Duets of Talat Mahmood: Breaking the image trap

24 February 2012

A tribute on his birth anniversary February 24

Talat MahmoodWhen you think of Talat Mahmood you think of his iconic soft, sentimental melodies like Meri yaad mein tum na aansoo bahana, Jalte hain jiske liye, Humse aya na gaya tumse bulaya na gaya, Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal jahan koi na ho, Zindagi denewale sun, Jayen to jayen kahan etc. These are all solos obviously, as would be the case if you have to choose the best songs of any great singer. Then why I am doing my first Talat Mahmood post on his duets?

Hindi films are essentially about romantic love, and it is inevitable every singer would get to sing duets too picturised on the hero and the heroine, and sometimes on side actors. I view duets as a special category, more so in the case of Talat Mahmood whose many duets brought out a breezy side of him. His solos in a blue mood on Dilip Kumar for films like Arzoo, Babul, Devdas, Tarana, Sangdil, Shikast, Footpath, Daag etc. in many ways consolidated the latter’s image as the Tragedy King. This also became a trap for Talat Mahmood who unfortunately was the first one among his contemporaries to fade away. Rafi and Mukesh had debuted in playback singing several years before Talat Mahmood’s Bombay debut in 1950 with Arzoo (he was already famous as a singer because of his non-film songs, and some film songs in Calcutta). Yet Talat stopped getting any worthwhile offer after Jahan Ara (1964), whereas Rafi and Mukesh continued to reign strongly for many more years. And just as Dilip Kumar wanted to break free of this image before his reel life tortured his real life – with comedy capers like Azaad (1955), Kohinoor (1960) and Leader (1964), and later Ram and Shyam (1967) – perhaps Talat also needed the company of a female singer to break free of his image trap, in several duets.

For someone like Talat Mahmood, who is among my top favourites, I am quite late in doing a post on him (though his songs would have figured off and on). So to make up for my omission, let me present a different side of Talat Mahmood with his breezy duets as my tribute on his birth anniversary, February 24.

1. Chahe nain churaao chahe daman bachao by Talat and Lata from Aas (1953), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar Jaikishan

Top of such duets in my list is this beautiful foot tapping number with Lata Mangeshkar Chahe nain milao chahe daman chhudaao. This is an idyllic setting in the midst of meadows , and river and mountain in the background. A group of villagers, apparently fishermen, are enjoying themselves when a man and a woman (not the lead actors) from the group get up and break into a dance. Then you see the lead pair Shekhar and Kamini Kaushal, emerging in the scene from behind and happening upon this group. The couple seems to be recently married, with the hero looking somewhat abashed and the heroine extremely coy. The song now acquires meaning as the hero’s tentative flirtations with the lady to open her up synchronises with चाहे नैन चुराओ चाहे दामन बचाओ प्यार हो के रहेगा (Whether you shift your gaze or evade my touch, we can not but fall in love)

2. Humein haal-e-dil unse kahna tha kahiye by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle from 24 Ghante (1958), lyrics Raja Mehadi Ali Khan, music Bipin Babul

Talat-Asha combination had a good number of superb duets, both breezy and melodious. Here is a foot tapping number with a very pleasant beat. Premnath and Shakila seem to have just finished their picnic lunch. As Shakila washes the plates in the garden waterbody, you see Premnath reclining on the picnic durrie browsing a magazine (such an insensitive MCP !), but there was no doubt about gender roles those days. You would think now they should be heading back home, but Premnath breaks into this song while still reclining, then gradually rises. Having done with the dishes, Shakila also joins him, swirls around with the picnic basket (by now empty) in her hand, dancing to the beautiful beat. As they cavort around the bushes in what would soon become the most recognizable Bollywood cliché, the Director chooses to give it a quirky touch by highlighting the prop of the picnic basket, with the lead pair playing with it and tossing it to each other. The most remarkable thing about this song is the composer (duo?) Bipin Babul, about whom I know little and can not recall their any other famous song. I am always fascinated by everlasting songs composed by unknown music directors. So here is my big Talat-Asha favourite.

3. O dildar bolo ek bar by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from School Master (1959), lyrics Pradeep, music Vasant Desai.

You see the pretty B Saroja Devi and this funny looking guy in a neta type dress and Chaplinesque moustache (he is surely not the hero Karan Dewan, then why did they make this beauty flirt with this clown?) on a horse carriage singing this racy duet. They stop by a pond in the wilderness, and in a similar gender stereotyping, Saroja Devi goes to fetch water from the pond. And what do you see here? A lavish picnic repast in a huge tiffin- carrier! They continue their frolicking around water, and now the pail of water becomes a prop in her hand to play with while they sing and dance. But alas, as they get lost in their revelry, they seem to forget about the spread-out food and the hungry horse, which is merrily helping himself to the spread. By the time they come back from their frolicking exhausted, I doubt if they would find any food left. 

4. Teri nigahon mein teri hi bahon mein by TalatMahmood and Ash Bhosle from Bahana (1960), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Madan Mohan

Bahana starring Meena Kumari and Sajjan had several MM’s signature style melodious songs such as Talat Mahmood’s solo Beraham Asmaa and Lata Mangeshkar’s Ja re badra bairi ja. And you have this fabulous Talat-Asha contrast which would make your feet dance. The video is not available so you can only guess it might have been picturised on the lead pair

5. Chori chori dil ka lagana buri baat hai by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle from Bada Bhai (1957), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Nashad

Oh, I can not have enough of Talat Mahmood-Asha Bhosle duets. The actor (Anant Kumar?) is pulling the lady (Ameeta?) on a cycle rickshaw. But apparently he does it effortlessly as he frequently looks back to her and sings this breezy song. The music director Nashad (not Naushad), has created some everlasting music in a number of films. With such huge talent I wonder why he felt the need to change his name to one sounding like Naushad (his real name was Shaukat Ali Dehelvi and later took the name Nashad because, as the anecdote has it, he thought some of Naushad’s fame might rub on him).

6. Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from Chhaya (1961), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Salil Choudhary

This is an iconic Talat-Lata duet with Salil Choudhry’s familiar foot tapping style. You only wonder what is holding back Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh from breaking into a dance.  A great Talat-Lata duet composed by Salil Chaudhry,which is inspired by Motzart’s Symphony No. 40.

7. Aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from Usne Kaha Tha (1960), lyrics Shailendra, music Salil Choudhry

Another iconic Talat-Lata-Salil Choudhry number. You again have Sunil Dutt, but now the lady is Nanda. And mercifully they are not as stiff as Sunil Dutt-Asha Parekh were in Itna na mujhse pyar badha. And what beautiful scenery of the night in a forest, raindrops falling and the lead pairs drenched, but no suggestion of any amorous thoughts crossing their mind, only pure bliss and joy (the rain drenched lovers stranded in a remote hut, getting into a situation where they would have to later remorsefully say Humein ye paap nahi karna chahiye tha, had not yet become the norm).

8.   Rahi matwale with Suraiya from Waris (1954), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Anil Biswas

Talat Mahmood, also the hero of the film, discovers the person on the adjacent seat in men’s dress is actually a woman, who has some reason to be in disguise, travel in the men’s compartment and tell a lie to the conductor.  In the beginning he disapproves of her, but it does not matter.  The setting is enough to prompt Talat to break into this beautiful song to the beat of the train.  The lovely Suraiya in reverie gives romantic glances, and later joins in the duet.  This song has at least three versions in the film, this one is a foot tapping duet and befitting addition to my list.

9. Ye nayi nayi preet hai with Lata Mangeshkar from Pocketmar (1956), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Madan Mohan

 Dev Anand, the eternal romantic and Geeta Bali, with a lovely pout make a great pair.  Madan Mohan, who created quintessential sad Talat songs like Humse aya na gaya and Meri yaad mein tum na ansoo bahana, changes tack and creates this breezy romantic duet.

10.  Ayi jhoomti bahar with Lata Mangeshkar from Insaniyat (1955), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music C Ramchandra

Choosing the the last song of a post is always difficult, more so if my choice was between Dev Anand in moustache in this song and Shammi Kapoor in moustache in Kehta hai dil tum ho mere liye in Mem Sahib – both equally unappealingFrankly the romantic Dev Anand looks quite odd, more like a school masterly Abhi Bhattacharya, but I choose this song because of the beautiful Beena Rai and sweet C Ramchandra music.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer: The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure for the music lovers. This blog acknowledges that the copyright over these songs rest with respective owners such as Saregama India Limited and others.

{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }

1 dustedoff February 24, 2012 at 6:16 pm

Great list, AK. My favourites are the ones from #6 onwards, till 9 – I’ve heard the Insaniyat one, but prefer Raahi matwaale or Itna na mujhse tu pyaar badha, or even Aha rimjhim ke yeh pyaare-pyaare… all are songs in my ‘favourites’ playlist on my cellphone! 🙂

Glad you put in Humein haal-e-dil tumse kehna hai; it’s often overlooked, but I love that song.

Here’s another of my favourite Talat duets, Dil-e-naadaan tujhe hua kya hai, from Mirza Ghalib:

2 AK February 24, 2012 at 10:22 pm

@dustedoff
Thanks. My list is in order of my liking, so #1 to 5 come first in my reckoning. The dance by extras in #1 is exquisite. Dil-e-nadan is a great duet. But this list was about atypical songs of Talat. I have another list of quintessential Talat solos and duets. While on this, let me make an observation – while his best solos would almost always be his songs in a blue mood, his best duets at least in my list would include a number of fast and breezy ones, such as in this post.

3 Subodh Agrawal February 25, 2012 at 7:52 am

I will come back for a detailed comment later, once I am back home from a short holiday; but for the time being allow me to differ with you on calling ‘Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha’ a ‘copy’ of Mozart’s symphony no. 40. More than any other, this song illustrates the difference between copy and inspiration. In any case it is only the opening lines that can be said to be copied or inspired, and even in them subtle changes of rhythm and tempo have created a mood very different from Mozart’s masterpiece.

4 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 25, 2012 at 10:22 am

AK ji,
A very good songs list by any standards.
Talat is my fav singer,but I prefer his blue mood songs to any others.
pasand apni apni,khayaal apna apna.
I will come back soon on this list.
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
p.s. BTW,Talat faded earlier to his contemporories,due to his unique quiver in the voice,which was no more preferred by the MDs or the producers.
-AD

5 AK February 25, 2012 at 11:04 am

@Subodh Agrawal
I stand corrected. I used the word ‘copy’ a little casully. I had at the back of my mind several of Salil Chaudhry-Lata Mangeshkar songs which have both Hindi and Bangla versions exact copy of each other. Of course, a composer using his own tune in a different language is no issue at all. Incidentally, as for the same composer re-using his songs, I have come across several Bangla songs sung by SD Burman, which he has recreated in Hindi by mainstream singers like Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle – both versions absolute gems in entirely different ways. You have mentioned in your comment on my previous post on SD Burman’s creativity. I also have some list of ‘inspired’ songs and ‘copycat’ songs. May be some day I woud try to do a post on them.

@Arunkumar Deshmukh
Looking forward to your return. As for his solos, I also prefer his songs of melancholy and sadness. But in duets I was struck by Chahe nain churao and some others in this strain, which led me to do this post.

6 sanjiva February 25, 2012 at 8:03 pm

Talat was the original gazal king. I had the opportunity to hear him in person Rahi Matwale in Durga Puja Pandal in Patna…. and then it started to rain…

also please write about Shanti Mathur of Nanha Muna rahi hoon fame(I guess) who was sining from Patna AIR non flimi songs for severaal years.

