Rajesh Khanna: Music made him the superstar he was

Ever since Rajesh Khanna uttered the words - Zindagi aur maut uparwaale ke haath hain, jahaanpanaah — in Anand in 1971, one got a sense of what Indian cinema’s first superstar would be remembered by.
That, and his uncanny ability to make women swoon with a romantic Kishore Kumar number on his lips.
Khanna first charmed his way into the hearts of millions with the eminently melodious Mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu from Aradhana (1969).Although he had done a few films — Aakhri Khat (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967) and Aurat (1967) — that song and Roop tera mastana was a turning point. With Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor past the prime of their youth, Khanna’s boyish looks had a refreshing, seductive appeal. It was as if he lent himself to great music; lyrics somehow sounded more sensual, more mischievous when he delivered them.
Aradhana’s success brought together a combination of musical talent that, spurred by the effect Khanna had on the female of the species, took him to the zenith of superstardom. With SD Burman having taken ill during the film, his son, Rahul Dev, had taken over the reins. And with Anand Bakshi’s lyrics far more magical than he ever got credit for, Burman junior struck the right note when he invited Kishore Kumar to be Khanna’s singing voice.
The troika of RD-Kishore-Bakshi went on to deliver hit after hit in films such as Kati Patang (1971), Amar Prem (1972), Namak Haraam (1973) and Aap Ki Kasam (1974). Just as Salim-Javed deserve every ounce of credit for creating Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man avatar, it is hard to argue against the role played by RD, Kishore and Bakshi in creating Khanna’s image as the eternal, sometimes hapless romantic, with songs such as Yeh jo mohabbat hai, Chingari koi bhadke and Suno kaha, kaha suna.
It wasn’t that heroes before Rajesh Khanna didn’t have successful romantic numbers to go with their films. Dev Anand, who died last year, starred in some of the greatest love songs of all time. But Dev Anand is remembered for the all-round quality of his soundtracks. He could be anything from a vagabond (Teri duniya mein jeene se, House No. 44) to a zany reveller (Dene waala jab bhi deta, Funtoosh) to a profound philosopher (Main zindagi ka saath, Hum Dono). In contrast, Khanna defined the romantic genre, and the romantic genre alone, to a point where he became inseparable from songs such as O mere dil ke chain (Mere Jeevan Saathi, 1972) or Mere dil mein aaj kya hai (Daag, 1973).
It is easy to not look beyond these mushy, frothy songs. But there was another side, the one where his peppy histrionics went with yodeling numbers such as Zindagi ek safar hai suhana (Andaaz, 1971) and Jai Jai Shiv Shankar (Aap Ki Kasam). And yet another, where Khanna morosely moved you to tears with memories of lost love. Songs such as the emotive Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye, the cathartic Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaatey hain jo maqaam, and this one from Safar:
Zindagi ko bahut pyaar humne kiya, Maut se bhi mohabbat nibhaayengey hum Rotey rotey zamaaney mein aaye magar Hastey hastey zamaaney se jaayengey hum Jaayengey par kidhar, hai kisey ye khabar Koi samjha nahin, koi jaana nahin
(Akshay Manwani’s biography of poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi will be published by Harper-Collins in 2013. He tweets at @AkshayManwani)
Mere Sapno Ki Rani (Aradhana )Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai (Kati Patang )O Mere Dil Ke Chain (Mere Jeevan Saathi )Jai Jai Shiv Shankar (Aap Ki Kasam )Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye (Anand )Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (Amar Prem)Yeh Shaam Mastani (Kati Patang )Kora Kagaz (Aradhana )
Maine Tere Liye (Anand )Zindagi Ek Safar (Andaaz )Chingari Koi Bhadke (Amar Prem) Roop Tera Mastana (Aradhana )Duniya Mein Logon Ko (Apna Desh )Achcha Toh Hum Chalte Hain (Aan Milo Sajna )Zindaki Ka Safar (Safar )Nadiya Sey Dariya (Namak Haram )Chala Jaata Hoon (Mere Jeevan Saathi )Mere Naina Saawan Bhado (Mehbooba )Yeh Kya Hua, Kaise Hua (Amar Prem )Main Shayar Badnaam (Namak Haram )Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi (Khamoshi )Aate Jaate Khoobsurat (Anurodh )Diye Jalte Hain (Namak Haram )Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai (Kati Patang)
Listen to Rajesh Khanna's evergreen hits