Nightingale Ninety

Soon after bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha, I was captivated by the thought of planning the celebration of the upcoming momentous milestone: The Ninetieth Birthday of the Nightingale: Lata Mangeshkar! MI mind went blank trying to write something that was different and distinct enough to justify the overwhelming importance of this occasion. I kept writing and discarding, as I have already written a lot on what was ‘different’ and ‘deferent’, and then, I gave up reluctantly.

Overpowered by the restlessness of how I was not able commemorate this landmark event when I have forever been in so much awe of her, thoughts swam through my mind, and one rose from the depths to skim the surface! I seemed compelled to come up with a list of the wide ensemble of rare classic song gems of Lata ji. They were all unearthed and presented with a breath of new life at the “Keep Alive” live music events over the past 22 years by an array of trained and talented singers ranging from Vaishali Samant and Vrushali Patil, Shailaja Subramanian and Sarita Rajesh to Lopita Mishra and Supriya Joshi to Radhika Nanday, Anupama Roy, Shruti Rane, Jyotika Sharma and Prajakta Sarardekar and Sairam Iyer (who sang effortlessly in both male and female voices).

The above singers were supported in the duet songs by other talented singers like Anand Bahal, Anant Bhardwaj, Gaurav Bangia, Nishanth S V, Rana Chatterji, Sagar Sawarkar, Shrikant Narayan… and in the chorus~choir backed songs by Nishigandha Phatak. Nitin Karandikar, Rahul Chitnis, Sonal Naik, Sudha Sundar, Sumeeta Sundar, Veena Joshi….

Presenting the novel conglomeration of the Nightingale Nuggets to mark her Ninetieth Birthday:

• 1947
• Aap Ki Seva Mein
• Paa laagu kar jori re…
• Shehnai
• Jawani ki rel chali jaaye re…
• 1948
• Anokha Pyar
• Ab yaad na kar bhool ja ae dil wo fasana…
• Ek dil ka lagana baaqi tha…
• Mere liye woh gham~e~intzaar chhod gaye…
• Yaad rakhna chand taaro…
• Asha
• Door jaaye re, door jaaye re…
• Ek moorat manohar re….
• Kit jaaye base ho murari..
• Gajre
• Baras baras badli bhi bikhar gayi…
• Majboor
• Ab darne ki koyi baat nahin….
• Dil mera toda, o mujhe kahin ka na chhoda…
• Padmini
• Bedard tere dard ko seene se lagaake…
• Ziddi
• Chanda re jaa re jaa re …
• Jaadu kar gaye kisike naina….
• Tujhe o bewafa hum zindagi ka aasra samjhe….
• 1949
• Andaz
• Koi mere dil mein khushi banke aaya….
• Tod diya dil mera…
• Uthaaye ja unke sitam…
• Badi Behan
• Chale jaana nahin nain milaake….
• Chhup chhup khade ho….
• Jo dil mein khushi bankar aaye….
• Balam
• pardesi musafir kise karta hai ishaare….
• Barsaat
• Barsaat mein tumse mile hum…
• Bichhde hue pardesi ik baar to aana tu….
• Chhod gaye baalam,
• Hawa mein udta jaaye…
• Jiya beqarar hai, chhaayi bahar hai….
• mujhe kisise pyar ho gaya….
• Bazar
• Apni nazar se door woh…
• Saajan ki galiyan chhod chalen….
• Chakori
• Haaye chanda gaye pardes…
• Tu humse juda hai….
• Dulari
• Ae dil tujhe qasam hai….
• Kaun sune fariyad hamaari…
• Mil milke gaayenge…
• Raat rangeeli mast nazaare….
• Taqdeer jagaakar aayi hoon …
• Ek Thi Ladki
• Ab haal-e-dil ya haal-e-jigar….
• Lara lappa, lara lappa….
• Girls School
• Kuch sharmate hue aur kuch saham saham…
• Tumhi kaho mera mann kyon rahe udaas nahin…
• Jal Tarang
• Lutt gayi umeedon ki duniya….
