Two legends, endless melodies - remembering Lata Mangeshkar’s iconic duets with Kishore Kumar.
Lata Mangeshkar—who hasn’t heard this name? Widely regarded
as one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent, her eight-decade-long career earned her honorific titles like the ‘Queen of Melody’ and ‘Voice of the Millennium.’ Her legacy goes beyond singing; it’s in her versatility, having recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages as well as several foreign tongues. On her birthday, let’s celebrate her timeless duets with Kishore Kumar that continue to capture our hearts.
Gaata Rahe Mera Dil
From the classic film ‘Guide’, a bilingual romantic drama directed by Vijay Anand, comes the iconic song ‘Gaata Rahe Mera Dil’, picturized on Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. Composed by S.D. Burman, penned by Shailendra, and beautifully rendered by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, the track also saw contributions from Burman’s son, R.D. Burman (aka Pancham). This song left a lasting mark on Hindi film music: it marked Kishore Kumar’s debut as a playback singer, gave Geeta Dutt a musical makeover, persuaded S.D. Burman to stay in Bombay, offered the underrated Jaidev an opportunity, and featured santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma playing the tabla on screen for the first and only time.
Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuch
‘Aap Ki Ankhon Mein Kuch’ is from the film ‘Ghar’, directed by Manik Chatterjee, starring Vinod Mehra and Rekha in a career-defining role. Composed by R.D. Burman with lyrics by Gulzar, the iconic duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar is a musical delight, featuring rich instrumentation that instantly lifts the mood. The song captures the romance and playful banter between a wife and her husband.
Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera
‘Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera’ is from ‘Aradhana’, the musical romantic drama directed by Shakti Samanta and starring Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film at the 17th Filmfare Awards. Composed by S.D. Burman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi, this timeless melody is still one we hum and cherish today.
(Credit: WION)
Aasman Ke Neeche
‘Aasman Ke Neeche’ is from the spy-thriller ‘Jewel Thief’, directed by Vijay Anand and starring Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Vyjayantimala, and others. The song opens with Vyjayantimala and Dev Anand enjoying a sunlit spring day in a lush garden. Melodic and flirtatious, it sweeps the audience into a playful chase of poetic overtures, brought to life by the brilliance of S.D. Burman’s composition and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics.
Chand Raat Tum Ho Saath
‘Chand Raat Tum Ho Saath’ is from the film ‘Half Ticket’, directed by Kalidas and starring Madhubala and Kishore Kumar. With lyrics by Shailendra and music composed by Salil Chowdhury, the film’s soundtrack earned critical acclaim, and this particular song went on to become a timeless classic, one we still find ourselves humming today.