7 Amit Mandpe February 26, 2012 at 9:07 pm

I really love Talat’s duets. You mentioned “Oh, I can not have enough of Talat Mahmood-Asha Bhosle duets.”
Here are a few:
1. Chali kaunse des gujariya tu saj dhaj ke: Boot Polish
2. Pyas kuchh aur bhi bhadka di jalak dikhla ke: Lala Rookh
3. Dil Jawan hai aarzoo jawan: Samundari Daku
4. Baharon ki duniya pukare tu aaja: Laila majnu
5. Do dil dhadak rahe hain aur awaaz ek hai: Insaaf
6. Kehta hai dil tum ho mere liye: Mem Sahib
7. Pyar per bas to nahi hai mera lekin: Sone ki Chidiya
8. Sach bata tu mujh pe fida: Sone ki chidiya
9. Bol na bol aye jane wale : Armaan
10. Dil ne chheda hai tarana : Sipehsalar
11. Pyar nahi chhupta chhupane se: Ladla

I believe these are a few good numbers.

Thanks1

8 AK February 27, 2012 at 9:49 am

@Amit Mandpe
Thanks for providing this list. From this list serial 2, 3, 4 to 7 are also my top favourites. In fact if I do not limit my list to foot tapping breezy numbers, some of these would figure in all time best duets of Talat Mahmood.

9 arvind February 27, 2012 at 10:33 am

@ amit mandpe : it is lyricist shailendra playing the banjo in the song ……chali kaun se desh………in …. BOOTPOLISH….

10 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 27, 2012 at 7:46 pm

AK ji,
In the song No 3 from School Master,the actor singing with Saroja Devi is RAJA GOSAVI-a very popular and leading Hero of Marathi films in those days.He was a favourite of south producers and was in many southtern made Hindi films,like Bhabhi for example.
-AD

11 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 27, 2012 at 7:54 pm

AK ji,
Bahana-60 song (N0.4) was indeed picturised on Sajjan and Meenakumari.
-AD

12 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 27, 2012 at 8:13 pm

AK ji,
As far as NASHAD,whose song of Bada Bhai features in your list is concerned,there is a real incident for the change of his name.
Till 1953,he used his real name Shaukat Ali Dehalvi.
Nakshab Jarachavi,a noted Lyricist,producer and director of small time films,decided to make “NAGMA” in 1953.He wished that Naushad,who was the most popular and successful composer that time should give music to his film,So,he went to Naushad and requested him to be composer to his film.It seems,Naushad said “Hum kisi aire gaire ke film ko music nahi dete”.
Nakshab felt insulted and gave the film to Shaukat Ali,with a condition that he should change his name to NASHAD.The idea was to mislead people and also to teach a lesson to Naushad to whom he sent a message that he will make NASHAD also as popular as Naushad.
From Nagma-1953 onwards the name was Nashad till the end.
Though Naghma songs became hit,but Nashad never matched Naushad in any way.
On the contrary,he was always criticised for using old song tunes again for his songs.
-AD

13 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 27, 2012 at 9:51 pm

AK ji,
Very few people know that the film WAARIS song ‘Raahi matwaale’
(song no. 8) is based on Ravindra Sangeet and is a copy of ‘ o re grihabaashi’,composed in Bengali by Anilda himself.
-AD

14 AK February 27, 2012 at 11:21 pm

@Arunkumar Deshmukh
Thanks for all the comments.
Raja Gosavi – a popular and leading hero! I withhold my comments. 🙂 (I apologise if I am offending anyone). At least in this film the credits list Karan Dewan as the hero.
O re grihbashi is a real discovery. YouTube has this song in some new voices. Though the tune is the same, I do not think they have posted Anil Biswas’s original composition.

15 Subodh Agrawal February 28, 2012 at 7:44 am

AK, as always, you have dug up some real gems. Half of the songs in your list were unfamiliar to me. I may differ with you on the relative ranks, but I would agree that all ten of them are beautiful.

Talat passed away in 1998. However, he had faded away from Bollywood decades before that. The ultimate insult was when having recorded a song for Dilip Kumar’s Aadmi in the voices of Rafi and Talat, ‘Kaisi haseen aaj baharon ki raat hai,’ the movie soundtrack replaced him with Mahendra Kapoor. Talat’s version, however, proved to be more popular. Sadly, it didn’t result in a revival of his career.

One expects actors and actresses to fade away with age, as youth is an essential part of their appeal. It is harder to explain why some singers and music directors fade out after having ruled the scene for decades. Anil Biswas was around till 2003, OP Nayyar till 2007; and Manna Dey is still around – let’s hope he scores a century (born 1919). Suraiya, too went into hibernation pretty early. In her case, however, it seems to be her own decision to retire in face of Lata’s meteoric rise.

Coming back to the happy theme of this blog post, I would like to recall not a duet, but a triplet (what else do you call a song with three singers) from Dil-e-Nadan ‘Mohabbat ki Dhun bekararon se puchho’ http://youtu.be/ec2_yg2YjQ8. I discovered it thanks to your post on Jagjit Kaur. Also a happy, if not exactly breezy, duet with Lata from Anhonee – ‘Mere dil ki dhadkan kya bole’ http://youtu.be/8mORpshV3r0.