• Ladli
• Tumhare bulaane ko ji chaahta hai….
• Lahore
• Baharen phir bhi aayengi….
• Duniya hamaare pyar ki….
• Toote hue armaanon ki ik duniya basaake …
• Mahal
• Aayega aanewala….
• Dil ne phir yaad kiya…
• Mushqil hai bahut mushqil…
• Narsinh Avatar
• Hari ko bisaaro na…
• Paras
• Aaj meri duniya mein din hai bahar ke….
• Dil leke chhupnewale….
• Raat ki Rani
• Us chand se pyaare chand ho tum
• Shair
• Do bichhde hue dil, aapas mein gaye mil….
• Ye duniya hai, yahan dil ka lagana….
• Sipahiya
• Ae aankh ab na rona…
• Hansee hansee na rahi…
• Zevraat
• Shikwa na karenge na shikayat ae zamaane….
• 1950
• Aadhi Raat
• Dil hi to hai tadap gaya, dard se bhar na aaye kyon ….
• Hamen duniya ko dil ke zakhm dikhlana nahin aata….
• Anmol Ratan
• Taare wohi hai, chand wohi hai…
• Shikwa tera main gaaun…
• Yaad aanewale, phir yaad aa rahe hain…
• Arzoo
• Kahan tak hum uthaaye gham….
• Babul
• Panchhi ban mein piya piya gaane laga…
• Beqasoor
• Aayi bhor suhani, jaagi asha aur muskaayi….
• Matwale nainonwale ke main waari waari jaaun..
• Birha Ki Raat
• Chhota sa fasana hai tere mere pyar ka…
• Chhoti Bhabhi
• Maine kaha babuji, itna bataaoge…
• Gauna
• Agar dil kisise lagaaya na hota….
• Lajawab
• Naache re gori dingu…
• Zamaane ka dastoor hai ye purana….
• Maang
• Ae dil~e~beqarar, jaise bhi ho guzaar…
• Mashaal
• Aaj nahin to kal bikhar jayenge ye baadal….
• Meena Bazar
• Apna banaake chhod nahin jaana…
• Maahi o maahi o dupatta mera de de….
• Paas aake hue hum door…
• Nirala
• Mehfil mein jal uthi shama parwane ke liye…
• Pardes
• Ankhiyan milaake zara baat karo ji….
• Qismat banaanewale zara saamne to aa….
• Samadhi
• Gore gore o baanke chhore
• Sangeeta
• Naumeed hoke bhi duniya mein jeeye jaayenge…
• Sargam
• Jab dil ko sataave gham, chhed sakhi sargam….
• Koyi kisika diwana na bane….
• Mausam-e-bahar yaar, dil hai gulzar yaar….
• 1951
• Ada
• Aankhon aankhon mein unse pyar ho gaya…
• Preetam meri duniya mein do din to rahe hote…
• Saanwri surat mann bharati re piya….
• Afsana
• Abhi to main jawan hoon….
• Kahan hai tu mere sapnon ke raja…
• Albela
• Bholi surat dil ke khote…
• Balma bada nadaan….
• Dheere se aaja ri ankhiyan mein….
• Mehfil mein meri kaun ye diwana aa gaya…
• Mere dil ki ghadi, kare tik tik tik…
• Shola jo bhadke, dil mera dhadke…
• Araam
• Balamva nadaan….
• Mann mein kisike preet basaale….
• Mil milke bichhad gaye nain….
• Awara
• Aaj jao tadapte hain armaan….
• Dum bhar jo udhar munh phere….
• Tere bina aag …Ghar aaya mera pardesi…
• Baadal
• Ae dil na mujhse chhupa….
• Badi Bahu
• Badli teri nazar to nazaare badal gaye…..
• Kaahe nainon mein kajra bharo….
• Daaman
• Ashkon se likhi taqdeer meri….
• yaad aane lagi…
• Tirulilla tirulilla….gaaye Lata, gaaye Lata….
