Gaana BIKA, aur superhit hua

Gutur Gutur was a track from Dalaal, which released in 1993.

Of course, the song was pigeonholed as a vulgar number, but the masses loved it.

Consequently, the producer of the film – none other than Prakash Mehra – didn’t require a message from the kabootar, informing him that both were hits.

It was penned by Maya Govind. What was she smoking when she wrote, “Chadh gaya upar re”?

Bappi Lahiri didn’t just compose the track, but was also a member of the quartet who rendered it. The others were Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun and Kumar Sanu.

Sanu and Malik made magic

Anu Malik may be an ace music director, but as a crooner, his skills are nothing to write home about.

But that certainly did not stop him from joining Kumar Sanu behind the microphone.

The song, of course, was Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen, which wasn’t just the most popular song on the soundtrack of Baazigar, but also the longest – it was seven minutes and 52 seconds long.

Sanu won his fourth consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

Dev Kohli, who penned it, was nominated in the Best Lyricist category at the same ceremony.

The (Bhos)legend joined Mr Rathod

Of the five tracks from Baazigar on this blog, Kitaaben Bahut Si was the shortest – it was six minutes and 28 seconds long.

In keeping with the call taken by the team that collaborated on the film’s music (to employ a different lyricist for each number), this song was penned by Zafar Gorakhpuri.

Asha (who, incidentally, celebrated her golden jubilee as a playback singer the year the film released) was joined behind the microphone by Vinod Rathod.

Anu Malik – whose association with the (Bhos)legend dated back to his debut, Hunterwali 77 (1978) – composed the song.

No doubt Vinod's version R(ath)o(cke)d

Chhupana Bhi Nahin Aata is Hindi for, “I don’t know how to hide it.”

And indeed, chhupana bhi nahin aata that it was an outstanding song.

Is it any wonder then that there were two versions of the track on the soundtrack of Baazigar?

This blog contains a post on the version in the film. It was seven minutes long, and was rendered by Vinod Rathod.

The other version was five minutes and 31 seconds long. Pankaj Udhas rendered it.

They were penned by Rani Malik.

Anu, who shares his surname with her, composed them.

Alka S(an)urely deserved a nomination

Baazigar O Baazigar was the title track of Baazigar, a remake of A Kiss Before Dying, which released in 1991.

The song, which was seven-and-a-half minutes long, was penned by Nawab Arzoo and picturised on a man who would go on to be nicknamed the Badshah of the Hindi film industry – Shahrukh Khan. It was the actor’s first collaboration with Kajol.

Anu Malik composed it.

Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik rendered the song, which became popular. They were nominated in Best Male Playback Singer and Best Female Playback Singer categories, respectively, at the Filmfare Awards.

This track showcased their VeRsAtilitY

The first two lines of this song would remind old-timers of Khoobsurat Haseena Jaanejaan Jaaneman from Mr. X In Bombay (1964).

Telugu film music buffs would state that it was inspired by Letha Chaligalulu, which was from the 1983 film Moodu Mullu. It was composed by Rajan-Nagendra.

The track in question was Aye Mere Humsafar from Baazigar (1993). The film earned Anu Malik the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director at the 39th Filmfare Awards.

Alka Yagnik and Vinod Rathod rendered the song, which was seven minutes and 28 seconds long.

Gauhar Kanpuri penned it.

(Ud)It was underrated, but popular

Sameer's wizardry with words was evident in the fact that he likened the face of the leading lady of Anari to flowers and her smile to buds.

The track in question was Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera.

The song, which was rendered by Udit Narayan, also described her as a doe-eyed girl who walked like a bulbul.

It wasn’t just the most popular song in the film, but also the longest – it was six minutes and 49 seconds long.

By no means would it be incorrect to state that it was among Anand-Milind's most underrated melodies.