16 Arunkumar Deshmukh February 28, 2012 at 10:11 am

AK Ji,
RAJA GOSAVI was not the Hero of School Master.
I know RG is not a handsome or chocolate type of Hero.He was not not expected also to be that,because he was a comedian,whose job was to make people laugh and that he did effectively in almost 100 films.
One of his box office hit films in Marathi “LAKHACHI GOSHT” (the story of a Lakh of Rupees),made with Raja Paranjape in the early 50s was even remade in Telugu as “VADDANTE DABBU’ (money when you dont want) featuring NTR and ANR top stars then in Telugu.
As I am well conversant with Telugu also,I have seen that film in those days,in its second run.
-AD

17 AK February 28, 2012 at 12:01 pm

@Subodh Agrawal
On Suraiya I agree – she had it in her to last longer. Her voice was mainstream, smooth and melodious, and also distinguishable from Lata Mangeshkar. Others I believe belonged to an era, which had gone with the wind.

Mohabbat ki dhun is my absolute favourite. Had I not used earlier, it would have figured near the top.

18 bhagwan thavrani March 1, 2012 at 1:06 pm

my favourite talat duet is
SAMA KE DIL ME HAMARE ZARA KHAYAL RAHE
HAME NA KOI PUKARE ZARA KHAYAL RAHE
from ANHONI sung by him with LATA JI..
there is another great song sung by talat-rafi-shamshad in BABUL
nadi kinare saath hamare shaam suhani aayi…
incidentally, talat mehmood has appeared in as many as 13 films as hero…!

19 harvey March 4, 2012 at 11:54 pm

The songs chahe nain churao and hume haal-e-dil unse kehna tha were new for me. I have fond memories of or dildar bolo ek baar, but it is long time since I heard it last time. Thanks for reminding me of it.
Raja Gosavi is the one with the toothbrush moustache. He was a comic-hero of marathi screen and played some roles in Hindi films as well. He had a prominent marathi accent when he spoke Hindi. Sort of an earlier Laxmikant Berde.
Don’t ask me why but somehow I remember that teri nigahon me teri is not picturised on the lead pair.
The lady in the cycle rickshaw is surely Ameeta and I presume it is Anant Kumar pedalling.
itna na mujhse tu pyar badha is probably my most fav duett from your list and aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare would come close second. Salil gave TM some of his best songs.
ROTFL at humein ye paap nahin kanra chahiye tha.
rahi matwale is also very dear to my heart.
ayi jhoomti bahar is odd.
Nice list, AK! Enjoyed it!
BTW do you know if Talt has ever lent his voice to Dharmendra?

Some of my fav Talat duets are
duniya badal gayi meri from Babul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC7iVZF9Ork

apni kaho kuchh meri suno from Parchhayan (1952)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REDQoD365oo

sawan ki raato me aisa bhi hota hai from Prem Patra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxaDhRZGoEU

bagon me khilte hai phool from Sindoor (1961)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eGth9GMWps

dil ae dil baharo se mil from Ek Phool Char Kante (1960)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ5ZLZ1N5Es

dil deewana dil mastana mane na from Awaaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PjUeUWOGNQ

This is not a duet but a quartet
hoke majboor mujhe usne bhulaaya hoga from Haqeeqat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l97Ul5X2A0

20 AK March 5, 2012 at 1:10 pm

@harvey
Dil ae dil ae baharo se mil was new to me. The Awaaz song was kind of refreshing my memory. Thanks. It looks like this was the inspiration for Dil diwana bin sajna ke mane na from Maine Pyar Kiya. Your list contains a number of my top favourites too, especially the first three. Since they did not fit into my theme of happy, breezy duets, they would have to figure in another post. There are a large number of soft duets still left out. I would especially recommend two duets from Anmol Ratan.

Ayi jhoomti bahar odd? I do not get it.

Humein ye paap….. Night, forest, rains. Next I was expecting this. But the song is so Kosher! Then I realised that phase was still to come in our movies.

21 Gaby March 7, 2012 at 12:31 am

Mukh se na boloon from jalianwalabagh ki jyoti. One of the few movies my grandparents watched as a couple:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I95DmiRf224

22 AK March 7, 2012 at 2:21 pm

@Gaby:
What a wonderful song! Heard for the first time. Thanks for introducing it to us.

23 Ashok Vaishnav March 12, 2012 at 10:23 am

Permit me to sahre a rare, but melodious , duet of Talat with Madhubala ZAlat – Madhubala Zaveri duet from Apni Izzat, by Hansraj Behl.

YouTube video shows that embedding this video is disabled.
My cousin, Shri Naresh Manakad has shared this song with me.

24 AK March 12, 2012 at 12:11 pm

Fortunately other versions of two duets are available. Thanks for introducing them to us. I hope you mean one of these. Here are the songs:

Dil mera tera deewana by Talat Mahmood and Madhubala Javeri from Apni Izzat

Pyar ki rut do rangeen sajan by Talat Mahmood and Madhubala Javeri from Apni Izzat

25 Ashok Vaishnav March 12, 2012 at 2:37 pm

Thanks for uploading the video clips.

26 Kirtikumar Vyas April 22, 2012 at 3:51 pm

I think Talat Saab could have changed according to the new trend but he was very much influenced by Anil Biswasji and stuck to his originality that caused him lack behind year by year. However, his popularity grew much than ever due to his live performances wherever he went. Still people of his generation believe him to be the best among all other singers of his time. I post herewith my favorite non filmy song as a tribute to the legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veu0mF4gcU8

27 KB May 12, 2012 at 4:52 am

AKji,

Thanks for a wonderful list of Talat duets and a very good article. I know it’s a little too late to comment, but am unable to resist because Talat Saab is one of my most favorite singers, very close to my heart.

I’ve heard many reasons for Talat Saab fading away early. Personally I found that from the song Hum Se Aaya Na Gaya (Dekh Kabira Roya – 1957), his quiver increased, and he was sounding a little tired in his singing. Wish he could stay longer!

Whether he sang ghazals or geets or romantic duets, Talat always seemed to me as though he was singing for Gods! What a voice! There are many great singers whom I admire, but Talat Saab and Mukeshji are the ones whom I become one with while listening!

