Pradeep Kumar Songs from 1963 to 1967

This is the last installment of my posts on Pradeep Kumar songs. Here and Here are the first and second posts. Pradeep Kumar was an average actor. He bordered on overweight pretty early in his career. Maybe for a few years after his debut he looked slim and handsome. He looked very very handsome in Adl-e-Jahangir (1955), which was one of his earliest pairing with Meena Kumari. They look gorgeous in this movie. But he soon ran to fat and became a little jowly as well. Yet he had amassed a reputation as an actor who played Royalty with a flair. To be fair, he spoke well. There was hardly any trace of Bengali accent in his declamations. What I find particularly engaging is the way he fitted right in with excellent actors in movies. Here I am looking at some of his famous movies with Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari. Now Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari were formidable actors. I am glad that Pradeep Kumar never let that rattle him and soldiered on, doing what he could.

He worked in movies for a long long time, up until 1998 he was appearing in movies in short roles. He died three years later in 2001. I believe firmly that his longevity was due to adapting seamlessly to changing times. In 1967 he appeared in Bahu Begam with Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar as the lead actor. In 1969 we saw him in Sambandh as a down-on-his-luck landlord, father of the lead actor Deb Mukherjee.  This started the second innings of his career, playing various character roles. He did not rest on his laurels or fade away.

I covered songs sung onscreen by Pradeep Kumar up to the year 1963 but missed listing a song from the movie Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai. This was the last movie Geeta Bali ever acted in and it would be criminal not to list a song from this film.

1. Chand tale jhoom jhoom (Jab se tumhe dekha hai - 1963)

 I have noticed that Pradeep Kumar acted alongside many different leading actresses. Here he was paired with Geeta Bali. It has some melodious songs like Ham aapki mehfil me sanam bhule se chale aaye and Yeh din din hain khushi ke. They were often played on the radio during the 1960s and 1970s.

This song, less heard, is no less catchy. It seems to be a stage performance with a couple of watchers acting creepy. Pradeep Kumar jumps on the stage in disguise and sings with Geeta Bali. He takes care not to be seen by the girl he is dancing with.

 I picked this song as it was sung by Subir Sen.

2. Chha gaye badal neel gagan par (Chitralekha - 1964)

This was one of the weakest films in the few that the trio - Meena, Ashok and Pradeep acted in. The story was good but it wasn't properly translated into cinema. The face off between the lead actors was weak.

The music was sublime, thanks to the deadly combination of Roshan and Sahir. The lyrics are in pure Hindi as opposed to Urdu that Sahir usually wrote in. Yet he comes up trumps. I could have chosen any of the wonderful songs but this one is a particular favorite of mine, it is so romantic.

You can see that Pradeep and Meena were beginning to show their age, yet Meena Kumari is able to emote with grace while our Pradeep Kumar carries on bravely.

3. Kya jawan raat hai baharon ki (Sindbad, Sindbad and Aladin - 1965)

You can see how un-choosy Pradeep Kumar was. Chitralekha was a period film made by Kidar Sharma, here he happily stars in a fantasy action with Meenu Mumtaz as his heroine.

He dons harem pants with ease and sings and dances with Meenu Mumtaz. Luckily for us, he leaves the twirling to Meenu Mumtaz and contents himself with looking deeply into the girl's eyes and looking romantic.

The music of this movie was a far cry from the classy music of the 50s Pradeep Kumar's early period. Yet it was catchy and hummable.


4. Dil laga kar ham ye samjhe  (Zindagi aur Maut - 1965)

Fans of B-grade cinema know the name of N.A. Ansari well enough.  Pradeep Kumar worked in two films of his. This one and Wahan Ke Log.

In this movie he co-starred with a newcomer, Faryal. Beautiful, statuesque Faryal would soon be relegated to being a dancer in film. But here she got to sing and dance with our own Pradeep Kumar in this lovely number.


5. Itna to keh do hamse (Saheli - 1965)

Right in the middle of the 1960s, under the baton of newbies Kalyanji Anandji comes this gorgeous romantic number in the dulcet voices of Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.

This beautiful song took me back to the lovely songs Pradeep Kumar lip synched to early on in his career. He is paired here with the beautiful Kalpana.

6. Jaane wo kaun hai (Bheegi Raat - 1965)

1965 was a good year for Pradeep Kumar, going by the number of films that released that year. Bheegi Raat raat was another triangular contest between Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Meena Kumari. Music by Roshan lifts the movie several notches above average. The story was not too bad and well executed. Too bad that the actors were rather long in the tooth and did not look at their best.

I was hard pressed to choose a song among the beauties on offer. There are some lovely duets, the memorable Dil jo na keh saka. I chose this for the beautiful lyrics, with a bow to the maestro Majrooh.