Sargam and Narayan (Sadha)nailed (Ud)it

Of the three tracks from Anari on this blog, Kya Mausam Aaya Hai was the only duet – (Ud)it was rendered by Sadhana Sargam and Mr Narayan.

It was six minutes and 21 seconds long.

Given the rain Mumbai has been enjoying for the past few days, by no means would it be surprising if Mumbaikars are dedicating the first line of the track to the weather.

Jokes aside, the track, which was penned by Sameer, was one of the best compositions by the Shrivastava siblings, who gave the listeners a great deal of Anand, (Mil)indeed.

(Ud)It was a melodious number

Melody is king – there’s no two ways about it. And that is precisely what makes a run-of-the-mill song worth listening to more than once.

Bum Akar Bum Ke, from Anari, which released in 1993, was a case in point.

Of the three tracks from the film – which was a remake of Chinna Thambi, a Tamil film which released in 1991 – on this blog, it was the shortest – it was five minutes and 14 seconds long.

(Ud)It was rendered by none other than Mr Narayan.

The track, which was penned by Sameer, was composed by Anand-Milind.

(Ud)It wasn’t (Naray)an awesome track

It is Saif to assume that regardless of the fate of films starring debutants at the box office, expectations from their soundtracks have always been high.

And they have skyrocketed when Laxmikant-Pyarelal have wielded the music director's baton.

It was no different in 1993, when Aashik Aawara released. However, the songs of the film, which marked the debuts of the Chhote Nawab and Mamta Kulkarni, were mediocre.

Its title track – Main Hoon Aashik Aawara – is perhaps the likeliest to ring a bell. (Ud)It was rendered by Mr Narayan.

The song was penned by Anand Bakshi.

It was vulgar but kicKASS

A line that went, “Har ajnabee pe dil ki yeh khidki nahin khulti” (which can be translated to, “The window of my heart doesn’t open to every stranger”) could never be wished away.

Although it was laden with double entendre, it wouldn’t be incorrect to state that it was catchy.

The aforementioned line was from O Lal Dupatte Waali. The track, from Aankhen, was five minutes and 53 seconds long.

The quartet that (Bhos)lent its voice to it comprised Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kumar Sanu and Sudesh.

Indeevar penned the track, which Bappi Lahiri composed.

These SingerS deserved full MArKS

Yes, there is a tinge of sarcasm in the title of this post, but on a serious note, it would certainly not be incorrect to state that the soundtrack of Aankhen included a song that was sanitised (unlike the others, which kept the members of the Censor Board occupied).

The track in question was Chaukhat Pe Tumhari Hum.

It was half-a-dozen minutes and 47 seconds long.

The trio who rendered it – Mohammed Aziz, Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam – deserved the credit for surprising the listeners.

Indeevar penned the track, which was composed by Bappi Lahiri.

MonkeyinG Ar(o)un(d) certainly wasn’t ClASsy

The monkey in Aankhen was truly a rockstar – not only did he share screen space with Chunky Pandey and Govinda, but he was also eulogised in a song, Bade Kaam Ka Bandar.

It was, incidentally, the longest of the four songs from the film on this blog – it was six minutes and 59 seconds long.

The aforementioned actors (Bhos)lent their voices to the track, as did Arun Bakshi.

They shared singing credits with Mohammed Aziz and Sudesh.

The track, which became popular with the masses, was penned by Indeevar.

It was composed by Bappi Lahiri.

It waS(adhan)a mildly offensive (Sa)number

On listening to the songs of Aankhen, which released in 1993, a purist would say, “I can’t believe my kaan”.

This blog contains posts on four songs from the film. Of those, Angna Mein Baba was the shortest – it was five minutes and 49 seconds long.

One of its lines went, “Akeli hoon ghar maa, tu aaja baalma” (which can be translated to, “I’m home alone, come over, my love.”)

The duet, which was rendered by Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam, wasn’t rocking, but was shocking.

It was penned by Indeevar.

Bappi Lahiri composed it.