My favorite romantic duets of Talat are Nain Mile Nain Hue (Tarana) and Kisine Mujhko Mere (Parchain).

Keep up the good work!

28 AK May 12, 2012 at 8:56 am

@Thanks a lot for your compliments. In blogosphere it is never too late to comment. The latest comment no matter on however old article shows up on the top in the comments list on the right hand side, therefore it is easy for me as well as the readers to look up.

As you might have noticed this list was confined to atypical Talat duets. I still have to write on quintessential Talat which created such a legion of fan following.

29 gaddeswarup June 18, 2012 at 6:11 am

I was browsing through this post this morning and thought that one of my favorite Talat duets was not listed. When I was about to play it my wife entered the room and I asked her whether she would like to listen it and she responded that she does not listen to Hindi songs., both of us only know a few words of Hindi. But I played
‘milte hi ankhen dil hua’ from Babul anyway. Her next response was ‘ why don’t we have songs with such madhuryam (approximately sweetness) in Telugu. Now I had to mutter that Telugu is suitable for some other type of songs and played Talat-Bhanumati duet from Chandirani, of which I like the Telugu version better. May be ‘ atypical’ is the key word in the choice.

30 AK June 18, 2012 at 4:40 pm

You are right, ‘atypical’ was the criteria. I have to still cover his typical solos and duets.

31 Mrutyunjay Sarangi July 25, 2012 at 11:15 pm

Dear AK,
A song by Dwijen Mukherjee can put him in your list of singers. It’s Ae dil kahan teri manzil, na koi dipak hai na koi taraa hai from Maya
MS

32 AK July 26, 2012 at 3:52 pm

Mrutyunjay
Welcome to this blog.

Dwijen Mukherji’s Ae dil kahan teri manzil has been posted in my blog on Subir Sen. His songs are very few in number, so I had not thought of doing a post on him.

33 Subodh Agrawal July 27, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Came across this breezy Talat duet that I had not heard before, despite the fact that it was the title song of the movie ‘Roop ki Rani, Choron ka Raja’

34 Ashok Vaishnav July 27, 2012 at 3:49 pm

This has been quite a popular number in that period.
A good find to recollect!

35 kiran August 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm

I rediscovered the melody of Talat very recently and your post as well as the list of songs from the readers has some of my favorite songs that I listen avidly while driving.
There is beautiful duet that I came across recently. Although not a breezy one, its melody is divine and the words and the tune touch the heartdirectly. I did not find its mention so I am putting it here.
It is from the film Shikast(1953), a duet of Lata and Talat and picturized on Dilip Kumar and Nalini Jaywant. The song is : Jab Jab Phool Khile, the song is composed by Jaikishen and the lyrics are by Shailendra.

36 AK August 3, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Yes it is a wonderful song. Heard for the first time. This post was for breezy songs. Looking at huge interest in Talat, I need to do a list of soft and soulful duets.

37 Vinay Kulkarni August 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm

I have some Talat’s atypical breezy songs in my cellphone in MP3 format. Some of these might be on youtube. Those which are not , I will be glad to share, if somebody wants. Here they are:
1) Hay koi dekh lega 1957 Ek Gao ki Kahani Salil choudhary Talat-lata
2)Tim Tim Tim Taaronkr Geet 1958 Mausi Vasant Desai talat-lata
3)Teri chamakti Aakhoke 1954 Kavi Madan Mohan talat-lata
4)Tu mere saath 1961 Apsara Husnalal Bhagatram Talat-Asha
5)Yuhi karke bahana 1955 Shah Behram Hansraj Behl Talat-lata
6)Chro chori dil me 1952 Kaafila Husnalal Bhagatram Talat-Geeta
7)Dil ne chheda hai taraana 1956 Sipahisilar C.Ramchandra Talat-Asha

38 Amit Mandpe August 26, 2012 at 11:50 pm

After my post on Talat -Asha duets, here are a few more duets of Talat Sahab:

1. With Lata: Raaz seene me Muhabbat ka chhupaye rakhna (Music Khaiyyam) : Unreleased movie
2. With Lata: Tere raaste pe humne ek ghar bana liya hai (Music: C. Ramchandra): Film Kavi
3. With Geeta: Thandi hawaon me taaron ki chhaon me (Music Hemant Kumar): Film Bahu
4. With Lata: Mausam ye pukare, masti me le chal ( Music Chitragupta): Film Burma Road
5. With Mubarak Begam: Itne kareeb aake bhi kya jane kisliye (Music Khaiyyam) : Film Shagun
6. With Asha: Nazar utha ke ye rangeen sama rahe na rahe (Music C. Arjun) : Film
7. With Lata: Mehlon me rehnewali dil hai gareeb ka (Music Chitragupta) : Film Tel Maalish boot polish.

39 vinay kulkarni August 28, 2012 at 3:00 pm

The song nazar Uthake ye Rangeen sama rahe na rahe is from film Ek Saal Pehle. Very breezy and beautiful song indeed !!

40 AK August 29, 2012 at 4:06 pm

@Amit Mandpe, Vinay Kulkarni
You have given a large number of Talat duets, some well known, some unknown. Thanks a lot. Now I have material for doing exclusive posts on Talat’s duets with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

41 kiran September 1, 2012 at 4:04 pm

AK ji, I listened to the song Mehelon mein Rahnewali from the film Bootpolish Telmalish and liked it very much. I think it is a Talat- Lata Duet and the music is by Chitragupta.
A few more additions:
2. Ye mere andhere-ujale na hote
3. Dil ki Mehfil sajake

42 AK September 2, 2012 at 8:25 am

Thanks a lot. These songs may come in handy at an appropriate time.