• Deedar
• Bachpan ke din bhula na dena…
• Dekh liya maine qismat ka tamasha….
• Hulchul
• Aaj mere naseeb ne mujhko rula rula diya….
• Humlog
• Chali jaa chali jaa chali jaa….
• Gaaye chala jaa, gaaye chala jaa…
• Kaali Ghata
• Ele bele la ila, din hai pyaare pyaare…
• kaali ghata ghir aayi re… madhur milan hai…
• Khazana
• Ae chand pyar mera….
• Baabdi boobdi baabdi bam….
• Malhar
• Bade armaanon se rakha hai balam…
• Ek baar agar tu kehde…
• Garjat barsat bheejat aayi lo…
• Kahan ho tum zara awaaz do…
• Malti Madhav
• Baandh preeti phul dor….
• Mann mein mere angaare hain…
• Nadaan
• bhai machhua, tere jaale ka toote na taaga…
• Nagina
• Toone haay mere zakhm~e~jigar ko chhoo liya….
• Naujawan
• Thandi hawayen lehraake aayen….
• Sazaa
• Tum na jaane kis jahan mein kho gaye…
• Sabz Baagh
• Meri barbaadiyon pe muskuraane aa gaya koyi…
• Sagai
• Mohabbat mein aise zamaane bhi aaye…
• Saiyyan
• Kaali kaali raat re, din bada sataaye…
• Qismat mein khushi ka naam nahin…
• Woh raat din woh sham ki guzri hui kahaniyan…
• Shokhiyan
• Sapna ban saajan aaye…
• Stage
• Dil leke dil diya hai…
• Tarana
• Beimaan tore nainva, nindiya na aaye….
• Bol papeehe bol re….
• Nain mile nain hue baawre….
• Seene mein sulagte hain armaan…
• Woh din kahan gaye bataa….
• 1952
• Aan
• Aaj mere man mein sakhi bansuri bajaaye…
• Ajeeb Ladki
• Ik bewafa ko dil ka sahara samajh liya….
• Ambar
• Duniya mein nahin koyi yaar wafaadar…
• Hum pyar tumhi se karte hain…
• Hum tum ye bahar, dekho rang laya pyar…
• Tootegi na pyar ki dor…
• Anhonee
• Is dil ki haalat kya kahiye..
• Mere dil ki dhadkan kya bole….
• Samaake dil mein hamaare zara khayal rahe…
• Zindagi badli mohabbat ka mazaa aane laga…
• Anand Math
• Vande maataram….
• Ashiana
• Mera qarar leja, mujhe beqarar kar ja …
• Mere piya se koyi jaake kehde….
• Baiju Bawra
• Bachpan ki mohabbat ko dil se na juda karna….
• Door koyi gaaye, dhun ye sunaaye…
• Jhoole mein pawan ke aayi bahar…
• Mohe bhool gaye sanwariya….
• Bewafa
• Dil matwala laakh sambhaala….
• Chamki
• Ye baat kitni sach hai maana ki purani…
• Daag
• Preet ye kaisi bol ri duniya…
• Diwana
• Teer khaate jaayenge…
• Jaal
• Chandni raaten pyar ki baaten…
• Chori chori meri gali aana hai bura…
• Pighla hai sona door gagan par…
• Kaafila
• Aansoo ab tum kabhi na behna….
• Lehron se poochhlo, ya kinaron se poochhlo…
• Naubahar
• Ae ri main to prem diwani…
• Kahan hai tu kahan hai meri duniya lootnewale….
• Nirmohi
• Dukhiyare naina dhoondhe piya…
• Parchhain
• Apni kaho, kuch meri suno…
• Dil dil se keh raha hai…
• Katate hain dukh mein ye din..
• Poonam
• Jhoome jhoome dil mera….
• Raag Rang
• Matt chhed zindagi ke khamosh taar so ja….
• Sangdil
• Dil mein sama gaye sajan….
• Woh to chale gaye ae dil….
