Top 10 Bollywood songs of Udit Narayan composed by A. R. Rahman

The versatile singer Udit Narayan has recorded numerous hit sings with almost every leading music director of 1990s and 2000s. Though a few, Udit Narayan has recorded numerous Hindi and Tamil chartbuster hits with Rahman during the period. This combination has always worked in Bollywood. Most of Udit Narayan songs for Rahman have been recorded as duets, maximum with Alka Yagnik, followed by Kavita Krishnamurthy. National award winning singer bagged two out of three National awards for Rahman compositions. Scroll down to know.

Udit has recorded Tamil songs for Rahman since 1990s. Kuluvali Le from Muthu, Come On Come On O Kaamaakshi from Love Birds, Sahaana from Sivaji and Soniya from Ratchagan are some of the popular Tamil songs of Udit Narayan, composed by Rahman. In this list I shall concentrate on their combo songs in Bollywood only. Here I list 10 of best Bollywood Udit Narayan recorded by A. R. Rahman. Majority of the songs belong to two big Khans of Bollywood – Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Needless to say, they were huge chartbusters.

Top 10 Udit Narayan Hindi songs recorded by A. R. Rahman

1. O Rey Chhori from Lagaan (Lyricist – Javed Akhtar) Co-singers: Alka Yagnik and Vasundhara Das

Let me begin this list with one of the finest romantic songs sung by Udit Narayan in Rahman’s music. Lagaan is a highly acclaimed film for its screenplay, direction, performances, music and everything. The song grabbed almost all musical awards at different award nights. Both A. R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar received Filmfare and National film awards, while Alka Yagnik earned it for this particular song. It’s the only romantic track of the album, filmed on Aamir Khan and newcomer Gracy Singh. Vasundhara Das provided the vocals for Rachel Shelley, who completed the love triangle.

2. Radha Kaise Na Jale from Lagaan (Lyricist – Javed Akhtar)  Co-singer: Asha Bhosle

Javed Akhtar received National award for best lyricist for this particular song, while Udit Narayan received a Filmfare and his first National award for best playback singer for Mitwa song from the same movie. When I reduced the list to 10 best songs of Udit Narayan, I was forced to choose two of my romantic favourites. That’s why I excluded Mitwa from the list. Otherwise it’s one among the finest songs of the album. Udit Narayan’s voice was used to record all Aamir Khan’s songs of the album including this dance number, while voices of Alka Yagnik and Asha Bhosle were used for Gracy Singh.

3. Yu Hi Chala Rahi from Swades (Lyricist – Javed Akhtar) Co-singers: Kailash Kher and Hariharan

This highly energetic travel song featured Shah Rukh Khan as a traveller and Makarand Deshpande as a Fakir. Udit Narayan was the main voice of the album, who became the ghost voice of SRK. Additional vocals provided by Kailash Kher and Hariharan for this particular song, lifted it to a new elated level. Soft melody was given preference for its compositions, quite matching the treat given by the director Ashutosh Gowarikar. 

4. Suno Zara from Swades (Lyricist – Javed Akhtar)  Co-singer: Alka Yagnik

The movie included one more melodious duet of Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. This slow romantic song was also filmed on SRK and Gayatri Joshi. The beginning verse filmed in a van looks extremely romantic. It’s one of the rare romantic SRK songs with most of the sequences filmed inside a van. Among well-established Bollywood playback singers, A. R. Rahman recorded maximum duets with Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, and most of those tunes have stood against the test of times.

5. Chalo Chale Mitwa from Nayak (Lyricist – Anand Bakshi) Co-singer: Kavita Krishnamurty

This tune was reused for the Bollywood remake of Tamil hit – Muthalvan (1999) and this romantic track featuring Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji became extremely popular. Manisha Koirala who played lead in the original version one year earlier was to reprise her role in Hindi remake. But things didn’t work. Original version was sung by Hariharan and Mahalakshmi Iyer.

