As Banjo’s release gets closer, we look back at songs where street musicians aced their stuff
Chup chup khade ho
Film: Badi Behen (1949)
Music: Husnlal Bhagatram
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar and Premlata
Suraiya and Rehman are the reluctant lovers in this song where the street singers talk about the first flush of love and bring out the inner feelings of two people who have found instant attraction. The song hasn’t lost its appeal even after all these years.
Kabhi aar kabhi paar
Film: Aar Paar (1954)
Music: OP Nayyar
Singer: Shamshad Begum
A group of street urchins start this song, which is picked up by women working in the highrise opposite where Guru Dutt is seen repairing a car. There are definite sparks between him and Shyama but both are loath to say it loud. Thankfully, the people around them help bring it out.
Leke pehla pehla pyar
Film: CID (1956)
Music: OP Nayyar
Singers: Mohammed Rafi and Shamshad Begum
It’s one of those evergreen songs that make a home in your heart forever. The film has two street singers following the lead pair Dev Anand and Shakila as they take a walk by the seaside. She’s upset with him about something and the song helps soothes the nerves.
Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya
Film: Phagun (1958)
Music: OP Nayyar
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Madhubala and Bharat Bhushan play lovers in this song. She’s all excited by the tune played by a street musician in the village fair and to her surprise it turns out to be her lover in disguise. We can’t get over the sight of Bharat Bhushan in a gypsy avatar, though Madhubala looks as ethereal as ever.
Jhumka gira re
Mera Saya (1966)
Music : Madan Mohan
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Sadhana plays a street entertainer in the song. Her hidden agenda, however is to mesmerise the audience so that her fellow gang members can either pick their pockets outright or mark them for looting later. It’s a cracking innuendo-filled song that makes you hit the repeat button even now.
Deewane hai deewanon ko
Film: Zanjeer (1973)
Music: Kalyanji Anandji
Singers: Mohammed Rafi,Lata Mangeshkar
Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri watch street singers plying their trade from Amitabh’s flat and find out that the couple dancing on the streets is actually playing their song and bringing out what they are feeling for each other. Interestingly, Gulshan Bawra, who wrote the lyrics, featured as the singer in the song along with dancer Sanjana.