• Saqi
• Aa gayi hai ishq pe bahar…
• Gham ki waadi mein khushi ka caravan khone lagaa…
• Kise maloom tha ik din mohabbat bezuban hogi…
• Sheesha
• Jawani ke raste pe aaj mera dil hai….
• Shinshinaki Boobla Boo
• Shinshinaki boobla boo….
• Tum kya jaano tumhari yaad mein….
• Tamasha
• Bhool sake na hum tumhen…
• 1953
• Aah
• Aaja re ab mera dil pukara…
• Jaane na nazar, pehchane jigar….
• Raja ki aayegi baraat…
• Sunte the naam hum jinka bahar se….
• Ye sham ki tanhaaiyan…
• Aas
• Dekho ji dekho ik baar is taraf dekho…
• Aansoo
• Judaai ki khabar hoti agar deedar se pehle…
• Sun mere saajna….
• Agosh
• Mohabbat ek shola hai…
• Akash
• So gayi chandni, jaag uthi bekali….
• Alif Laila
• Bahar aayi khili kaliyan…
• Khamosh kyon hon taaro…
• Kya raat suhani hai….
• Anarkali
• Aaja ab to aaja meri qismat ke khareeddaar…
• Dua kar gham-e-dil khuda se dua kar…
• Jaag dard~e~ishq jaag…
• Mohabbat aisi dhadkan hai…
• Mujhse matt poochh mere ishq mein….
• Ye zindagi usiki hai…
• Aurat
• Dard-e-ulfat chhupaun kahan …
• Soona soona hai jahan…
• Baaghi
• Hamaare baad ab mehfil mein…
• Babla
• Raat ke raahi thak mat jaana….
• Dhun
• Badi barbaadiyan lekar meri duniya mein pyar aaya….
• Hum pyar karenge, hum pyar karenge…
• Do Bigha Zamin
• Apni kahani chhod jaa…
• Hariyala sawan dhol bajaata aaya..
• Fareb
• Aa mohabbat ki basti basaayenge hum….
• Raat gungunaati hai, loriyan sunaati hai…
• Farmaish
• Tum dil ko tod doge…
• Hamdard
• Ritu aaye ritu jaaye sakhi ri…
• Jalianwala Bagh
• Mukh se na bolun, ankhiyan na kholun…
• Jhanjhar
• Ae pyar teri duniya se hum…
• Laila Majnu
• Asmanwale terei duniya se jee ghabra gaya…
• Malkin
• Mohabbat ne kya kya tamashe dikhaaye…
• Mehman
• Ankhon mein chitchor samaaye….
• Patita
• Kisine apna banaake mujhko….
• Yaad kiya dil ne kahan ho tum….
• Rahi
• Ik pal ruk jaana, jaanewale raahi….
• Shagoofa
• Apna pata bataade, ya mere paas aaja….
• 1954
• Amar
• Jaanewale se mulaqat na hone paayi…
• Na milta gham to barbaadi ke afsaane kahan jaate…
• Na shikwa hai koyi, na koyi shikayat….
• Oodi oodi chhaayi ghata….
• Tere sadke balam na kar koyi gham….
• Badshah
• Aa neele gagan tale…
• Chor Bazar
• Hui ye humse nadaani…
• Maan
• Guzra hua ulfat ka zamana…
• Mere pyar mein tujhe kya mila….
• Mayur Pankh
• Khushiyon ke chand muskuraaye re…
• Mehbooba
• Aa ki ab aata nahin dil ko qaraar….
• Aji humko hai tumse pyar….
• Naaz
• Jhilmil sitaaron ke tale aa….
• Katati hai ab to zindagi…
• Nagin
• Jaadugr saiyyan, chhodo mori baiyyan….
• Mann dole mera tann dole
• Mera dil ye pukaare aaja….
• Teri yaad mein jalkar dekh liya…
• Oonchi oonchi duniya ki deewaren…
• Nastik
• Gagan jhanjhana raha…
• Jai jai ram raghurayi….
