Top 20 Bollywood combination songs of Hasrat Jaipuri and Mohammed Rafi

Earlier I have added one post on top 10 songs of Hasrat Jaipuri and Shammi Kapoor, which exclusively belong to Rafi too. As Hasrat Jaipuri-Shankar Jaikishan combo has worked together for almost all Shammi Kapoor movies of 1960s (except a few like Kashmir Ki Kali and Teesri Manzil), many of Rafi songs were born in this combination. The musical pair along with lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri has worked for a few movies of Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Joy Mukherjee etc. Mohammed Rafi always remained the first choice of the composers, except for Raj Kapoor movies, though they kept changing female voices at different points of time.

Even while Rafi and Lata stopped recording duets for long 6 years, the composers never substituted Rafi’s voice. Instead they experimented with the voices of Asha Bhosle, Sharda and Suman Kalyanpur. As Hasrat Jaipuri predominantly worked with SJ (except a very few songs for S. D. Burman, Ramlal and Kalyanji Anandji), majority of Jaipuri-Rafi combo songs belong to the celebrated composer duo too. It’s not easy to list best 20 of Hasrat Jaipuri and Mohammed Rafi combination songs in the rich melodious era of 1960s, when SJ exclusively worked with Rafi in the decade (only a few Raj Kapoor movies released in the 1960s and early 1970s). Yet it’s my attempt some of the best songs of this combo. Here I list 20 of my favourites. I have sorted them based on the year of release.

1. Ehsaan Tera Hoga from Junglee (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1961

Let me begin the list with one of my top favourite Shammi Kapoor songs ever. This song is the best instance that good lyrics and poetry can lift a tune to a new level. ‘Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par……’ – one of the best expressions of love ever on Bollywood screen, and full credits got to its lyricist, composer and singers. The song had two solo versions of Rafi and Lata. In many terms, Rafi’s rendition excels Lata’s version. Saira Banu also appears for both these versions. A parting song of Rafi and Lata – Din Saara Gusara was also authored by Hasrat.

2. Dheere Chal Dheere Chal from Boyfriend (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1961

It was one among the first songs sung by Rafi for Shammi Kapoor and it was a huge chartbuster. For the fast beats of SJ (inspired from an English tune), Hasrat Jaipuri wrote apt lyrics, and Shammi Kapoor through his expressions on screen made it so special. Madhubala on whom Shammi Kapoor had a crush in real life played the female lead, and in this song she pretends like sleeping and listens to Shammi Kapoor singing. It was one of the early songs of Shammi Kapoor where he appeared in an eccentric romantic and joyful mood on screen. ‘Salaam Aapki Mitthi Najar Ko Salaam’ is a soft Rafi track penned by Jaipuri.

3. Teri Zulfon Se Judai from Jab Pyar Kise Se Hota Hai (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1961

The movie featuring Dev Anand and Asha Parekh included some of the finest songs penned our beloved poet. As I felt wordings of ‘Teri Zulfon Se Judai To Nahi Maangi Thi’ are brilliant comparing with other Hasrat songs such as Jiya O, Ye Aankhen, Uf Yummaa! and Sau Saal Pehle, I chose this particular song to be featured in this list. In the beginning of the song, Asha Parekh performs ‘Is Hirsoo Hawas Ki Duniya Me Armaan Badalte Dekhe Hai’ (in Lata’s voice) before the audience, followed by Dev Anand who performs ‘Teri Zulfon Se Judai’. In her words it’s pretty clear that she has some misunderstandings about Dev Anand’s character.

4. Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se Baandh Liya Hai from Asli Naqli (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Co-singer – Lata Mangeshkar) Year: 1962

‘Tujhe Jeevan Ki’ is the single duet of entire album consisting of 7 songs. Hasrat also authored the lyrics of popular songs such as Chheda Mere Dil Ne Tarana Tere Pyar Ka, Laakh Chhupaao Chhup Na Sakegaa, Ek But Banauga Tera Aur Pooja Karooga etc. The lyrics of ‘Ek But Banauga’ was lovely written by our poet, no doubt. I just made a random choice between these two songs.

5. E Gulbadan from Professor (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1962

Good lyrics give breathing oxygen to a good song. With strong influences of Urdu, Hasrat Jaipuri penned down an intense love song for Shammi Kapoor, and he appears alongside debutant Kalpana for this song. Both Mohammed Rafi and Hasrat Jaipuri earned Filmfare nominations in respective categories, while Shankar Jaishen took away the trophy for best composer. Hasrat also wrote the sad song, Aawaz Deke Hume Tum Bulao for the movie, a duet of Rafi and Lata.

6. Dil Ka Bhawar from Tere Ghar Ke Samne (Composer – S. D. Burman) (Solo) Year: 1963

Hasrat Jaipuri worked with S. D. Burman for only two movies. Despite writing all the songs of iconic movie, Tere Ghar Ke Samne followed by Ziddi, they never worked together. Except Sun Le Too Dil Kee Sada song penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, rest of the tracks were penned by Jaipuri. Tere Ghar Ke Samne Ik Ghar Banaoonga, Tu Kahan Yeh Bata, Yeh Tanhaiye and Dekho Roota Na Karo are other popular songs. The song was filmed on Dev Anand and Nutan in the film sets, as the filmmakers didn’t get permission to shoot the song at Qutab Minar.

