Hindi film songs picturised on various vehicles, or vehicles being a part of picturisation, have been there right from the 40s. And the vehicles ranged from a simple bicycle and a bullock cart to a car, jeep and further to a boat / ship , a train and a bus. In comparison songs entirely picturised on other vehicles like trucks, aero planes, are rare.
The blog has already covered a lot of these categories. For this month I wished to take up ‘Car songs’. And if you are someone well acquainted with the style of the blog, you must have guessed what might have happened! Oh yes!
Pretty smart!
When I went through the songs, I could see at least two distinct categories to go on.
A lot of songs featured an open car. By that I mean a car without a roof! Or the one with the retractable roof and that had it retracted. I don’t know what used to be the idea behind it. I agree, It does look classy. But to travel in the bare sun! I mean it seemed foolish to me to travel in an open car. Perhaps it did help the overall tone of the song, making it more appealing! Of course we won’t go on criticising the idea.
So here’s the first part of the car songs and that has Hindi film songs featuring an open car either to its entire length or at least for the most part of it. So the songs like, Dil Dil Se Milakar Dekho from Mem Sahib (1956) or Hum Tum Yug Yug Se from Milan (1965) and Bahut Hassen Hain Tumhari Aankhen from Aadhi Raat Ke Baad (1965) won’t be a part of the post. These songs start as Open car songs, but the car is in the picturisation for a small part of the song.
And of course, Jeep songs are not a part of this post. I wish to cover them in a separate post later.
So…..
Here we go……
The songs range from the early 40s to the 2010s.
- Singer in the car –
For the initial couple of songs, the real outdoor locations are used sparingly, mainly shooting most of it in a studio. Of course by the end of the 50s, a few songs were shot outdoors. Still you will find a few songs of the 60s as well shot in studios.
1. Aaye Hai Balma Ho Din Pyare Pyare – Chand (1944) G M Durrani & Zeenat Begum / Husnalal Bhagatram – Qamar Jalalabadi
I came across the song last month when I was researching for a Qamar Jalalabadi post. Prem Adeeb and Begum Para are in an open car and for a change, at least as per 40s standards, Begum Para is driving the car. It’s of course not a real outdoor location. The song must have been picturised in a studio.
2. Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Raahi – Munimji (1955) Kishore Kumar / S D Burman – Sahir
Handsome Dev Anand and beautiful Nalini Jaywant travel in an open car and the former irritates and teases the latter. I guess only the scenes during the interludes are real outdoor locations, while the rest is in the studio. A man who’s actually driving a car can’t let his attention go haywire. If the way Dev Anand drives was real, an accident was sure.
3. Babu Samjho Ishare – Chalti Ki Naam Gaadi (1958) Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey & Ashok Kumar / S D Burman – Majrooh
This was an obvious addition to the list. Ganguly brothers play on screen brothers who run a garage. Their own car is however somewhat weird. The fun goes on throughout the song as the car runs on the streets of the Mumbai of the late 50s. Again if I’m correct, during the verses, the song is picturised in a studio. The orchestration of the song so well supports the comedy theme of the movie.
4. Dheere Chalao Zara – Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) Lata Mangeshkar & Subir Sen / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
Vyjayantimala and Rajendra Kumar travel in a car. Rajendra Kumar drives a bit carelessly driving life out of Vyjayantimala, who’s scared. She keeps on requesting him to drive slowly. It also metaphorically refers to their budding love and their being inexperienced. Again I guess, it’s a combination of outdoor and studio shoots.
5. Kisi Na Kisise Kabhi Na Kabhi – Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) Rafi / O P Nayyar – S H Bihari
Now a song that’s picturised fully outdoors, along the picturesque roads of Kashmir. Shammi Kapoor joyously drives a beautiful car, singing while he drives, playing harmonica in between. Though I’m not his fan, this iconic song was an obvious addition.
6. Sun Le Dastan Yoon Na Sata – Passport (1961) Subir Sen / Kalyanji Anandji – Qamar Jalalabadi
Not a very popular song I guess! But Madhubala making faces at Pradeep Kumar, hardly caring to drive the car properly, is worth watching. Must be shot in a studio. Otherwise an accident is inevitable!
7. Yeh Rang Na Chhutega – China Town (1962) Asha Bhosle & Rafi / Ravi – Majrooh
One more Shammi Kapoor song on the list. Not a popular song. Shakeela, looking beautiful, accompanies him in the car. A little slow paced melody, perhaps overshadowed by other songs from the movie.
8. Khubsurat Haseena – Mr X in Bombay (1965) Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Anand Bakshi
Have you ever seen a car flying in the air rather than running on a road? If not, this is a perfect opportunity for you. In this sci-fi movie, Kishore Kumar could fly the car in the air. In this beautiful melody, he flies in an open car with Kumkum. Both teasing each other, trying to make the other one jealous. One of the earlier films of Laxmikant Pyarelal, when they were still to find their feet.
9. Chhai Ghata Bijli Kadki – Apna Haath Jagganath (1960) Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar / S D Burman – Kaifi Azmi
Kishore Kumar again with Sayeeda Khan on a road.