• Kaanha bajaaye bansuri…
• Tere phoolon se bhi pyar…
• Pehli Jhalak
• Kaise bhaaye sakhi ritu sawan ki…
• Rishta
• Bedard zamaane se shikwa na shikayat hai….
• Shabab
• Chandan ka palna, resham ki dori….
• Jo main jaanti bichhdat hain saiyyan…
• Jogan ban jaaungi saiyyan tore kaaran….
• Mann ki been matwari baaje….
• Marna teri gali mein, jeena teri gali mein….
• Shart
• Dekho woh chand chhupke….
• Subah Ka Tara
• Gaya andhera hua ujara…
• Taxi Driver
• Dil jale to jale, gham pale to pale…
• Dil se milaake dil pyar kijiye….
• 1955
• Aaj Ki Baat
• Lo chali gham ki hawa….
• Albeli
• Muskuraati hui chandni…
• Azaad
• Aplam chaplam….
• Jaari jaari o kaari badariya….
• Kitna haseen hai mausam….
• Radha na bole na bole…
• Baradari
• Bhula nahin dena ji..
• Devdas
• Ab aage teri marzi…
• Jise tu kubool karle…
• Garm Coat
• Jogia se preet kiye dukh hoye….
• Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali
• Kahan kho gayi hai bahaar aate aate…
• Hoor-e-Arab
• Tararararum mere dil mein sanam….
• House No 44
• Phaili hui hain sapnon ki baahen….
• Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje
• Jo tum todo piya…
• Mere ae dil bataa, pyar toone kiya….
• Nain so nain naahin milaao…
• Saiyyan jao jao, mose na bolo….
• Kundan
• Jahanwale hamen duniya mein kyon paida kiya toone….
• Shikayat kya karun…
• Milap
• Ye bahaaron ka samaa…
• Munimji
• Aankh khulte hi tum chhup gaye ho kahan….
• Ghayal hiraniya main ban ban dolun…
• Jeevan ke safar mein rahi….
• Nain khoye khoye…
• Sajan bin neend na aaye…
• Naata
• Matt samjho neer bahaati hoon….
• Naqab
• Kab tak uthaayen aur ye gham…
• Oot Pataang
• Meri ulfat soyi hai yahan…
• Railway Platform
• Chand madhham hai asmaan chup hai….
• Seema
• Baat baat mein rootho na…
• Manmohana bade jhoothe…
• Shree 420
• Mudd mudd ke na dekh…
• Pyar hua ikraar hua hai…
• Ramaiyya vastavayya….
• Sitara
• Taqdeer ki gardish kya kam thi…
• Tangewali
• Halke halke chalo saanwre….
• Udan Khatola
• Hamaare dil se na jaana….
  Mera salaam le ja….
• More saiyyan ji utrenge paar…
• Sitaron ki mehfil saji tum na aaye….
• Yasmin
• Ab woh raaten kahan….
• Ankhon mein sama jaao…
• Mujhpe ilzaam-e-bewafai hai….
• Tum apni yaad bhi dil se bhula jaate…
• 1956
• Basant Bahar
• Main piya teri tu maane ya na maane…
• Nain mile chain kahan….
• Bhai Bhai
• Kadar jaane na o kadar jaane na….
• Mera naam abdul rehman…
• Chori Chori
• Aaj sanam madhur chandni mein hum…
• Jahan main jaati hoon…
• Panchhi banun udti phirun….
• Rasik balma, dil kyon lagaaya tose….
• Ye raat bheegi bheegi….
• Durgesh Nandini
• Kahan le chale ho, bataa do musafir…
• Ek Hi Raasta
• Saanwle salone aaye din bahar ke…
• Fifty Fifty
• Chal diya dil mera todke….
• Jagte Raho
• Jaago mohan pyaare….
• Halaku
• Aaja ki intzaar mein jaane ko hai bahar bhi….
• Aji chale aao, aji chale aao…
• Dil ka na karna etbaar koyi…
• Naya Aadmi
• Laut gaya gham ka zamana…
• New Delhi
• Murli bairan bhayi…
• Tum sang preet lagaayi rasiya….
