The rains are here and what better way to celebrate their arrival than to hum these Bollywood songs that have romance written all over them. Nothing spells Mumbai rains like these songs...
Shree 420
Looks like the much-awaited rains are here and it’s time to rub your hands together and sip on cutting chai and eat pakodas. But while you do that, it can be argued that perhaps nothing can complete the Mumbai monsoons the way a Bollywood song does. Over the years, the Hindi film industry has come up with several gems that make the city’s rains even more special. Romance is perhaps best captured in the rains — after all, who is not familiar with the whole hero-meets-heroine-and-the-couple-get-drenched-in-the-rain sequence? So even as couples continue to flock Marine Drive in the rains, we bring you some chartbusters that enhance the Mumbai monsoon experience and take it to another level altogether...
Song: Pyar hua ikraar hua
Film: Shree 420 (1955)
Lowdown: It is perhaps the most memorable rain song in Bollywood. The song is picturised on Raj Kapoor and Nargis, who were rumoured to be in love with each other. The image of the couple gazing at one another under an umbrella remains one of Hindi cinema’s loveliest moments. The song was composed by Shankar Jaikishen and sung by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar.
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Nargis and Raj Kapoor’s chemistry, as they shared an umbrella in the song, Pyar hua ikrar hua, in Shree 420 (1955), is legendary
Song: Sawan barse tarse dil
Film: Dahek (1999)
Lowdown: Dahek, a Hindu-Muslim romance, starring Akshaye Khanna and Sonali Bendre, may not have been a hit, but its song, Saawan barse tarse dil, about a newly-dating couple anxious to see each other in the rain is well-known. Composed by Anand-Milind and sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, it’s a perfect melody to listen to in the rains.
Song: Rimjhim ke tarane lekar aai Barsaat
Film: Kala Bazar (1960)
Lowdown: Here the evergreen hero Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman walk through the streets of Mumbai as they share an umbrella. The song was sung by Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt and it was composed by the legendary SD Burman.
Song: Rimjhim girey saawan
Film: Manzil (1979)
Lowdown: Any discussion on melodies based on Mumbai monsoons would be incomplete without this song. Amitabh Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee star in this song that has been shot in south Mumbai, against the backdrop of old Victorian buildings, open grounds and the Marine Drive promenade. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, the song has been composed by RD Burman.
Song: Tum jo mil gaye ho
Film: Hanste Zakhm (1973)
Lowdown: The magic of Mohammed Rafi, romance and rain can be a heady one. Picturised on Navin Nischal and Priya Rajvanshi, this ’70s film became popular thanks to this song. This song has been composed by Madan Mohan.
Song: Aaj rapat jaaye toh
Film: Namak Halal (1982)
Lowdown: Who would have thought that Smita Patil had it in her to dance in such an uninhibited fashion. The pairing of Amitabh Bachchan and the late Smita Patil may have been slightly unusual but they managed to pull off this romp in the rain admirably. The song, composed by Bappi Lahiri, has been sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar.
Song: Lagi aaj sawan ki
Film: Chandni (1989)
Lowdown: Nostalgia and wishful thinking collide around the cascading santoor and Suresh Wadkar’s voice in Shiv-Hari’s popular creation, Lagi aaj sawaan. The sight of Sridevi soaked in a sari touches a painful chord with Vinod Khanna, bringing back memories of his dead girlfriend (Juhi Chawla), and their common love for dancing in the rain.
Song: Behta hai man kahi
Film: Chameli (2004)
Lowdown: This Sandesh Shandilya composition features Sunidhi Chauhan’s voice and has been picturised on lead actress Kareena Kapoor and her co-star, Rahul Bose. The song can easily be described as beautifully intoxicating. Kareena, of course, is at her sensuous best, as she sways to the music. The film, directed by Sudhir Mishra, is best known for this song.
Song: Hum Tum
Film: Hum Tum (2004)
Lowdown: Kunal Kohli creates rain magic in this song that showcases the sizzling chemistry between Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji. Jatin-Lalit’s title track, sung by Alka Yagnik and Babul Supriyo, for this film is indeed soulful music. Set against the backdrop of cascading rain, this romantic number is also the film’s title track.
Song: Geela geela paani
Film: Satya (1998)
Lowdown: Interspersed with sounds of the rain, this song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar, has Urmila Matondkar in it. Reuniting Vishal Bharadwaj and Gulzar, this song rightfully deserves a place on this list. Lata Mangeshkar makes the song haunting and beautiful at the same time. Moreover, a sari-clad Urmila, despite not being in a glamorous avatar here, sizzles all through.
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