Waterfalls in Bollywood

Guest article by DP Rangan

(DP Rangan is a man with boundless energy. Even with a late debut on the Songs of Yore, at the rate he is writing he will soon overtake the regular guest writers. After the horse series, he switched to romantic themes of moon and stars. This post on Waterfalls in Bollywood can be seen as a continuation with similar romantic possibilities. Mr Rangan has, as is his wont, packed in a great deal of information. He had also added some science which I have cut out, but what is left is still impressive. The song selection is equally good. I thank Mr Rangan for another informative post. – AK)

Our planet is predominantly a body of water and will glimmer in blue hue when viewed from satellites or from our satellite moon. Water covers 71% of earth surface. Picture taken from a satellite is reproduced below:

There is no positive evidence which would describe how water was formed in planet Earth beyond doubt. Several concepts have been advanced but remain mere conjectures. It is believed that water was part of the earth as it emerged by adhesion and gradual accretion of planetary material into a rocky planet.

The young earth was quite hot initially and all the water was locked up in the atmosphere as water vapour. When it cooled sufficiently there was continuous rain for hundreds of years and the oceans were formed. Thanks to the water cycle, there was profuse rain falling on land. As it fell on mountainous area, it came down to the plains as river and as the body of water fell over rock face down, waterfalls were born. They were not uniform. The height from which water cascaded downwards and the width of the water body varies from waterfall to waterfall. I will elaborate on this further when I deal with specific waterfalls. When the river gushes through narrow valleys you can have a series of shallow rapids.

But for the availability of water, there would have been no life of any sort in any planet and Earth is also no exception to this. It is the basic source of all life and when one studies it in depth, unique properties of water will be unraveled.

In fact, water as it exists is amazing. It should have been a gas at the prevailing atmospheric pressure and temperature. Had it been so, our planet would be a barren one devoid of life of any kind. Because of its unique properties, water is the only molecular body which can exist as gas, liquid or solid. Everybody knows that two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen bond together to form a water molecule. The theory behind it is too complicated for a general forum like Songs of Yore.

I am reverting back to ‘waterfalls’. All the continents have mountainous areas. America has the Rockies and Andes. In India it is Himalayas and Western Ghats. Some of the most spectacular waterfalls are to be seen in South America. Some prominent waterfalls are listed below:

North America        Niagara Waterfalls
South America        Angel Falls, Iguazu Falls
Africa               Victoria Falls
Asia                 A few falls in China, Vietnam
India                Nohkalikai Falls, Jog Falls

Victoria Waterfalls

Zambesi river thunders down the mountain ledge as a waterfall and it is located in the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It plunges from a height of 108 metres (355 feet). David Livingstone, Scottish missionary and explorer was the first whiteman to see the falls from an island named after him on 16^th November 1855 and named it in honour of Queen Victoria. Its native Tonga name is

Mosi-oa-Tunya—”The Smoke That Thunders” and continues in common usage as well. In UNESCO Heritage List both the names are used. You tube link for viewing this waterfall:

Now I will give particulars about the highest waterfalls in the world.

Angel Falls

Angel Falls (Spanish: Salto Ángel; Pemon language: Kerepakupai Meru meaning “waterfall of the deepest place”, or Parakupá Vená, meaning (“the fall from the highest point”) is located in Bolivar State, Venezuela. It is the highest waterfalls in the world with a plunge of 979 metres (3212 ft.) over the edge of the Auyantepui mountain in the Canaima National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Canaima), a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gran Sabana region of Bolívar State.

The outside world was not aware of this natural wonder till 1933. Jimmie Angel, an American aviator, while searching for precious ore bed flew over this waterfall on 16^th November 1933 and was bowled over at the amazing vista that unfolded. Returning on 9 October 1937, Angel tried to land his Flamingo monoplane El Río Caroní atop Auyan-tepui. It was a perfect landing, but the wheels sank in the morass atop the plateau. He, his wife and a companion had to travel for 11 days on foot climbing down the table mountain from the other slope in the back before reaching civilization. News went around the world and the waterfall was named after him and recognized by government of Venezuela. There was an interesting sequel to this. Angel’s plane remained on top of the tepui for 33 years before being lifted out by helicopter. It was restored at the Aviation Museum in Maracay and now sits outdoors on the front of the airport at Ciudad Bolívar. Visual presentation is the best means of conveying the full measure of beauty and a snap and a you tube link are given below for this waterfall.

Nohkalikai Falls

Tallest water falls in India with a drop of 340 metres (1115 feet). It is located near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. The pool formed at the foot of the waterfalls is green in colour.

Interesting material is available for all the major falls. If anyone wants to pursue further, he can trawl the internet and reap rich dividends.