• Parivar
• Jaa tose nahin bolun kanhaiya…
• Jhir jhir jhir jhir badarva barse…
• Patrani
• Chandrama madbhara kyon jhoome….
• Kabhi to aa, kabhi to aa, kabhi to aa..
• Pocketmaar
• Ye nayi nayi preet hai….
• Rajhath
• Mere sapne mein aana re sajna….
• Ye waada karo chand ke saamne
• Shatranj
• Badli mein chhupe chand ne kuch mujhse kaha hai….
• Shirin Farhad
• Guzra hua zamana, aata nahin dobara….
• Taksal
• Brij ke nandlala, radha ke sanwariya…
• Dil bhi tera, hum bhi tere…
• Toofan aur Diya
• Piya te kahan gayo….
• 1957
• Anjali
• Kis kisko deepak pyar kare….
• Baarish
• Kehte hain pyar jisko…
• Begunah
• Din albele pyar ke mausam…
• Bhabhi
• Chali chali re patang meri chali re…
• Chhupaakar meri ankhon mein….
• Kaare kaare baadra, jaa re jaa re baadra….
• Champakali
• Chhup gaya koyi re door se pukaar ke…
• Chengez Khan
• Jab raat nahin katati…
• Chhote Babu
• Teri chamakti ankhon ke aage….
• Dekh Kabira Roya
• Hum panchhi mastaane….
• Meri veena tum bin roye….
• Tu pyar kare ya thukraaye….
• Do Ankhen Barah Haath
• Ae maalik tere bande hum…
• umad ghumadkar aayi re ghata….
• Saiyyan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj nikla…
• Ek Saal
• Chale bhi aao, chale bhi aao….
• Fashion
• Baharon se poochho, nazaaron se poochho….
• Gateway of India
• Do ghadi woh jo paas aa baithe….
• Na hanso, humpe zamaane ke hain thukraaye hue…
• Sapne mein sajan se do baaten…
• Hill Station
• Nayi manziL, nayi raahen…
• Jalti Nishani
• Rooth ke tum to chal diye…
• Kathputli
• Baakad bam bam bam bam baaje damru…
• Bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang baandhi….
• Miss Mary
• Brindaban ka Krishna kanhaiya….
• raat ke musafir…
• Sakhi ri sun bole papiha us paar….
• Mother India
• Duniya mein hum aaye hain to…
• Ghoonghat nahin kholungi….
• Matwala jiya dole piya…
• Nagri nagri dwaare dwaare….
• jaanewalo jao na ghar apna chhodke….
• Nausherwan-e-Adil
• Bheeni bheeni hai, meethi meethi hai….
• Bhool jaayen saare gham….
• Taaron ki zabaan par hai mohabbat ki kahani…
• Panchayat
• Ta thaiyya karte aana…
• Paying Guest
• Chand phir nikla….
• Sharda
• chand jahan woh jaaye….
• 1958
• Aakhri Dao
• Woh chand muskaaya, ye tare sharmaaye…
• Adalat
• Jaana tha humse door, bahane bana liye….
• Unko ye shikayat hai…
• Yoon hasraton ke daagh…
• Aji Bas Shukriya
• Saari saari raat teri yaad sataaye….
• Amar Deep
• Dil ki duniya basaake sanwariya…
• Mere man ka baawra panchhi….
• Do Phool
• Tadap tadap ke kati umr aashiyane mein….
• Jailor
• Boondaniyan barsan laagi…
• Hum pyar mein jalnewalon ko….
• Madhumati
• Aaja re pardesi…
• Daiyya re daiyya chadh gayo paapi bichhua….
• Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai…
• Ghadi ghadi mera dil dhadke….
• Zulmi sang aankh ladi…
• Milan
• Haaye jiya roye, piya naahin aaye….
• Mousi
• Tim tim tim taaron ke deep jale…
• Parvarish
• Beliya beliya beliya…
• Masti bhara hai ye samaa…
• Post Box No. 999
• Neend na mujhko aaye….