43 Parag November 17, 2012 at 5:58 am

Hi AK ji,

I discovered your website while searching for Sardar Malik sahab today. Wonderful website with great articles dedicated to the golden era of HFM.
Can not thank you enough for your contribution.

Talat sahab is my most favorite male playback singer. Out of all of your selection, I was surprised to see that you have not selected a single song of his with Geeta Dutt ji (my most favorite singer). They sang a couple of dozen odd songs in the 10 year period for a wide variety of composers. Here is the full list:

1]-1950-jaan pehchaan-arman bhare dil ki lagan-khemchand prakash and manna dey,
2]-1950-wafa-ghadi ghadi-vinod,
3]-1951-shabistan-hum hai tere deewane-[with chitalker]-c ramchandra,
4]-1951-shabistan-kaho ek baar-c ramchandra,
5]-1951-shabistan-hai yeh mausame bahar-madanmohan,
6]-1952-anand math-kaise rokenge aese toofan ko-hemant kumar,
7]-1952-baghdad-yeh pyaar ki baatein[with g m durrani]-bulo c rani,
8]-1952-kafila-chori chori dil mein samaya-husnlal bhagatram,
9]-1952-nishan danka-shaam suhani nadi ke kinare-basant prakash,
10]-1952-patal bhairvi-kahin preet se bhara-ghantsala,
11]-1952-ratandeep-tha ek rajkumar-robin chatterji,
12]-1952-ratandeep-aaj ki raat bhaag more jaage-robin chatterji,
13]-1954-mahapooja-hazar haath wale-avinash vyas,
14]-1954-lakeerein-mohabbat ki duniya mein-hafiz khan,
15]-1954-laal pari-keh rahi hain dhadkanein-hansraj behl,
16]-1954-sangam-raat hi armaan bhari-ram ganguli,
17]-1954-sangam-aayein to kaise aayein-ram ganguli,
18]-1955-bahu-dekho dekho ji balam-hemant kumar,
19]-1955-bahu-thandi hawaaoon mein-hemant kumar,
20]-1955-darbar-kya paya duniya ne-hansraj behl,
21]-1956-khul ja sim sim-donon jahan ke maalik-hansraj behl,
22]-1956-makkhichoos-o arabpati ki chhori-vinod,
23]-1957-naag padmini-sare jag se nain churaker-sanmukh babu,
24]-1959-doctor z-dil ko laga ke bhool-manohar,
25]-196?-bahadur shah zafar-tumhari mohabbat-daan singh,
26]-197?-midnight-tumsa meet mila-subeer sen

Many of the songs are from low budget films but that does not stop a music lover from listening and enjoying them. I would kindly request you to give an ear to a few of them

Best Regards
Parag

44 AK November 17, 2012 at 9:20 am

Thanks a lot for your compliments. As you would have noticed this post was focussed on Talat’s atypical duets which were fast paced and breezy. I was not looking at any particular female partner. After all how many you could fit in ten.

Some other deaders have also mentioned about his duets with Geeta Dutt, as also with Asha Bhosle. There is a great deal of his soulful duets with Lata Mangeshkar. I have covered a very small part of Talat, which seemed different from his normal. Gradually I would do more of him.

Thanks a lot for the exhaustive list of his duets with Geeta Dutt. It would be very useful.

45 Subodh Agrawal January 1, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Just stumbled upon this Bhojpuri duet from Talat. Should fit quite well into this theme – ‘Lal lal honthowa pe’:

46 AK January 1, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Subodh,
This is a great favourite of mine. Chitragupta was the Master of Bhojpuri films in the 60s.

47 Naresh P. Mankad February 24, 2013 at 2:10 pm

I would like to bring to notice these beautiful duets:
1.Dil dil se kah raha hai (With Lata Mangeshkar, Parchhai, C. Ramchandra). Tailor-made for Talat’s voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=razm58FW7ik
2.Ek dil do hai talabgaar badi mushkil hai (Darwaaza, Naushad)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxNFsqr_WdY
3.Jab jab phool khile (with Lata, film Shikasht, SJ)
and last but not least, Dil diwana dilmastana maane na, with Lata for film Awaaz

48 Naresh P. Mankad February 24, 2013 at 2:37 pm

The link to the song Dil diwana dil mastana maane naa:

49 Mohan Lal July 23, 2013 at 3:44 pm

New Delhi, 23rd July, 2013.

Sir,

In reply to the blog/comments by Shri AMIT MANDPE, I would like to add two more PEPPY/BREEZY songs (both duets sung by Talat Mehmood and Lat Ji) to his list:

One is “Pyaar Nahin Chupta Chupané Sé Dekh Liya Suna Tha Zamané Sé” from the film LADLA whose music was coposed by VINOD and

Second is “Aji Humko Hai Tumsé Pyaar To Hoga Mein Kya Janoo Ab Jeena Bhi hai Dushwar To Hoga Mein Kya Janoo” from the film Mehbooba (1954) whose music was given by ROSHAN.

Mohan Lal

50 AK July 23, 2013 at 11:44 pm

Mohan Lal,

Both the duets you have mentioned are excellent and very well fit this theme, as also Dil deewana dil mastana mane na mentioned by Naresh Mankad.

Pyar nahi chhupta chhupaane se by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle from Laadlaa (1954), lyric Kaif Irfani, music Vinod is very interesting. It starts off as a serious recital in slow tempo and then breaks into a peppy and fast tune.

Aji humko tumse hai pyar by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from Mehbooba (1954), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Roshan is equally good. I heard it for the first time. Thanks a lot. Even though the video is none too good, the song stands out.

51 Mohan Lal July 24, 2013 at 10:41 am

New Delhi, 24th July 2013.

Thank you AK Ji for acknowleding the excellence and goodness of both the gems and for uploading them too for the music lovers of Bollywood Hindi Cinema.

Mohan Lal.