The latter is driving the car, teasing and flirting with the former. Kishore Kumar walks by the car in the beginning, to mount the car for the last stanza. The song has full potential to be popular, with excellent performances by the singers. However the film was not at all box office success, making the songs forgotten.
10. Bahane Kyun Karti Ho – Saheli (1965) Rafi / Kalyanji Anandji – Indeevar
Pradeep Kumar again, but now with Kalpana. They are not in the same car. He’s in a chauffeur driven open car, while Kalpana along with her friends is in a lorry or a seven seater. A very energetic song, sung by Rafi with perfect emotions. Not a popular song, but worth listening to. And fits the theme perfectly.
11. Jab Dekh Liya To Chhupenge Kahan – Chirag (1969) Rafi & Chorus / Madan Mohan – Majrooh
I must add that I wasn’t aware of this beautiful song. Mainly Rafi’s rendition was a highlight for me along with a different orchestration by Madan Mohan. Sunil Dutt and Mukri are in a car, the former narrating about a girl, whom he intends to search and is sure of his success. Asha Parekh with her friends is on bicycle, unaware of his announcements, in spite of being nearby, or so it seems. Full real location shoot, no studio shots as far as I could see.
12. Baharon Ki Baarat – Yakeen (1969) Rafi / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
Handsome Dharmendra riding a car, sings joyously about his beloved, Sharmila Tagore. I don’t know the exact situation in the film, but it seems he’s very much excited about her, and perhaps going home to break the news to the family. The car faces turbulence, a puncture in one of the tires. Our hero is as fast as the wind, to repair it and ride the car again. A perfectly enjoyable song, a delight to watch. Full outdoor shoot, no studio shoot at all.
13. Chala Jaata Hoon – Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972) Kishore Kumar / R D Burman – Majrooh
Rajesh Khanna reminiscing about Tanuja drives his car along a ghat road. The song is extremely popular and melodious. One of the biggest hits Kishore Kumar sang for Rajesh Khanna. No studio shots here, perhaps except the close ups.
We’ll now leap into the 90s and beyond and just a handful from this era.
14. Naam Kya Hai Pyar Ka Maara – Yeh Dillagi (1994) Lata Mangeshkar & Kumar Sanu / Dilip Sen Sameer Sen – Sameer
The song was most likely shot in Shimla, near the Mall road. Saif Ali Khan is chasing Kajol, whom he immediately falls for. His open car becomes their partner throughout the song, though Kajol rides it only in the end. The mountains, full of snow, are a delight to watch.
15. Dil Chahta Hai – Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Shankar Mahadevan & Chorus / Shankar Ehsaan Loy – Javed Akhtar
The film was a fresh approach to the friendship of three young men and their love interests. Amir Khan who played a casanova like character recently had a blow on his left eye by the boyfriend of Preity Zinta and he carried the bruise throughout the song. The song was picturised on Mumbai Goa highway and was an instant hit.
16. Khwabon Ke Parinde – Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) Mohit Chouhan & Alyssa Mendosa / Shankar Ehsaan Loy – Javed Akhtar
Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechin all travel in an expensive open car. Most of the song runs in the background, only Mohit Chouhan’s lines are lip synched by Hrithik Roshan.
- Singer Not in the car –
I thought of this category after coming across the song from Jewel Thief. Though I didn’t get more than a couple of songs, perhaps readers would be smart enough to add.
17. Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara – Jewel Thief (1967) Kishore Kumar / S D Burman – Majrooh
A perfect example of a open car song with the singing character outside the car. Dev Anand tries to flirt with Tanuja. He irritates her by obstructing her way on the road while she travels in an open car with her friends. All outdoor shoot, no studio at all.
18. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani – Jawani Deewani (1972) Kishore Kumar / R D Burman – Anand Bakshi
Now a song from the 70s, featuring Jaya Bhaduri and Randhir Kapoor. Randhir Kapoor is in the car for a very short time and the car is more or less stationary than mobile. Nearly for the entire second verse, the car is off the frame.
- Two separate cars –
This wasn’t a premeditated category, but I noticed it while going through the songs and I usually note down the highlights of individual songs. I found just a couple of songs fitting this category and didn’t look for more as the list was already long. I hope readers would add songs in this category.
19. Sar Leke Hatheli Pe – Johar in Bombay (1967) Mahendra Kapoor / Usha Khanna – Asad Bhopali
Not a particularly great song, but it does form a category on the list. I S Johar drives a car himself and chases Sonia Sahni, who’s in another chauffeur driven car. All outdoor real shoots, no studio. If we saw Kishore Kumar flying a car, it’s now Johar’s turn. We can watch him doing so.
20. O Dilbar Janiye – Haseena Maan Jayegi (1969) Rafi / Kalyanji Anandji – Prakash Mehra
Though I was aware of the song, I hadn’t watched it earlier. Shashi Kapoor and Babita are both in separate cars driving themselves. He’s chasing, stalking her, irritating her. He gets out of the car in between only to get back into it. It’s a very enjoyable song.
I know the list is a bit longer.
But, I hope you all enjoyed the songs. Please add befitting songs to any of the categories. See you soon with the second part.
Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.