6. E Ajnabi from Dil Se (Lyricist – Gulzar)  Back vocals: Mahalakshmi Iyer

This soft song filmed on Shah Rukh and Manisha Koirala has a haunting feel and best defined as Udit solo rather than a duet. It’s more than two decades since songs of Dil Se were released. Yet its tunes still look fresh, and needless to say, Dil Se is one among the top 5 works of composer’s career. This particular song is so special to many melody lovers, though not Rahman fans. It’s my most favourite Udit Narayan track ever. The song has taken inspirations from raga, Bhimplasi, which is commonly used in Bollywood since classic era, best known for its haunting tone. No doubt, this particular song is also a haunting melody. Legendary composer Madan Mohan used this raga in its purest form to compose the classic – Naino Mein Badra Chhaye. There are many more hit Bollywood songs belonging to this raga, and countless timeless classics. A. R. Rahman has experimented with this classical raga to create popular songs like Kehta hai mera dil (Jeans), Radha kaise na jale etc.

It is a bit surprising that Udit Narayan didn’t receive any nomination or award for this song. Each and every track of the album sank in the huge hysteria created by ‘Chayya Chayya’ song, which won multiple musical awards. It’s not the first case. We have seen many times when fast songs with catchy lyrics tops all musical chartbusters at the time of release. But after a few years, soft songs of the album catch our attention most. We love to hear such songs repeatedly most. It was a time when we got opportunity to hear so many good tunes – sweet 1990s, and we had to make a choice of best among the best. Sadly those days are no more. 

7. Kya Kare Kya Na Kare from Rangeela (Lyricist – Mehboob) – Solo

Many feel it extremely difficult when it comes to expression of love. In this song Aamir Khan expresses it at its best through Udit Narayan’s voice. The song was filmed on Aamir Khan and Urmila. Udit Narayan also sang the popular duet aside Chithra for this album – Yaaron Sunlo Zara.

8. Taal Se Taal from Taal (Lyricist – Anand Bakshi)  Co-singer: Alka Yagnik

The title song with rain in the backdrop was filmed on Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna. Interestingly Alka Yagnik won her first two Filmfare awards in Rahman’s music, singing duets with Udit Narayan. The songs are Taal Se Taal and O Re Chori.

9. Sona Nahi Na Sahi from One Two Ka Four (Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri)  Co-singer: Alka Yagnik

Once again a duet with Alka, it’s an underrated song of the album. The song was filmed on Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla.

10. Hai Na from Zubeidaa (Lyricist – Javed Akhtar) Co-singer: Alka Yagnik

One of the less-heard tunes composed by Rahman, this particular track belongs to year 2001 periodic drama, Zubeidaa. The song was filmed on Karishma Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai.

A few more Udit Narayan songs composed by A. R. Rahman for your playlist

1. Yeh Taara from Swades (Co-singers: Master Vignesh and Baby Pooja)

2. O Mitwa from Lagaan (Co-singer: Alka Yagnik)

3. Ghanan Ghanan  from Lagaan (Co-singers: Sukhwinder Singh, Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik)

4. I am Sorry from One Two Ka Four (Co-singer: Srinivas)

5. Sunta Hai Mera Khuda from Pukar (Co-singer: Kavitha Krishnamurthy)

6. Yaro Sun Lo Zara Apna Ye Kahna from Rangeela (Co-singer: Chithra)

7. Hum Hain Iss Pal Yahan from Kisna (Co-singer: Madhushree)

8. Sadiyaan Samaa Gain Is Ik Pal Men from Lakeer (Co-singers: Hariharan and Mahalakshmi Iyer)

9. Jogiya Jogiya from The Legend of Bhagat Singh (Co-singer – Alka Yagnik)

10. Chand Aaya Hai from Dil Hi Dil Mein (Co-singer: Kavita Krishnamurthy)

11. Haaye Re Haaye Re Haaye Rabba from Jeans (Solo)