100th Post: Songs that stay on

So here it is. I mean the 100th post.  Am in two minds to give a Karan Johar-esque Filmfare speech. He apparently cried this time too. But that apart, it's been quite nice a journey...and now when I think about the shit I wrote, I doubt my intelligence. But then again, being emotional is not all about being foolish. Right? It's also about being in touch with nicer sides of life- the ones you share with two cups of piping hot tea. And thanks for all the appreciation and the bitching- both actually. And most importantly thanks for bearing with me. I can be obnoxious, uber senti and a walking talkathon- all at the same time- I guess a few people know that too well. But in spite of that people came back and read my blog. Commented and shared. That's actually nice you know.

I was thinking of doing something nice for the 100th post, when I came across a fellow blogger's list of favourite books. Well, thought of doing that. Actually, that's long overdue since Swayambhu Da has already tagged me in such a post of his. But not in a mood.....actually, I was reading 'Sex and the City' - the novel by Candace Bushnell and to tell you the truth, I am horrified...if that's what critics describe as "Jane Austen with a Martini"- DIE!!! I have silently taken refuge to a collection of short stories by Indian women across all languages (albeit translated in English) and Karan Bajaj's latest. 

So what's the other healer- yes, music. And here it is my list of a few of my favourite film songs which I love to listen and share with all, in no particular order. I am not including a few other genres with which I am mostly identified with (read Robi Thakurer gaan, Chandrobindoo, Suman) primarily because the list will be quite long then.

1. Ajeeb Dastaan hain yeh/Kahan shuru kahan khatam/ Yeh manzeelien hain kaunsi/ Na woh samajh sakein na hum.....

The iconic song with the iconic beauty. This song from Dil Apna Preet Paraya is one of the closest to my heart. Somehow I need to be in sync with the lyrics of a song to like it. And that's what precisely describes my fondness for this song. Serene, Calm and nostalgic. It's all about unspoken words, unsung romances (which as a Bengali fascinates me like anything)......na woh samajh sake na hum- that precisely :)

2. Hoyto Tomari jonnyo/Hoyechi premey je bonyo/ Jani tumi ananyo/ ashar haat barayi.....

Gangar ghat, Soumitra, Manna De, Good ole' Cal. Need I say more? 

What more does a woman want?  (exclude Phuchka and ghotigorom please!) :) :) 

3. Naina Milaike...Jhoot Kapat chhal kiyi ni.....

That Rahman is a magician is a foregone conclusion. But this song is also all about the wordsmith called Gulzaar. I once started learning Urdu quite religiously and it's an open secret that one of the reasons was primarily the temptation to read Gulzaar in the language he is close to, apart form Hindi. 

"Dil ki kachcheri mein muqadma chalai ke....mujrim humein kar diyi ni"

4. Phir Se aaiyo badra bidesi....

Namkeen's soundtrack is full of sweet nothings and this finds a place of glory. More so because the Meghpeon had a story to tell and long back it was all over :)

5. Lajey Ranga holo koney bou go/ Malabodol hobe aj ratey...

Let's face it. We love marriages. I love marriages and all the chaos associated with it. I once remember telling a gathering of pishis, jethis, kakimas that in case (of course I will) I get married it will be full on Indian style- the big fat bangali wedding- three days long. This song is all about that method in madness. 

"khaat dilam, palonk dilam/saatbhori sona/ raibaghini nonodi go khnota diyo na"

6. Uthche jege shokalgulo

Autograph's soundtrack has been a revelation and there is no denying that this was one of the best songs of the year. If only, there was no midriff baring Nandana Devsen!! Raima Sen or Radhika Apte or may be Vidya Balan- they are honorary bongs right? please!- "Khunshuti ar jhograjhati/ adda hobe khub jomati"- that's what we all crave for right?

7. Pachayi Niramey

This is a holy exception to my list of understandable lyrics category. Alaipayuthey, Madhavan, Maniratnam and Rahman in original...bliss!

8. Tumko Dekha to yeh khayal aayaa/ Zindagi dhoop tum ghana saaya

I rediscovered this song on a lazy sunday morning and thought it's the best thing to have happened to me since  the leading man in the movie. Yes! am a Farooq Sheikh fan :)

9. Dekha ek khwaab to yeh silsile huye....

There is something about unrequited love you know. and tulip fields. and probably the most controversial pairing of my father's generation. 

