Bollywood's unforgettable monsoon melodies

It’s rush hour. And it’s pouring outside. It’s going to be a very long drive. But with the right music with you, the long ride home may well be the time you needed to let your spirits soar after a long hard day’s work. The monsoon’s just hit home. All you need is a rain-special DVD with all your favourite rain songs in it. Rain songs aren’t songs that are just picturised in rain.It can be songs that sets the mood for a rainy evening. Here are some unforgettable tunes made to be heard in the monsoon. While you list your on favourites, here are a few choices to get you going:
Choti si kahaani se (Ijaazat): The opening credits of this 1988 film is as much remembered for its visual of the rain-bathed mountains as for the beautiful song rendered by Asha Bhonsle. Even before the movie began legendary lyricist-director Gulzar set the tone of this beautiful romance—melancholy yet full of life.
Jaa ne do na (Saagar): It’s not raining when this song is picturised in the film. But Dimple Kapadia in a wet red saree romanced by Rishi Kapoor near the swimming pool sets temperatures soaring. Even as it pours buckets outside the car window, let your imagination run riot. Roll down the windows for a while and feel the rain as Asha Bhonsle sings dil jaise karvate badalta hai, mera toh saara tan jalta hai...
Bheegi bheegi raaton mein (Ajnabee): Picturised in the 1974 film on Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman as they are soaking wet romancing one another. Musician Leslie Lewis came out with a remixed version in the late 1990s which was also quite a hit. Keep the one you prefer.
Kaante Nahin Katte (Mr India): There are some songs that come to your mind as soon as you think of rain. Sridevi’s blue saree, blue bindi, her matkas, jhatkas, and the a certain invisible man — rain songs do not get any more perfect than in this Shekhar Kapoor’s super-hit film. Listen to the magic of Kishore Kumar and Alisha Chinoy.
Rim Jhim Gire Saawan (Manzil): There are two versions of this song. One by Kishore Kumar, picturised on Amitabh Bachchan. The other by Lata Mnageshkar, picturised both on Amitabh and Moushumi as they play lovers soaking in the first Mumbai monsoon rains. My suggestion: Keep both versions.
Lagi aaaj Saawan ki (Chandni): You have not one but two top heroines of the 1990s — Sridevi and Juhi Chawla — dancing in the rain as Vinod Khanna lip syncs to Suresh Wadkar’s voice. One of Yash Chopra’s biggest romantic hits this song has it all: a sad tune, rain, beautiful heroines dancing to a beautiful song, and a love story.
Tip tip barsa paani (Mohra): There’s something about Raveena Tandon in that soaking wet yellow saree, on a spiral staircase, singing tip, tip barsa paani, paani ne aag lagayi. This is the Mast-Mast girl’s first box office hit. Need we say why? The song’s sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik.
Pyaar hua ikraar hua (Shree 420): One of the most unforgettable shots of Raj Kapoor and Nargis in the rain, this song by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar is a must-listen in a list of rain songs. No rain song list will be complete without this gem.
Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakhm): The magic of Rafi, romance and rain can be quite heady. Picturised on Navin Nischal and Priya Rajvanshi, this 1970’s film was known for this song. Mumbai is captured beautifully in the rains during the evening. This song is one of those lasting memories of Mumbai even for the ones who have never set foot in this town.
Pani Pani re khare pani re (Maachis): Another gem directed by Gulzar on the 1984 riots. Vishal Bharadwaj’s music creates magic along with Lata Mangeshkar’s voice singing Pani pani re khaare paani re, nainon mein bhar jaaye, neendein khaali kar jaaye.
Saawan Barse Tarse Dil (Dahek):Barkha mein bhi dil pyaasa hai, yeh pyaar nahin toh kya hai… cannot be a better description of a lover’s mood in the rains. Watch it for Akshaye Khanna and Sonali Bendre playing the perfect first-time lovers facing all odds just to meet each other while the first rain hits Mumbai. Sung by Hariharan and Sadhna Sargam.
Aaaj rapat jaaye (Namak Halal): It’s an unforgettable scene. Amitabh Bachchan and Smita Patil declaring their love for one another just as it starts pouring. This song tops all the other rain songs, that were ubiquitous in the 1980s. Romance doesn’t get more playful and naughty than Kishore Kumar.
Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi): Who could imagine a garage scene becoming a lasting impression of romance between two screen legends? But when Kishore Kumar’s voice and antics met an impish Madhubala, magic was bound to happen.
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