52 M K SHARMA May 8, 2014 at 1:57 pm

“Gaya Andhera hua ujala..Chmka chamaka subah ka Tara” is also a great melody.

53 Anil Kane May 16, 2014 at 2:17 am

AK ji
I would like to add the following happy duets :

With Lata
1.dar laage duniya se – Buzdil
2.chhodo chhodo ji piya – Ajeeb Ladki
3.hothon pe taraane aa gaye ji – Parbat
4.dil mein samaa gaye sajan – Sangdil
5.zara mudke toh dekho saajna – Meenar
6.laagi laagi karajwa mein – Duniya Gol Hai
7.chanda chamakti raat – Do Dulhe
8.sawan ke jhuley pade – Pyar Ki Pyaas
9.ai sanam aaj yeh kasam – Jahan Ara
10.tumhi toh meri pooja ho – Suhagan

with Asha:
11.pyar bhi aata hai kabhi – Goonj
12.dil ki duniya jagmagayi – Dakbabu
13.hamari gali aana achha ji – Memsaab
14.mast aankhen hain – Naqli Nawab

with Sudha Malhotra:
15.hum tumhare ho chuke hain – Rangeela Raja
16.tum jo aaye zindagi mein – Rangeela Raja

with Suraiyya:
17.ghar tera apna ghar laage – Waaris
18.man dheere dheere gaaye re – Maalik

54 Anil Kane May 16, 2014 at 2:25 am

AK ji

Although your post is on happy Talat duets the duets listed in the comments are soulful and sad too. But surprisingly I did not find any mention of that great sad duet – seene mein sulagate hain armaan from Tarana.

55 AK May 18, 2014 at 3:18 pm

Anil Kane,
People must have by then realised that the discussion was about his fast-faced happy duets. Seene mein sulagate hain armaan has been widely mentioned while discussing the best songs of 1951.

You have added some excellent duets. ‘Happy’ was the necessary condition. But I was looking for something more – the song had to be foot-tapping. Talat Mahmood’s voice is not naturally meant for that. His most of the happy songs too end up sounding soft and soulful, such as Dar laage duniya se, Dil mein sama gaye sanam, Zara mud ke to dekho saajna, Saawan ke jhoole pade, Ai sanam aaj ye kasam khaayein, Tumhi to meri pooja ho, Man dheere dheere gaaye re etc. from your list.

It is interesting to note that Laagi laagi karejawa mein chot haye Ram also has a Lata Mangeshkar solo version, which is unmistakably a foot-tapping number, but the duet with Talat has a somewhat different impact. I am presenting both the versions to illustrate the difference. C Ramchandra harnesses Talat Mahmood’s felicity with ghazal by having recitation of Urdu couplets as antaraas, on a folk base:

Laagi laagi karejawa mein chot Haye Ram by Lata Mangeshkar from Duniya Gol Hai (1955), lysics Rajendra Krishna, music C Ramchandra

Laagi laagi karejawa mein chot haye Ram by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar

From your list, the one which fits closest to what I was looking for is:

Hothon pe tarane aa gaye by Talat and Lata Mangeshkar from Parbat (1952), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar Jaikishan

56 Prof. AVR Rao May 14, 2015 at 10:33 am

A beautiful narration of the old melodies of Talat written by you is a joy to read, listen and recollect old memories. Thank you very much for this painstaking effort on your part.

57 AK May 14, 2015 at 2:16 pm

Prof AVR Rao,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

58 D P Rangan September 22, 2015 at 1:40 am

//7// above.

Here is the link for the song from Sipah saldar (1956), Lyrics : Farooq Qaiser and Music Director Iqbal Quereshi

https://youtu.be/WWf_9p4q7gw?t=6

Another lilting song from Jan Pechhan (1950) – Shakeel Badauni – Khemchand Prakash – Talat Geeta Dutt Duet –

Arma Bhare Dil Ki Lagan

https://youtu.be/HX1lz67VKcE

59 D P Rangan September 22, 2015 at 2:36 am

Searching my archives came another song from the film
Aawaz (1956), Zia Sirhadi – Salil Chowdhury

Dil Diwana Dil Mastana (Talat & Lata)

Quite sprighty. Searched Utube but could not find the link. How to upload from .mp3 file.

60 AK September 22, 2015 at 8:27 pm

DP Rangan,
The best I know is in two steps. You have to have a YT account. Separately convert mp3 to video format with progrmas like Windows Movie Maker. Open your YT, choose upload video.

61 D P Rangan September 22, 2015 at 10:45 pm

AK After reading your helpline, went to google and what you had stated is being repeated. It will mean some involved stuff. I have another software Apowersoft.Video.Converter.Studio which combines all the steps. As I am under the tyrannical control of my son here in Houston who has locked up administrator account, I will try to do what you had suggested after I come back to India when I hope the shackle will be removed.

62 D P Rangan September 23, 2015 at 1:04 am
63 Arunkumar Deshmukh September 23, 2015 at 6:42 pm

D P Rangan ji,

The composer for film Sipah Salar-56 was IQBAL and NOT Iqbal Qureshi as you have mentioned. These were two different composers.
Most people make this mistake due to Same Name Confusion.
Please read this article to know more about Iqbal and Iqbal Qureshi-
http://www.anmolfankaar.com/features/blog/321-same-name-confusions-part-3.html
-AD

64 D P Rangan September 23, 2015 at 7:42 pm

I am a novice in this field. Fully appreciate you for making things straight especially for an ignoramus like me. I do not fully understand the meaning of lyrics as Hindi is not my mother tongue. Fully involved in listening to old time music and adding to my .mp3 collection. Very difficult to get a good collection of 1960 and before songs in one CD. Have seen numerous CDs. of all our singers like Rafi, Asha etc. full of current day music with a few old tits bits thrown together. Fortunately they are very cheap. I have bought a cd for Rs. 25 just to add one song to the collection. Can only think of posting them all in cloud storage like Dropbox to make it accessible to others.