10. Hain aapna dil to awara/na jane kispe aayega...

I have listened to Hemonto Mukhopadhyay in Bengali and I still feel that this is one of his better sung songs. and obviously the panache with he sings it. "Hain ek tutaa hua tara/ na jane kispe aayega"

11. Aamar bhindeshi tara/ eka rateri akashey (re worked version- Antaheen)

Simply because it had to be there. I love the original more. No doubt. But somehow Shantanu Moitra did something really nice with this song. And add to it Anindya's charm (oh! that fichel hashi). Every work of art should be open to interpretation and Shantanu's version was a perfect ode to the original. "Aami payina chnutey tomay/ amar ekla lagey bhari". 

P.S. Anindya, the lyricist, I just wanted you to know- You have given words to those unspoken emotions more than once. At least for me.

12. Pretty Woman- the song.

The movie was fairytale. Richard Gere- a dream and Julia Roberts was catapulted to overnight stardom  And the song- :) :) "fairytale". That reminds me Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy did a wonderful job in Kal Ho na Ho while they reworked it.

13. Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon

I have heard that Mukesh was primarily known as the voice of Raj Kapoor. I wish he wasn't stereotyped because of that. This particular number from "Kabhi Kabhie" makes you fall for that tall lanky guy on screen singing the nagma's so well. And Mukesh is heavenly.

14. Yeh tumhari meri baatein/ humesha yunhi chalti rahein

I love Farhan Akhtar and I love the musical sense he inherited. I loved his raspy voice in Rock On. But the film remains special for this song. Conversations are delightful. Who won't like to describe a relationship like that?

15. Ami Chini go chini tomare/ ogo bideshini

Don't get me wrong and am not like that Youtube junkie who wrote that Rabindranath Tagore wrote "Sokhi Bhabona kahare boley" for Ekti Tarar khonje. But This makes it to the list because of Kishore Kumar. and the picturisation- one of the best picturisation of Robindroshongeet on screen (Ray's genius- what more do you expect?) I think my love for Soumitra is well known by now. So I won't delve on that much. I love the note on which the song ends- "Ogo Bouthakurani"

16. Aami Miss Calcutta 1976

Aparna Sen- Period.

17. Aamar din katey na/ Aamar raat katey na/ Dingulo je kichuteyi pichu hatey na

Choddobeshi was a cult comedy and this song is one of the best of that 'purboraag' mode I have ever heard.

18. Aabke Saajan sawan mein

This one's from Choddobeshi's Hindi remake - "Chupke Chupke". Sharmila Tagore and the fellow bongs (You know Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jaya Bhaduri- yes! 'them') in the unit to do justice to the story and this song.... "itney badein ghar mein nahi..ek bhi jharokha"

19. Besh korechi prem korechi

Trust Mithu Mukherjee and Ranjit Mullick to unabashedly declare the affair and how! Btw, It was Mouchak.

20. Thare Rahiyo O baanke yaar

I remember Pakeezah for two reasons. Meena Kumari and her feet - "aapke pair bohot khoobsurat hain/ inhe zameen pe mat rakhiye/ mailey ho jayenge" and this song. Lata Mangeshkar- Hail!

21. Dil cheez kya hain aap meri jaan lijiye

Lyrics. Poetry. And if we talk about Lata can the sibling be far behind? Asha ji, you are my favourite. More so because you can only sing "Aagey khud hi janlo/ Iske aagey hum/ aur kya kahein/ jaanam samjha karo"- and at this age.

22. Ei poth jodi na sesh hoy tobe kemon hoto tumi boloto?

And I will close the list with the iconic Bengali Romantic song. This one permeates through ages and generations with elan. Rina Brown! Uttam-Suchitra- need I say more?

And I am not happy because songs like- "sob khelar sera bangalir tumi football", "Jodi hoyi chorkanta oi sharir bhanjey", "Nari choritro bejay jotil, kichui bujhtey parbe na, ora kono law maney na, tai oder naam law law na" :P and "ekey to phagun mash darron ey somoy, legeche bishom chot ki jaani ki hoy" was missed.

Also, "Ke tumi Nandini/Agey to dekhini"- Remember Parar pujo? Ashtami anjali? and Jhari mara?- I know you get it.

And 90's Hindi film songs- You are truly my life line. I can listen to "Ghoonghat ke aar se dilbar ka" and "Ek do teen" anytime. I think I will now make a list according to genres. That sounds a better idea.