7. Milti hai agar nazron se nazar (Do dilon ki dastaan - 1966)

Back to Vyjayantimala. The movie seems pretty obscure as there is no information about it anywhere, there are no videos of the songs or the movie on YouTube.

The music is by O.P. Nayyar and refreshingly lovely. Too bad I cannot see Pradeep Kumar in a sweater (paunch hiding tactics?) walking behind Vyjayantimala with love lorn eyes.






8. Chand kitni door tha  (Afsana - 1966)

An Ashok Kumar pairing with Pradeep Kumar, sans Meena Kumari. But here Ashok Kumar has bowed out of the courting game and is content to support Pradeep Kumar.

In this nice number, Pradeep Kumar serenades his new bride Padmini. He is in his romantic element, sherwani and wig in place while Padmini poses around decked to the gills.

The song suffers a bit in comparison to the other greats in the list, yet it is not too bad on the ears.


9. Phool sa chehra (Raat aur Din - 1967)

This was the last movie Nargis ever made. Again Pradeep Kumar is pitted against an awesome talent. He plays the husband of Nargis who is surprised to find that his wife has a life he is completely unaware of.

How good this song is, no less than the lovely Awara e mere dil and raat aur din diya jale.


10. Aap jab se qareeb aaye hain (Noorjehan - 1967)

This movie has Pradeep Kumar with Meena Kumari sans Ashok Kumar. Sheikh Mukhtar played Sher Khan. It did have Roshan bringing in his trademark lovely music with lyrics by Shakeel. There are gorgeous solos by Suman Kalyanpur and Lata, Sharabi Sharabi ye sawan ka mausam and Raat ki mehfil sooni sooni (which I think was not used in the movie, such a waste!)

This duet filmed on Pradeep Kumar and Meena is lovely, a soulful ghazal.




11. Arz e shauq ankhon me hai (Bahu Begum - 1967)

The grand finale of the Ashok - Pradeep - Meena films was the last one where (as far as I know) Ashok Kumar also played a lead role, that is, a contender to the affections of the female lead. I could write reams about this movie and probably will do soon. Here we are primarily discussing songs that featured Pradeep Kumar. This was his last male lead role too. After this he took on only character roles.

The scintillating music was composed by Roshan, with lyrics by Sahir. Together they turned out a gem of twin qawwalis. This was the first installment and more romantic than the second one. It was addressed to Allah and sung in a dargah. The lyrics also apply to the feelings of a young couple deeply in love. Meena and Pradeep Kumar look soulfully at each other, promising undying love through the eyes.

This brings my post on Pradeep Kumar to an end. Many of the movies he worked in were indifferent and would have passed into anonymity if not for the gorgeous songs. Quite a few of his films were flops. I feel he was a genial person which is why so many different heroines agreed to work for him and so many filmmakers took him into their projects.  And of course, these gorgeous songs of that era keep bringing him back to us.

Pradeep Kumar Songs from 1960 to 1963

I have taken a long time to return to some more good songs picturised on Pradeep Kumar.  My first post was full of songs by Hemant Kumar, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh and Rafi from the 50s.

In this post, I go to the 60s which had some really very good songs picturised on Pradeep Kumar.  To reiterate, he is not my favorite actor.  He was very adequate, I feel the word really fits him.  He played a solid middle- class man who looked dependable.  He even played a Nawab or a Prince very well.  He looked handsome enough (in a solid sort of a way). His dialogue delivery was adequate.

He was lucky to have worked in an era where the story was the king.   It was the songs that were the crowning glory of the movie experience.  A line up of good songs could make or break a film.  Even now, after five decades, the movies have achieved immortality because of the songs.

As I did in the earlier post, I am working through Pradeep Kumar's filmography on IMDB and picking songs that I like best.

Yeh Rang bhare badal from Tu Nahi Aur Sahi (1960)

The music is by Ravi and the lyrics by Asad Bhopali. The singers are Asha and Rafi.

The movie was kind of odd.  Usually, the heroines get cautioned that their lives could be spoiled forever if they did not choose a good boyfriend.  In this movie, it is the hero whose life is 'spoiled' horribly because he chooses to trust a wayward girl.

The movie was borderline tolerable but had good songs.  I love this carefree song picturised on Pradeep Kumar and Nishi as they are eloping.



Yeh Mausam Rangeen Sama from Modern Girl (1961)

Now this is exactly the kind of a song that will never let Pradeep Kumar fade from our memory.  It is a swinging song that makes you want to dance the minute you hear.  The flirty hero (Pradeep Kumar) is complemented perfectly by the coy yet acquiescing heroine (Saeda Khan).

The music is by Ravi and the lyrics by Rajinder Krishan.  The song is sung by Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur.


