Salil Chowdhary, the ace composer once remarked about his lifelong friend and colleague that if God had a voice, he would have sung like Hemant Kumar. We couldn’t help but agree. On his death anniversary we present a list of songs where his voice worked its magic
Ye raat yeh chandni fir kahan
Jaal (1952)
Music: SD Burman
You see Dev Anand in full singing cowboy mode, all dapper and with a guitar in his hand, trying to convince Geeta Bali that being in love with him wasn’t such a bad thing.
Jaag dard-e-ishq jaag
Anarkali (1953)
Music: C. Ramchandra
Okay, so he was giving voice to Tansen’s character in the film and all we can say is that he did full justice to the myth of Tansen.
O zindagi ke denewale
Nagin (1954)
Music: Hemant Kumar
It’s a dirge picturised on Pradeep Kumar, where he laments over his lost love. Hemant’s voice lent itself to sad songs automatically and this one never fails to move you.
Dekho woh chand chup kar
Shart (1954)
Music: Hemant Kumar
This evergreen romantic duet sung by Hemant and Lata Mangeshkar was shot on little known actor Deepak and Shyama and is typical of the songs of the era which said it all without showing any physical intimacy.
Jaane woh kaise log they jinke pyar ko pyar mila
Pyaasa (1957)
Music: SD Burman
The poet Vijay, silhouetted against a cupboard full of books, singing these immortal lines about the frugality of love would is one of those images that after seeing once you remember forever.
Hai apna dil toh awara
Solva Saal (1958)
Music: SD Burman
A debonair Dev Anand sees Waheeda Rehman in the general compartment of a local train and sparks fly. What more can you want from a song. Hemant captured the flirty overtures perfectly in his dulcet voice.
Beqarar karke hamein
Bees Saal Baad (1962)
Music: Hemant Kumar
It’s one of those frothy songs that instantly lift your spirits. Waheeda Rehman looked ethereal and you couldn’t help but fall in love with her. Biswajeet looked suitably dapper as well.
Ye nayan dare dare
Kohra (1964)
Music: Hemant Kumar
Biswajeet and Waheeda enthral us again in this melodious song about how love stands steadfast through every thick and thin. The visuals don’t do justice to the haunting quality of the composition.
Chupa lo yun dil mein pyar mera
Mamta (1966)
Music: Roshan
A sublime Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar duet which sounds like a bhajan. Perhaps Roshan’s finest composition ever. They don’t make songs like these anymore.
Tumhara intezar hai
Khamoshi (1969)
Music: Hemant Kumar
A song about that essays desire; longing and the pain of separation at one go. We only get to see Dharmendra’s back in it and Waheeda Rehman’s tear-filled face but what an impact these two divergent images make. And Hemant’s voice make it all more poignant.
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