Raficionados certainly enjoyed this track

Sunghursh released in 1968.

Mere Pairon Mein Ghunghroo was the only song from the film on this blog.

By no means would it be incorrect to state that it was (and still is) a sunghursh (struggle) for the fans of the three men who collaborated on this track – Shakeel Badayuni (who penned it), Naushad (who composed it) and, of course, Mohammed Rafi (who rendered it) – to make a list of their favourite tracks.

But if they do, this enjoyable number – which was four minutes and 53 seconds long – would probably make it to that list.  

It was tailor-made for Asha

Parde Mein Rehne Do, the only song from Shikar (1968) on this blog, was tailor-made for just one singer.

No prizes for guessing that it was the one and only Asha Bhosle.

And by no means would it be incorrect to state that she did it justice.

In fact, it earned her the Filmfare Award in the Best Female Playback Singer category in 1969.

The track, which was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri, was composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

The other Bhosle solos in the film were Hai Mere Paas To Aa and Main Albeli Pyar Jatakar.

It was a MeLodious duet

Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Mein – which could be translated to, “I’ve sent you a flower with this letter” – was the longer of the two songs from Saraswatichandra on this blog – it was four minutes and 25 seconds long.

The only duet in the film, it was rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.

Kalyanji Virji Shah and Anandji Virji Shah bagged the National Film Award in the Best Music Director category for this film in 1969. In fact, it was the first Hindi film to win the prestigious accolade in this category.

Indeevar penned it.  

Mukesh’s version was truly awesome

If the two tracks from Saraswatichandra (1968) on this blog were arranged in the alphabetical order, as well as in the ascending order of their durations, the male version of Chandan Sa Badan would be first – it was three minutes and 57 seconds long.

I knew it was – and continues to be – among Mukesh’s most outstanding numbers, but I wasn’t aware of its female version. It was 33 seconds shorter than the male version, and was rendered by the one and only Lata Mangeshkar.

The track, which was penned by Indeevar, was composed by Kalyanji-Anandji.

Mukesh sang this standalone hit

I must confess I did a double take when I read the names of the three men who collaborated on Chal Akela Chal Akela, the only song from Sambandh (1968) on this blog.

It was penned by Kavi Pradeep, who was known for his patriotic numbers, and this track was anything but that.

O P Nayyar, who will always be remembered for his trendy numbers, composed it. And by no means was it his trademark tonga track.

And lastly, it was rendered by the one and only Mukesh, who did justice to the philosophical song.

Mehmood sang this hilaR(af)ious track

Actor Mehmood and lyricist Rajinder Krishan teamed up for another film that released in 1968.

It was titled Sadhu Aur Shaitan, and it earned the former a nomination in the Best Actor in a Comic Role category at the Filmfare Awards in 1969*.

This blog contains a post on just one track from the film – Mehbooba Mehbooba.

It was rendered by Mohammed Rafi, who was joined behind the microphone by Mehmood.

Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma composed it.

(*Note: He was also nominated in the same category for Neel Kamal the same year.)

Kumar’s (Kisho)rendition was on point

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” went the popular line from Romeo and Juliet.

And undoubtedly, a song by any other name would be as rocking, and more so if it were composed by Rahul Dev Burman, and rendered by Kishore Kumar.

This post is about one such track – the jocular Meri Pyari Bindu (a.k.a. Mere Bhole Balam) from Padosan.

Penned by Rajinder Krishan, it was three minutes and 21 seconds long.

Many moons ago, there was a remixed version of the song, sung by Kunal Ganjawala. Its video was animated.