10 of my Favorite Waheeda Rehman Songs

Waheeda Rehman, one of the most beautiful and versatile actresses , was born on this day. Here’s wishing her a very very Happy Birthday! Here are few songs of hers which I truly love :

1. Chaudhavin ka chaand (Chaudhavin Ka Chand, 1960) : The song says it all! One of my all time favourites, amazing composition, beautiful picturization and lovely Waheeda.

2.  Zara nazron se kehdo ji (Bees Saal Baad, 1962) : What expressions! The gait with which she walks, the faces she makes, the way she leans against a tree branch chewing the sugarcane, the way she gets up after falling down from the swing (again, the first thing she does is to pick up the sugarcane!), her smile, her attitude, her innocence – an ‘ada’ of her own.  There’s something very very cute about this song.  Everytime I hear this song (which is almost everyday), I have a broad smile on my face, esp  when ‘Yeh bholapan tumhara, yeh shararat aur yeh shaukhee, zaroorat kya tumhe talwar ki, teeron ki, khanjar ki…nazar bhar ke jise tum dekhlo woh khud hi mar jaye’ comes. And last but not the least what an amazing usage of the prop – sugarcane!!!

3.  Khuda bhi aasman se jab (Dharti, 1970) : Should I say everything about this song is heavenly? (except for Rajendra Kumar’s shirt ;-)) Great poetry, fabulous rendition and ever”green” Waheeda.

4. Na tum hamen jaano (Baat Ek raat Ki, 1962) : Both Hemant da’s (Naa tum hamen jaano) and Suman Kalyanpur’s version of this song are great. I chose Sumanji’s rendition here because Waheeda looks better in this one. I had actually thought of making a list of ten songs in male voice, but couldn’t help including this  one.

5. Kaanton se kheench ke yeh aanchal (Guide, 1965) : My dad used to watch Rangoli on DD when I was a kid. And I always used to get confused as to who is who…esp the actresses – back then, they all looked the same to me. This song was pretty popular and used to come very often. It was through this song that I started recognizing Waheeda. And it was this song that led me to watch this movie.  I love Piya tose naina lage re as well,  but Kaanton se kheench ke yeh aanchal holds a more special place in my heart.

5. Paan khaye sainyaan hamaro (Teesri Kasam, 1966) :  I’ve always liked this song – it’s so simple and so sweet. And post dustedoff’s comment, I think of this song as a dessert in the ‘musical menu’ of bollywood songs.

6. Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi (Mujhe Jeene Do, 1963) : This  is such an expressive performance…simple and yet sensuous.  Beautiful, in every way – lyrics, music, Lataji’s voice and Waheedaji’s grace.

7.  Bhanwra bada naadaan hai (Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam, 1962) :  Simply love the way Waheeda scratches her head and sticks her tongue out. 🙂 Very innocently picturised and it’s its simplicity that adds to it beauty.

8.  Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam (Kaagaz ke Phool, 1959) : This is such a hauntingly melodious song – so beautifully sung and portrayed.

9. Jaane kya tune kahi (Pyaasa, 1957) : She looks so young and so pretty in this song. Terrific combo of Geeta Dutt’s voice and Waheeda’s screen presence.

10.  Kahin pe nigahen kahin pe nishaana (C.I.D, 1956) : Innocence and beauty personified, though her role has a grey shade in the movie, not all that innocent.

Like I said earlier, I had initially thought of listing all 10 songs in male voice but suddenly thought of Guide and all the other songs just followed. There’s quite a lot I want to write but am too tied up with work at the moment. Lots of things to be added and updated here but I want to publish this post before the day ends.  So, will update it as and when I get time.

The original list had –  Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi,   Yeh nayan dare dare , Apni toh har aah, Phoolon ke rang se, Parbaton ke pedon par (she shares the screen with her husband),  Gaata rahe mera dil (one of the most popular duets featuring Waheeda).

It wasn’t possible to include all her songs here and I know I have missed quite a lot of her popular songs.

Tags: Aasha Bhosle, Apni toh har aah, Baat Ek Raat Ki, Bees Saal Baad, Bhanwra bada naadaan hai, Biswajeet, C.I.D, Chaudhvin ka Chand, Dev Anand, Dharti, Gaata rahe mera dil, Geeta Dutt, Guide, Guru Dutt, Happy BIrthday Waheeda Rehman, Jaane kya tune kahi, Kaanton se khinchke yeh aanchal, Kahin pe nigahen, Kala Bazaar, Kanwaljeet, Khamoshi, Khuda bhi aasma se jab, Kohra, Lata Mangeshkar, Mujhe Jeene Do, Na Tum Humen Jaano, Paan khaye saiyaan hamaro, Parbaton ke pedon par, Phoolon ke rang se, Prem Pujari, Pyaasa, Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi, RAjendra Kumar, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam, Shagun, Teesri Kasam, Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam, Woh shaam kuch ajeeb tha, Yeh Nayan Dare Dare, Zara nazaron se kehdo ji