmed on Dev Anand and Mala Sinha, and moon is the third ‘artist’ in this song. Dheere Dheere Chal is one of the early hit duets of Rafi and Lata in SJ’s voice, though they have recorded many hit songs with S. D. Burman and other music composers. In the 1950s Shankar Jaikishen frequently worked with Raj Kumar, and hence Rafi-Lata duets were virtually impossible. Chances opened when Raj Kumar’s younger brother Shammi Kapoor frequently offered music department to SJ.

4. Tum Hi Tum Ho from Ek Dil Sau Afsane (1963) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

This song is so special and do you know why? It’s one of the very rare occasions where Mohammed Rafi rendered his voice for Raj Kapoor, and hence very precious. Lata Mangeshkar rendered her voice for Waheeda Rehman for this beautiful duet, and it’s the single duet of the entire album. SJ recorded this song in Rafi’s voice because Mukesh was not available at the time of recording. Initially he recorded Rafi’s voice as a dubbing version only. But when Raj Kapoor was deeply impressed by its rendition, he decided to keep this ‘dubbing’ version. Mukesh too appreciated the same. Definitely some incidents happen for good reasons.

5. Dil Tera Diwana from Dil Tera Diwana (1962) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

This rain song filmed on Mala Sinha and Shammi Kapoor was immensely popular when got released, and now also remains the same. Dil Tera Diwana is one of the top albums of Shankar Jaikishen for Shammi Kapoor. The movie included 4 duets of Rafi and Lata, of which the title track and Nazar Bachake became extremely popular. I just added the title song to this list, as it’s the favourite of many. The movie included two soft duets of the duo. But they were not as popular as fast ones – Masoom Chehra Ye Qatil Adayen and Jane Wafa Jane Jahan.

6. Masoom Chehra Ye Qatil Adayen from Dil Tera Diwana (1962) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

As I haven’t added this less-known to any of my Rafi lists, I would like to include it here. If I tell the truth, I was watching the song for the first time while I prepared the list. I watched this movie last year for the first time, but can’t remember. How many good songs I might have missed this way! This soft track is so beautiful. But why it didn’t the equal attention of Dil Tera Deewana, Nazar Bachake, Mujhe Itna Pyar and other tracks of the album? No idea! I watched the colour version of this romantic duet featuring Kapoor and Sinha, and it’s so beautiful.

7. Aawaz Deke Humein Tum Bulao from Professor (1962) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

This sad song was filmed on Shammi Kapoor and Kalpana. While most of its songs were fun-filled and romantic, this one is a sad version of romantic mood filmed on the lead pair.

8. Main Chali Main Chali from Professor (1962) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

This fun song was filmed on Shammi Kapoor and Kalpana, who marked her screen debut with Professor. Kalpana tricks Shammi to sing a romantic song and she also plays along with him, so that she can snatch a dress packet which she wants. She wins at the song climax and Shammi’s gentle smile smites us within a flash of second. Shankar Jaikishen bagged Filmfare award for best music for Professor. The comic role played by Shammi Kapoor bagged him a nomination for best actor.

9. Sau Saal Pehle from Jab Pyar Kise Se Hota Hai (1961) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

The song was filmed on Dev Anand and Asha Parekh, and the song was immensely popular. The movie also included a fun-filled duet, Yeh Aankhen Uff Yun Maa sung by Lata and Rafi.

10. Din Sara Guzara from Junglee (1961) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

It’s the only duet in the album consisting of 8 songs. In Rafi and Lata’s voices, Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bhanu gave full justification to this song. I am signing off with this beautiful ‘parting’ song.

A few more top Rafi-Lata duets composed by SJ

1. Mujhe Kitna Pyar Hai Tumse from Dil Tera Diwana (1962) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

2. Jane Wafa Jane Jahan from Dil Tera Diwana (1962) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

3. Yeh Aankhen Uff Yun Maa from Jab Pyar Kise Se Hota Hai (1961) (Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri)

4. O Sanam Tere Ho Gayen Hum from Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) (Lyricist: Shailendra)

Also go through the gallery to read a few more articles about Rafi.  The gallery lists Rafi’s finest works with other artists in the golden era. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read.