Cinema producers had included a few outdoor scenes in most of the pictures. Heroes wandering amongst hilly terrain, heroines floating like an angel against the waterfall in the background accompanied by a chorus, duets of love in the hilly meadows were a representative sample of the scenes shot.

I had completed the post but was unable to get more than two songs on this theme. I was in a position similar to a sugar factory erected in cooperative sector and finding itself starved of sugarcane in its area and had to procure it across the state border from neighbouring state. I appealed to Arvinder Sharmaji to help me and promptly he sent me a list of nearly 30 songs and I am now spoiled for choice. I thank him profusely for enabling me to overcome a no-win situation. I will now post a few songs on this theme. My effort has been to ensure they are outdoor scenes with waterfall included.

1. Hawa mein udta jaye by Lata Mangeshkar from Barsaat (1949), lyrics Ramesh Shastri, music Shankar Jaikishan

The song is in perfect harmony with the surroundings and sounds like a flowing river over hilly beds. Shankar Jaikishan burst forth on the picture and with the wonderful music composed started their climb to the summit. Lata Mangeshkar, already known, also added to the lustre.

2. Aayi bahar jiya dole by Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus from Arzoo (1950), lyrics Prem Dawan, music Anil Biswas

The song is set in perfect idyllic rural surroundings. Kamini Kaushal dances around and her coterie accompanies her in the song, while a pleased Dilip Kumar looks on munching on his sugarcane. Anil Biswas has given a good tune.

3. Tere dwar khada hai ek jogi by Hemant Kumar from Nagin (1954), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Hemant Kumar

Vyjayanthimala and Pradeep Kumar are the principal actors. They belong to different tribes of snake charmers who are in conflict and their love affair lands them in trouble. Ravi was assistant to Hemant Kumar and created the snake tune through use of been, a path-breaker. Pradeep disguised as a hermit pleads with Vyjayanthimala immersed in the river. It was a great music by Hemant Kumar for Filmistan who had broken from C Ramchandra. (We have discussed earlier on this blog the controversy as to who created the been tune in ‘Man dole mera tan dole’.  The popular impression was that it was played by Kalyanji on the clayvioline. Goa-born pianist Lucila Pacheco’s name is also taken in this regard. Here is a nice article on this controversy – AK)

4. Suhana safar aur ye mausam hasin by Mukesh from Madhumati (1958), lyrics Shailendra, music Salil Chowdhury

This is a Bimal Roy production and the basic story was lifted from Mahal of Aayega aanewala fame. This is a great outdoor song full of bubbling joy and coming from Mukesh it is all the more to be appreciated. Salil Chowdhury had given superb music for the film. (The assertion that the basic story was based on ‘Mahal’ may be open to question. – AK)

5. Pyar bhari ye adayein by Manna Dey & Lata Mangeshkar from Qaidi No. 911 (1959), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Dattaram Wadkar

A B grade film with Mahmood and Nanda in the lead role, the scene of the song is entirely outdoors with prominent waterfall in the background. This is a well known duet and good to hear at any time.

6. Ho maine pyar kiya by Lata Mangeshkar from Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1961), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar Jaikishan

Raj Kapoor is the producer of this film about dacoits being reformed into law abiding citizens. The usual love triangle of two men, one girl is played with the hero emerging a winner. Padmini is enjoying her bath in the river just down the waterfalls.

7. Badalo barse nayan by Lata Mangeshkar from Sampoorna Ramayan (1961), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai

As expected, Mahipal and Anita Guha are the main actors in this film based on the epic Ramayan. Combination of Bharat Vyas and Vasant Desai has created great songs and this one sung by Seeta Devi in mental pain can be added to that genre.

8. Sau bar janam lenge by Mohammad Rafi from Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963), lyrics Asad Bhopali, music Ravi

An all time great song rendered superbly by Mohammad Rafi and composition by Ravi is par excellence. Pradeep Kumar is in search of his love Shakila and meets her at the end. There is a nice qawwali song – Milte hi nazar tumse hum ho gaye diwane sung by the triad Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey and Asha Bhonsle.

9. Mere pehli arzoo ka by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle from Pyar Ka Bandan (1963), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Ravi

The scene is certainly outdoors and the couple going through the motion look like Helen and Dhumal. This is a standard Ravi tune and can be easily recognized as such.

10. Aaj koi pyar se dil ke baatein kah gaya by Asha Bhosle from Sawan Ki Ghata (1966) lyrics S H Bihari, music O P Nayyar

Mumtaz wallows in turbulent waters while crooning this song. Asha Bhosle had excelled and O P Nayyar has composed his trademark tune, but very good to hear.

To the best of my ability I have posted songs where waterfall figures prominently. I request the blog followers to improve upon my selection.