1. Sur Na Saje (Basant Bahar): Can experience the beauty of Raag Piloo here! The alap at the very beginning, the sitar piece all through the song and the line when Manna Dey sings ‘swar ki sadhana’.
2. Pucho Na Kaise Maine (Mere Surat Tere Ankhen): The intense pathos associated with raag Ahir Bhirav is captured beautifully in Shailedra’s lyric, incorporated in SD Burman’s musical composition and expressed uniquely in Manna Dey’s singing. Beginning till end, this song makes me cry.
3. Rishtey Bante Hain (non film: Dil Padosi Hai): Asha Bhonsle had teamed up with Gulzar and R.D. Burman to produce this soulful number. This was included in the album Dil Padosi Hai. A music lover will know that the songs in this album were experimental in nature with a completely new sound, an extension of the sounds introduced by RDB in Ijaazat. The oneiric ambience in “Rishte Bante Hain” is maybe due to Asha’s overlapping phrases which float like clouds over swelling strings, soft tabla beats… love the second stanza:
ek hi lamhe pe ik saath gire the dono
ho ek hi lamhe pe ik saath gire the dono
o khud sanbhalate yaa zaraa mujhako sanbhalane dete
kachche lamhe ko zaraa shaakh pe pakane dete
pakane dete
o rishte banate hai bade dhire-se banane dete
kachche lamhe ko zaraa shaakh pe pakane dete
pakane dete
4. Bheeni Bheeni Bhor Aayi (non film: Dil Padosi Hai): Again Pancham + Asha + Gulzar (1987)! Raag Miyan ki Todi at its best! I bow to RD Burman for composing, Gulzar saab for penning and Asha Bhosle for singing this song. She has brought this raga to life.
5. Tanha Dil (non film: Tanha Dil): Shaan’s best solo album to date! Released a year after my mother passed away. I was working at Music World when this was released. If you have a lump in your throat listening to this song, you are normal and alive! Excellent picturisation and very well rendered by Shaan.
6. Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Maqaam (Aap Ki Kasam): Life”s philosophy so melodiously sung by Kishore Kumar! You can feel the pathos in his voice here.
Umr Bhar Chahe Koi Pukaara Kare Unka Naam
Voh Phir Nahin Aate, Voh Phir Nahin Aate
Aadmi Theek Se Dekh Paata Nahin
Aur Pardey Pe Manzar Badal Jaata Hai
Ek Baar Chale Jaate Hain Jo Din-Raat, Subah-o-Shaam
Voh Phir Nahin Aate, Vo Phir Nahin Aate
Zindagi Ke Safar Mein..
Pierces my heart in the memories of whomever I have lost… True reality of life…
7. Theme music of Minchina Ota (1980): One of the best theme music I have heard, thanks to Prabhakar Badri. Me and my son simply love to hear the guitar and violin combination that brings to life the various hues of life.
8. Theme music of Kasturi Nivasa (1971): Close to the ending, where Raj is writing a letter (his Will) and hands it over to Ashwath. The guitar strings and the violin crescendo add up to the tragic scene. I don’t look at my son when this scene comes. He doesn’t see mine. We both know our eyes are moist.
***
Also read:
40 Songs that make me cry – Part 1
40 Songs that make me cry – Part 2