• Sadhana
• Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko…
• Kaho ji tum kya kya khareedoge…
• Samrat Chandragupta
• Ye sama ye dil mera…
• Suvarna Sundari
• Kuhu bole koyaliya…
• Mujhe na bhula, mujhe na bhula….
• Yahudi
• Aate jaate pehlu mein aaya koyi….
• Meri jaan meri jaan, pyar kisise ho hi gaya hai….
• 1959
• Anadi
• 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959…
• Banke panchhi gaaye pyar ka tarana…
• Dil ki nazar se, nazron ke dil se….
• Tera jaana dil ke armaanon ke lutt jaana..
• Woh chand khila woh taare hanse….
• Ardhangini
• Tera khat leke sanam, paaon kahin rakhte hain hum…
• Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane
• Door kahin tu chal…
• Barkha
• Ik raat mein do do chand khile….
• Tadpaaoge, tadpaana, hum tadap tadap kar bhi….
• Black Cat
• Main tumhi se poochhti hoon…
• Chacha Zindabad
• Bach gaye hum donon phanste phanste…
• Bairan neend na aaye…
• Preetam daras dikhaao….
• Chand
• Ae baadalo, rimjhim ke rang liye…
• Char Dil Char Raahen
• Intzaar aur abhi, aur abhi, aur abhi…
• Chhoti Behan
• Baaghon mein baharon mein ithlaata gaata…
• Bhaiyya mere, raakhi ke bandhan ko nibhana….
• Main rangeela pyar ka rahi….
• Dhool Ka Phool
• Tere pyar ka aasra chaahta hoon…
• Do Gunde
• Bheegi palken utha, meri jaan gham na kar..
• Goonj Uthi Shehnai
• Ankhiyan bhool gayi hain sona….
• Dil ka khilauna haaye toot gaya…
• Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe….
• Tere sur aur mere geet…
• Jagir
• Maane na, maane na, haay balam pardesiya….
• Kaali Topi Lal Rumaal
• Daga daga vai vai vai…
• Laagi chhoote na ab to sanam….
• Love Marriage
• Dheere dheere chal chand gagan mein….
• Madam XYZ
• Jaadubhari ye chandni, ye pyar ka samaa…
• Maane na, maane na manmohana….
• Qaidi No 911
• Pyar bhari ye ghataayen…
• Rani Roopmati
• Aaja, aaja bhanwar, sooni dagar….
• Jhananananan jhananananan… baaje paayaliya….
• Satta Bazar
• Tumhen yaad hoga kabhi hum mile the…
• Sawan
• Nain dwar se mann mein samaaye…
• School MasteR
• dildar, bolo ik baar….
• Ujala
• Duniyawalon se door, jalnewalon se door…
• Jhoomta mausam mast mahina….
• Tera jalwa jisne dekha, woh tera ho gaya….

Ah!… am running out of energy to go ahead and list the songs of the 60s and 70s…

The list is long and endless…. I stop here….

When I was typing out the songs, lot of beautiful memories came flooding:the musical evenings in which these songs were presented, the singers who rendered them on stage with animated spirits, their initial reaction to the songs that they had never heard, their apprehension about the audience response and the frenzied ovation they received for their rendition and overall presentation!

Incredible and unbelievable that these song gems were actually unearthed and presented on stage in the youthful voices of trained and talented singers associated with “Keep Alive” from time to time.

I am sure many of those reading this piece and who were a part of the “Keep Alive” journey (the singers, the musicians, the music loving discerning audience) will relate to and remember many of these ‘Nightingale Nuggets’ and evoke nostalgia of the good old days which now remain as distant as a dream and remote as a reality!! Anyway, thanks to Lata ji’s 90th Birthday for triggering this exercise.  Could there be a better way to mark the momentous event of the Nightingale! Wishing Eternal Ever flowing Euphony to Bharat Ki Beti: Lata Mangeshkar!!

Manohar ‘Mohabbat’ Iyer / Keep Alive