Hai Zindagi kitni Haseen from Apsara (1961)

The movie seems to have been a mythological fantasy if we look at the poster.  The heroine is supposed to be Padmini.  She does not look like one of the Travancore sisters.  Or maybe the poster is not very good.

This song has no video, so I can only guess it was picturised on Pradeep Kumar.

The song is written by Qamar Jalalabadi and music provided by Husnlal Bhagatram, sung by Talat and Asha.

A lovely song.


Ik Manzil rahi do phir pyar na kaise ho  from Sanjog (1961)

With Madan Mohan's line up of lovely songs, it was hard to pick one.  I chose this peppy duet as it is one of the few happy songs from the film.

The movie was quite a weepy one.  Poor Anita Guha is run through a wringer emotionally.

The music was by Madan Mohan, lyrics by Rajinder Krishan.  You can enjoy all the songs of the film here.


Saaze dil chhed de from Passport (1961)

This song was famously referenced in Jawani Diwani which came out in 1972.  The song was used while a bunch of youngsters were playing antakshari.  The youngsters claim that the song was made up, which prompts the hero to start an original song 'Agar Saaz chheda tarane banenge'.

This made me aware of the original sweet song.  It is so romantic with lovely lyrics. Which were by Farooq Kaiser and music by Kalyanji Anandji.  Sung by Lata and Rafi. Madhubala and Pradeep Kumar cavort blissfully in a garden. Ah, sweet love.



Saiyan chhod de baiyan  from Rakhi (1962)

 Again our Pradeep Kumar is in a garden chasing a pretty Waheeda.  He is quite determined to hold on to her wrist while she demurs demurely.

Another lovely song that reminds us of the wonderful music of the era. The lyrics are by Rajindra Krishan and music by Ravi.  Sung by Lata and Mukesh.

The title of the film suggests that the dominating emotion here was love between a brother (Ashok Kumar) and sister (Waheeda). Poor Pradeep Kumar was just the consort, methinks.



Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya   From Aarti (1962)

Aarti was the second movie starring Pradeep Kumar and Meena Kumari.  There were a good number of films (four I think, Aarti, Chitralekha, Bheegi Raat and Bahu Begam) where  Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, and Meena Kumari were in a romantic triangle.

This movie had lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri and music by Roshan.  And it was so good, all the songs are winners.

There is a flirty song in the film - baar baar tohe kya samjhaye - but it is not filmed on the couple, hence I chose this rather moody song sung by Rafi and Lata.


Yeh Kisne Geet Chheda  from Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963)

The movie was a bit like The Phantom of the Opera.  The main protagonist was Ashok Kumar, the older son who is shunned because he is ugly.  He falls for pretty Asha Parekh who is not disgusted by him.  But she is in love with Pradeep Kumar already and cannot reciprocate.

This song is written by Shailendra and set to music by SD Burman.  It takes me away to another place altogether when I hear it.  It is sung by Suman and Mukesh.



Milte hi nazar unse ham ho gaye diwane from Ustadon ke Ustad

This was a crime thriller which starred Sheikh Mukhtiar, Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Shakila.  I saw it quite a while back, as far as I remember, I was not bored.

I was really hard pressed between this song and Sau Baar Janam Lenge which is so haunting.

The music is by Ravi, lyrics by Asad Bhopali.  The qawwali is sung by Manna Dey, Asha and Rafi.  It is picturised on Sheikh Mukhtiar, Pradeep Kumar and famous Qawwal Shakila Bano Bhopali.



Paon choo lene do phoolon ko inayat hogi  from Taj Mahal (1963)

This was a lavish film about the great love between Khurram and Arjumand.  This is no legend, these people really did exist and there seems to be ample evidence that the couple was very fond of each other.

The lovely Bina Rai played Arjumand, later known as Mumtaz Mahal.  Pradeep Kumar stepped into the shoes of Shah Jahan.

The movie has a line up of memorable songs, a big achievement by Roshan.  The lyrics were by Sahir.  Among all the songs of the movies, I had no trouble picking this intensely romantic number.


I have completed 10 songs, each from a different film and yet reached only 1963 in Pradeep Kumar's filmography.  I will cover the next four years, until 1967 in the next post.  After 1967, Pradeep Kumar was playing mostly character roles, also, the standard of songs was going down.

Some good Pradeep Kumar songs.

Pradeep Kumar (1925-2001) was a film actor who worked in hindi films from 1952 to 1984.  His filmography looks like he accepted almost any film that came his way.  For instance, in 1965, he worked in Bheegi Raat (co-starring Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar), and also Zindagi aur Maut (co-starring Faryal).