65 Jignesh Kotadia September 24, 2015 at 2:24 am

Dear Arunji
your Article “Same name confusions” in 3 parts is really invaluable. Very first time i knew the names like MD Iqbal ! MD Narayan Dutta ! Sr. Shashi Kapoor !! another Roshan !! another Madan Mohan !! another Trilok kapoor !
many Rajkumars, many Rajkumaris, too many Gauhars, too many Nalinis..two different Zubeidas..two different Asit Sens..two different Shyams…two different Premnaths !! Wow !!
I had seen the name Md Premnath in many films around 1950, and i had this question in my mind who’s this Premnath ? Is he the same who is well-known one ?! Today this puzzle is solved.
Many Many Thanks for this painstaking effort of gathering and sharing such eye opener informations.

A Must Read Article.

66 Arunkumar Deshmukh September 24, 2015 at 1:18 pm

Jgnesh ji,

Thanks a million for your encouraging appreciation. Such pats of experts increases my enthusiasm to continue doing what I am doing.
It pains me to see people making mistakes in identifying the artistes and giving credits where it is not due. What I have done is a small fraction of many more such same name artistes like,for example MD Shyamsunder and singer/actor Shyamsunder, 3 different Noorjehans at the same time, MD Ghulam Mohd. and actor Ghulam Mohd. etc etc.
The list is very long.
I am planning to add one more episode to that series soon.
Thanks again.
-AD

67 Arunkumar Deshmukh September 24, 2015 at 1:19 pm

sorry for mistake in the spelling. It should be Jignesh ji.
-AD

68 Jignesh Kotadia September 25, 2015 at 1:08 am

Arunji,
there is still a mistake in my spelling !
it must be only ‘Jignesh’ for you..
suppose If my father asks me humbly “Jigneshji , kya aapke liye pani laau ?”
How weird thing it could be ?!?
Same weird feeling comes from you repeatedly.

Please do continue the Same Name Confusions series if possible..it is too much helpful for the hindi music and movie fans across the world to identify artists and their original works. It’s a monumental work to accredit those poor obscure artists whose creations and acts have been falsely credited to other popular ones having same names.

69 Arunkumar Deshmukh September 25, 2015 at 1:14 pm

We have debated it earlier also and I have clarified the matter.
However in your case,due to your today’s example, I will make an exception and address you only Jignesh hereafter.

Jignesh,
It is not an easy job to write about that series. It entails lot of spade work,research and references. My principle is that I will only write that which can be proved authentically. So I need all sorts of proofs and references etc.
Nevertheless,i think, this is one project which will surely work as a reference point for the future students of Cinema History. So, I will do atleast 2-3 episodes more in near future.
Thanks for your motivation.
-AD

70 Jignesh Kotadia September 26, 2015 at 12:09 am

Thanks Arunji 🙂
definitely, this work would be a certified reference point for not only future but for every generation.

71 rangeen November 19, 2015 at 10:38 pm

If you can, add a list of his happy solos too.

72 Gaddeswarup August 25, 2018 at 2:52 am

Might have been mentioned before. Just noticed this duet of Talat and Amirbai Karnatic, Jay Jay. Bharat Desh From Matlabi Duniya 1961, https://youtu.be/dIb3NncNtJ4

73 Vimal January 26, 2019 at 9:19 pm

One of the most beautiful duet of Lata and Talat needs a place

Ja Ja Re Sugna Ja Re Kahi De Sajanwa Se , Laagi Nahi Chhoote Rama Chahe Jiya Jaaye , Title Song of the movie with Bhojpuri tilt .

Vimal

74 AK January 26, 2019 at 9:38 pm

Vimal,
Welcome to SoY. As you would have noticed my post focussed on the duets in which Talat was uncharacteristically peppy and full of joy.

75 Vimal January 28, 2019 at 10:37 pm

But the song is exceptionally beautiful and sweet . Include it somewhere

Also look at these

Singers:Talat Mahmood & Mubarak Begum
Ghir Ghir Aaye Badarwa Kare(Dak Babu 1954) Dhani Ram/Prem Dhawan

Zara Kahdo Sitaron Se Hume Itna Bataye Na(Gogola 1966) Roy Frank/Balkavi Bairagi

Affectionately

Vimal

76 Vimal January 28, 2019 at 10:44 pm

Gogola Song is

Zara Kahdo Fizaon Se

Vimal

77 Vimal January 28, 2019 at 10:52 pm

I cannot find Milte Hi Ankhein Dil Hua Deewana Kisika from Babul

Vimal

78 ksbhatia January 29, 2019 at 4:31 pm

AK ji;

Revisiting this post after a gap of seven years bring back the old charm of the sweetest soft silky voice of Talat duets decorated with laces of satin laces. Thanks for the recall .

Some songs…..no matter if they already are there ….but just wanted to get refresh with……

Nain mile Nain Huye Baware…..Talat, Lata…Tarana….Anil Biswas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSxhEFgOTXc

Chhaye nain milao ….Talat, Lata….Aas….SJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iG9ugiO7HM

Teri nigahoan mein teri hi ….Talat, Asha….Bahana…..MM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOmJAAzdK6A

79 AK January 30, 2019 at 6:51 pm

KS Bhatiaji,
The songs you have added are also my great favourites. The first song did not fit the theme, but e second and third are in my list at #1 and 4.

80 AK January 30, 2019 at 9:26 pm

Vimal,
Welcome to Songs of Yore. As you would have noticed this post is on Talat Mahmood’s fast and peppy duets, which are different from his usual style. Therefore, some very famous duets were not mentioned if they did not fit the type.

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