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Musical Bandits Of Hindi Cinema
‘Kitne aadmi the?’
While many genres of movies in Indian Cinema have made their significant marks on our minds, still this dialogue remains one of the most revered and remembered, and the genre of this movie, which is almost extinct today, reminds us some of our extreme emotions of fear and loathing then.
Yes, it’s about Bandits – the cruel daakus of Hindi cinema, who have made long lasting impacts on childhood of many of us born in 80s. The last movie based on real bandits I remember is China Gate in 1998.
Bandits had been a regular part of bollywood in 60s, 70s and even 80s (Dacoit 1987). Though now the genre ceases to exist, the image of Indian Cinema Macho Daakus with those long manually loaded Lee Enfield no 4 mk rifles hanging on their shoulders, the belt with red coloured extra-large sized bullets loosely tied on their waists, Big moustache and rugged black robes, take us to the dreadful nostalgia.
Since the bandits belong to Hindi cinema, they sing songs as well along with their regular BAU. 😀 Sharing here some of these Daaku songs of Hindi cinema.
1. The song ‘Jeevan me tu darna nahi‘ by Kishore Kumar is as much motivational as it is dreadful. The cowboy styled haunting music in the interludes used by our very own Pancham may give one goosebumps. The lines penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri are so moral boosting that without the apt music it couldn’t have seemed a song from bandit movie. Ajit has played the character of Junga Daaku in the movie while Feroze Khan plays the cowboy.
https://youtu.be/zyQnl86Kpa8
2. The most obvious song ‘Mehbooba o Mehbooba’ of this genre is from the classic Sholay, by R D Burman, music by R D Burman and penned by Anand Bakshi with Jalal Agha and Helen dancing around campfire and The Gabbar Singh, Amjad Khan, enjoying with madira on chaarpoy . The entire song is given an Arabic touch which makes it very unique
3. This famous number from movie Mera Saaya having Prem Chopra as daku who kidnaps the twin sister of his wife, mistaking as his own. The number sung by Asha Bhosle, Music by the Legendary Madan Mohan and penned by Raja mehendi Ali Khan. Though not a core bandit movie, bandits play a very important role in the entire story and twists of the movie.
https://youtu.be/B5PwRHpqoKw
4. The verbal jugalbandi between Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi off stage and between Bindu and Praan on stage is a dacoit quawali ‘Raaz ki baat keh dun toh’ from movie Dharma, the music is given by Sonik Omi and penned by Verma Malik. The climax of the song is very interesting where Pran gets irritated and replies to Bindu’s ‘Main chandan ki khushboo hun’, as
‘Main chandan hun, Main Chandan hu-ba-hu hun hun’.
https://youtu.be/Yos_uB66BGo
5. ‘Dil Jawan hai Aarzoo jawan’ – A rare romantic duet song by Talat Mehmood and Asha Bhosale from a movie Samundari Daaku released in 1956, had Nasir Khan and Nadira in the lead roles. The music is by Jaidev, Lyrics by V.M. Adil.
https://youtu.be/WZfidBMKkDk
6. ‘Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi’ – Another Classic from Mujhe Jeene Do composed by Jaidev,– sung by Lata Mangeshkar, penned by Sahir Ludhiyanavi where Sunil Dutt playing dacoit Thakhur Jernail Singh and Waheeda Rahman playing Chameli Jaan, his love interest. The song is composed so beautifully that it feels melodious as well as haunting at the same time.
https://youtu.be/6sDeAi8RYMM
7. A lustful song from bandit movie Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye by Asha Bhosale – Aa ke dard jawan hai, composed by O.P.Nayyar and lyrics by S.H.Bihari. Sunit Dutt plays dacoit here.
8. A romantic duet from movie – Chambal Ki Kasam – ‘Simti hui ye ghadiyan’ where Raaj Kumar plays dacoit Thakur Suraj Singh and Maushami Chatterjee plays his love interest, music is by Khayyam and lyrics by Sahi Ludhianavi. One will believe it’s a dacoit song only after watching the video
9. And this is the most listened and sung song from dacoit movie – Mera Goan Mera Desh where Vinod Khanna plays dacoit – ‘Maar diya jaye’ – a solo by lata, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and lyrics by Anand Bakshi.
10. This is not much heard song from dacoit movie – Patthar Aur Payal – where Vinod Khanna again plays bandit along with Dharmendra and Hema Malini plays his love interest ’Na mila tu nazar’, a solo by Asha Bhosale, composed by Kalyanji Anandji and penned by Indeevar.