In 1967, he starred alongside Nargis in Raat aur Din.  In the same year, he also worked in Wahan Ke Log with Tanuja.  He was a hero in both these films, and looks quite fit and fine to me.  Yet, a year later, in 1968, he was playing Deb Mukherjee's father in Sambandh.

Pradeep Kumar's name does not come up when you are recounting the best actors of Hindi films.  However, if you are browsing through YouTube videos of songs you love listening to, you are bound to run into Pradeep Kumar a lot more often.  Therefore, as a tribute to this ubiquitous actor (on YouTube at least) I am presenting here under 10 songs of Pradeep Kumar that I like a lot.

I won't call these songs his best.  Listing best songs of any actor is a pressure I cannot live up to.  Hence, some very good songs that feature Pradeep Kumar, here goes:

1. Vande Mataram from Anand Math

This song never fails to give me goosebumps.  The original Vande Mataram.  I like the Lata version equally well.  This was the debut film, in Hindi, of Pradeep Kumar.  Prior to this, he worked in some Bengali movies. The lyrics are by Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the music is by Hemant Kumar.

2. Ae meri zindagi tujhe dhondoon kahan from Adil-e-Jahangir

Meena Kumari paired up with Pradeep Kumar in quite a number of films (7 films according to Wikipedia). This was their first film together.  This song is sung twice, once in the voice of Talat Mehmood and next in the voice of Lata.  Enjoy them both.  The link contains both the songs back to back.  The music is by Husnlal Bhagatram and the lyrics are by Qamar Jalalabadi. 

3.  Aree Chhod de sajaniya, chhod de patang meri chhod de from Nagin

Nagin was one of the earliest Hindi films that Vyjayantimala worked in.  It had music by Hemant Kumar which was a super duper hit.  I don't think there walks a lover of Hindi film music on this earth who has not listened to a song of this film.  Of all the songs, I love this lilting tune best.  The song is sung by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.

4. Gaya Andhera hua ujala from Subah ka Tara

In this movie, Pradeep Kumar pairs up with Jayashree Gadkar. It is a duet once again with Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar.  The music is by C Ramachandra and the lyrics are by Noor Lakhnawi.  I have no idea what the film was about, but the music is divine.

5. Aa Neele Gagan Tale Pyar Hum Karen from Badshah

This is another Pradeep Kumar song that makes me go weak in the knees.  What lovely music by Shanker Jaikishen.  I would surely pick this song as one of the most romantic Hindi film songs.  In this movie, according to the poster, Pradeep Kumar stars with Mala Sinha.  There is no video of the song.  This film also has that beautiful Hemant Kumar number - Rula kar chal diye ik din. The lyrics of the songs are by Hasrat Jaipuri.  

6. Aaye Bahar Ban Ke Lubha Kar Chale Gaye from Raj Hath

This is another gorgeous Shankar Jaikishen number with lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri.  This song is sung by Rafi. In Raj Hath, Pradeep Kumar co-starred with Madhubala and Sohrab Modi.  The movie has other beautiful songs such as, Yeh wada karo chand ke saamne, and Mere sapne me aana re.

7. Yeh Hansta Hua Karvaan Zindagi ka from Ek Jhalak

Pradeep Kumar starred alongside Vyjayantimala in this film.  Listen to this captivating song sung by Hemant Kumar and Asha Bhonsle.  The music is by Hemant Kumar and the song is written by S.H.Bihari. What a lovely song.

8. Zameen se Hame Aasmaan par  from Adalat

This movie has a line up of lovely songs.  Not a surprise, as the music was by Madan Mohan. The lyrics are by Rajinder Krishan.  I tried using an adjective before the word "lyrics" in the previous sentence, but could not come up with the appropriate word to describe how good they are.  In this movie, Pradeep Kumar stars alongside Nargis. 

9.  Mujko Tum Jo Mile Ye Jahan Mil Gaya - from Detective

In Detective, Pradeep Kumar stars once again with Mala Sinha.  The song is sung by Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt.  The music is by Mukul Roy and the lyricist is Shalendra.  What a beautiful song. My heart goes pitter patter when I listen to this.

10.  Tum Chal Rahe Ho Ham Chal Rahe Hain from Duniya Na Maane

Another beauty from the musical repertoire of Madan Mohan with lyrics by Rajinder Krishan.  The song is sung by Mukesh and Lata.  Pradeep Kumar was paired in this film with Mala Sinha once more.

I was going down chronologically through the filmography of Pradeep Kumar and picking the songs I liked best.  But I realised that there are many more beautiful songs of his to be listed.  Rather than make a long list, I decided to split the post into two.  These songs are from the films released in the 50s.  There are many films with excellent songs featuring Pradeep Kumar from the 60s as well.  Coming up ... Some good Pradeep Kumar songs II.