7. Tujhe Pyar Karte Hain from April Fool (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Co-Singer – Suman Kalyanpur) Year: 1964

The song was filmed on Saira Banu and Biswajeet, and one of the career best songs of Suman Kalyanpur. In the mid-1960s when Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar vowed not to work together, artists like Suman Kalyanpur, Sharda and Asha Bhosle were benefitted most, who recorded many duets aside Rafi, tuned by Shankar Jaikishen.

8. Is Rang Badalti Duniya Mein from Rajkumar (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1964

The movie included a couple of soft solos sung by Rafi – Is Rang Badalti Duniya Mein and Tumne Kise Ke Jaan Ko and also a Rafi duet aside Suman Kalyanpur – Tumne Pukara Aur. I randomly picked this Rafi solo from three songs penned by Jaipuri for the movie. All these three songs filmed on Sadhana and Shammi Kapoor and equally popular.

9. Yeh Mera Prem Patra from Sangam (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Co-singer – Lata Mangeshkar) Year: 1964

This romantic song featuring Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala was closely related to his real life, and hence it’s so significant. Hasrat was just a normal person till his early 20s. He turned a poet at a moment when he fell in love with a Hindu girl named Radha, and ‘Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padkar Tum Naaraz Na Hona’ were the wordings used by him to write the first love letter for Radha. Years later Raj Kapoor liked the poem and included in his movie, Sangam. Interestingly Vyjayathimala’s character name in Sangam was also Radha, and Rajendra Kumar writes a love letter for her without her knowledge.

10. E Phoolon Ki Rani from Arzoo (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1965

Arzoo is remembered for its romantic story as well as some of the finest songs recorded in the voices of Rafi and Lata. This song featuring Rajendra Kapoor and Sadhana is the most popular Rafi track of the album. Hasrat received a Filmfare nomination for describing the beauty of a girl with perfectness. In fact the poet is known for writing beautiful lines for several romantic poems.

11. Tumse Achchha Kaun Hai from Janwar (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1965

Shammi Kapoor teases Rajshree in this popular song. In the 1960s Hasrat wrote many teasing songs for Shammi Kapoor and got noticed also. The song lyrics got well noticed, and it was later used to coin another Shammi Kapoor movie co-staring Babita, who later married his nephew Randhir Kapoor. Hasrat Jaipuri penned lyrics for its popular song, Kabhi Humne Nahi Socha Tha.

12. Baharon Phool Barsao from Suraj (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1966

Vyjayanthimala features in this song aside Rajendra Kumar, and wonderful art work done by the art director to create a beautiful forest and swing. The movie with several popular songs won Filmfare award for best music direction of 1966 as well as best male playback singer. Hasrat Jaipuri also earned his first Filmfare award for this song – indeed a rare achievement for a song to win at least three awards.

13. Aa Ja Re Aa Zara from Love In Tokyo (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1966

Love In Tokyo is one of the finest works of SJ, Rafi, Lata and Hasrat in the 1960s, though the movie doesn’t win any musical awards or nominations. Except ‘Koi Matvala Aaya Mere Dware’ – a dance sequence featuring Asha Parekh all the songs were penned by Hasrat. This soft sensuous song featuring Asha Parekh and Joy Mukherjee also included many embracing couples, adding sensuality and romantic mood to the song. The song brings sensuality on screen through eyes and not through vulgar scenes, and the chemistry of the lead pair is well visible on screen. Mere Shaahe Khuban – is yet another popular song of Rafi from the album penned by Hasrat, and it had a female version in Lata’s voice too. Definitely this song tops my list of Hasrat-Rafi combo songs.

14. Akele Akele Kahan Ja Rahe Ho from An Evening in Paris (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1967

A popular ‘Ched-Chad’ (teasing) song of Shammi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore is the ‘victim’ this time. After irritating her throughout the song, following her everywhere she goes, Sharmila finally succeeds to fool him at the song climax. The song’s naughty and catchy lyrics also played a significant role in making the song such a huge hit. In those days, most of Shammi Kapoor movies had at least one teasing song and it used to be an instant chartbuster. ‘Deewane Ka Naam To Poocho’ penned by Shailendra for this movie also belongs to same category.

