A tribute to old Hindi film music. Songs of the 30s through the 60s.

Songs on themes

‘Afsana’, ‘Dastan’, ‘Kahani’ and ‘Fasana’ in songs

May 5, 2026

Old Bollywood was our nursery for Urdu. Where else could you get Tamaam gawaahon ke bayanat and memberaan-e-jury ki sifaarish ke maddenazar? There were always fasadat, khayalat in our films. In between there were some exceptions like Khayalon mein kisi ke is tarah aaya nahin karte. But soon it was back to Ye meri khwahish […]

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Songs of a petulant, confused child

March 30, 2026

What happens if a parent has a petulant, confused child, who is given to throwing tantrums before guests. The parents would be embarrassed, but the guests may comfort them: what a lovely child! But if the child displays aggressive behaviour – unless you give him his chocolate or allow him to watch YouTube videos, he […]

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Aaiye/Chale aaiye and Jaaiye/Chale jaaiye in songs: Are they the same or is there a difference?

March 18, 2026

I have been forced into temporary inactivity. During such periods I can do nothing but contemplate on some issues. I find thinking about Iran-US-Israel War, the Middle East crisis quite mind boggling, so I reflect on simple things like the Hindi film songs. Of late, my mind has been reflecting on the pairs, Aaiye & […]

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Romance for the Faraway Land

March 6, 2026

Wishing all the readers and their families a very Happy Holi, and the greetings for the ongoing month of the Ramdan. May the Almighty shower all His blessings on everyone DP Rangan has set romance in the air with his “Love is Bliss”. This is the season when the dullest person starts feeling desirous. I […]

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Zindagi ai zindagi, zindagi tere hain do roop

May 16, 2025

Haar Jeet, Sukh Dukh, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham – the two opposite feelings, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes alternately are so common in real life, we don’t give much thought to it. Even major disasters, terrorist acts do not move us, they are some statistics in news. Except that something so horrific happens that it hits you […]

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Songs of Alankars: Figures of Speech

March 20, 2025

My last post was also on alankars; that was the jewellery women wear on different parts of their body. The language also needs alankars to beautify it. Without figures of speech a language would be quite bland. A British writer Nate White’s article, “Why do some British people not like Trump” went viral sometime back. […]

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Songs of Alankar: Women Obsessed With Jewellery?

March 8, 2025

Commemorating International Women’s Day Last year around the time I wrote about the subtleties of female bonding on the International Women’s Day, a momentous event called “Pre-Wedding” was taking place at Jamnagar. It filled me with pride, as I am sure it would have many Indians, that at the bash hosted by an Indian tycoon […]

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Harmonica songs

May 14, 2024

In my series of articles on musical instruments starting from the grand piano I have gradually covered smaller instruments, the last being the flute. I end the series with a still smaller instrument. Harmonica is a pocket-sized most intimate instrument as you play sliding it over your lips and blow air into its holes. Behind […]

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Krishna and Flute

September 6, 2023

Wishing everyone a very Happy Janmashtami with best songs on Krishna and the flute Thanks to several TV serials, Amar Chitra Katha mythology comics, and other sources everyone knows Lord Krishna story by heart. The cruel King Kans marries off his dear sister Devki to his close friend Vasudev (वसुदेव), and decides to drive them […]

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Kleptomania in Bollywood

March 8, 2023

Wishing the readers and their families a very Happy Holi and International Women’s Day We are all aware of the drug problem in Bollywood, thanks to the media which went into frenzy at some NCB raids at rave parties and the homes of some celebrities. There was a lot of moralising about the decadent lifestyle […]

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