15. Dil Ke Jharokhe Men Tujhako Bithaakar from Brahmachari (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1968

What a lovely lyrics, and how expressive Rafi expressed Shammi Kapoor’s feelings through his rendition! No doubt, Dil Ke Jharoke Mein definitely lists among the top 10 heart breaking songs ever produced in Bollywood. For the year 1969, Rafi earned all the three nominations at Filmfare award, with two nominations from Brahmachari and finally winning it for Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein. Lyrics penned by Hasrat Jaipuri also earned a Filmfare nomination. Shammi Kapoor is seen playing a piano in the song sequence, and among the audience are his sweet heart Rajshree and her fiancé Pran. Shailendra won Filmfare awards for best lyricist for another song featured in the same movie – Mein Gaon Tum So Jaao. Hasrat also penned the catchy lyrics of the very popular dance number – Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar, which played a magnificent role in bringing Mumtaz to spotlight, who was till then associated with B-grade action films aside Dhara Singh and others.

16. Woh Khushi Mili Hai Mujhko from Mere Huzoor (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1968

The movie’s title track filmed on Mala Sinha and Jeetendra and penned by Hasrat is more popular. However this sad solo of Rafi filmed on Raaj Kumar attracts me most. The song also features Mala Sinha and Jeetendra, on the occasion of their marriage. It’s indeed sad to let go the most beautiful dream, desire and happiness of our soul only to see happiness of someone we love. That is true love. In this particular song, Raaj Kumar sacrifices his love for his friend Jeetendra, and feels happy and satisfied with it. The song, its beats, rendition and expressions of Raaj Kumar – everything deeply touch our hearts. The film’s anti-climax leave us broken hearts.

17. Gar Tum Bhula Na Doge Sapne from Yakeen (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1969

The romantic song featuring Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore had two solo versions in Rafi and Lata mangeshkar’s voices, and Rafi’s version became more popular. This spy thriller had Dharmendra in a rare dual role, one playing positive while the second one was a baddie.

18. Badan Pe Sitare from Prince (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1969

This sensuous song in Rafi’s voice is a party number filmed on Vyjayanthimala and Shammi. We can see Shammiji trying to woo his heroine in this song, and he finally succeeds. Pran who plays villain can also be spotted in the song. Hasrat got inspiration to write this song after seeing a woman dressed in a sari studded with glittering stars in Paris. Muqabala Hamase Na Karo – a competition song of Rafi, Asha and Lata was also penned by Hasrat.

19. Meri Zindagi Me Aate To Kuch Aur Baat Hoti from Kanyadan (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1969

This Rafi solo was filmed on Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. In the 1960s Shashi Kapoor had a chocolate hero image, mostly doing romantic roles and Rafi was his ghost voice of the decade.

20. Tum Mujhe Yu Bhula Na Paoge from Pagla Kahin Ka (Composer – Shankar Jaikishan) (Solo) Year: 1971

The song is the best choice to end this list, and one of the last hits of Hasrat Jaipuri- Rafi combination songs. With the death of Jaikishen in 1971, their combination songs virtually ended though Shankar continued to record songs under the same name. With early 1970s, Rafi also faced his career low phase with the rise of Kishore Kumar, though he made a strong comeback in the late 1970s before he passed away. Same was the case of Shammi Kapoor and other romantic heroes of 1960s, who became unfitted for the romantic roles because of aging.

The song had two versions filmed on Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh, and both versions were popular. Rafi’s version is a happy one, while Lata Mangeshkar’s version is sad one. Yes, as the song’s wordings say (taking freedom to alter the translation a little bit), ‘We can never forget them both. Whenever we listen to any of their songs, we start humming along with it’. Today this legendary poet or the celebrated singer is not with us, and many of their majestically royal songs make us remember them whenever we listen to them. After all it’s not easy to forget them both, and their spaces in Bollywood cinema can never be replaced.

A few more popular Rafi songs penned by Hasrat Jaipuri not featured in the above list

1. Din Saara Gusara from Junglee

2. O Mere Shaahe Khuban from Love In Tokyo

3. Title track from Tere Ghar Ke Samne

4. Tu Kahan Yeh Bata from Tere Ghar Ke Samne

5. Teri Pyari Pyari Soorat Ko from Sasural

6. Raat Ke Humsafar from An Evening In Paris

7. Aasmaan Se Aayaa Farishta from An Evening In Paris

8. Title track from An Evening In Paris

9. Kabhi Hum Ne Nahin Socha Tha from Tumse Accha Kaun Hai

10. Nazar Bachakar from Dil Tera Deewana

11. Masoom Chehara Yeh Kaatil Adaaye from Dil Tera Deewana

12. Tum Kamsin Ho from Ayee Milan Ki Bela

13. Kaun Hai Jo from Jhuk Gaya Aasman

14. Rukh Se Zara from Mere Husoor

15. Ajee Humse Bachkar from Arzoo

16. Chalke Teri Aankhon Se Sharab Aur Jyada from Arzoo

17. Ae Nargise Mastana from Arzoo

18. Aap Ko Pehle Bhi Kahin from Tum Haseen Mein Jawan

19. Mein Kahi Kavi Na Ban Jaun from Pyar Hi Pyar

20. Dekha Hai Teri Aankhon Mein from Pyar Hi Pyar

21. Muqabala Hamase Na Karo from Prince

22. Dheere Dheere Chal from Love Marriage

Also go through the gallery to read a few more articles about Rafi. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read.