Music : O.P.Nayyar
Lyrics : Majrooh Sultanpuri
It seems to me that the music of Aar Paar was written to showcase Geeta Dutt’s sultry voice. There are three duets but no male solos at all. I offer my two bits on the songs as listed on Music India Online . The order does not follow the one in the film.
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Shamshad Begum sings Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar, the title song, a light hearted and melodious track. Listen to the lyrics, they are very well written. The song is delightful, both playful and wistful at the same time.
- Hoon Abhi Jawan, by Geeta Dutt, has great instrumentals at the start with an Arabic sound. But the rest of the song doesn’t make an impression on me.
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Sun Sun Sun Zalima is a hummable duet by Geeta and Mohammad Rafi. Geeta’s voice is perfect for the ada needed and Rafi sounds very good. Ok song.
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Ja Ja Ja Ja Bewafa is a slow, sad and melodious song by Geeta. It has a gentle appeal but does it have longevity in our memories? I think not.
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Geeta croons Babuji Dheere Chalna, a smoky and sensuous number. The action is set in a nightclub, and the song is perfect for that, as it is for Geeta’s voice.
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Ye Lo Main Hari Piya is another great song, the melody of which sticks easily in one’s mind. Geeta Dutt performs beautifully as usual.
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The duet Mohabbat Kar Lo Ji Bhar lo by Mohammad Rafi and Geeta Dutt does not appeal to me. Very pedestrian, in my opinion.
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Na Na Na Na Tauba, a duet by Geeta Dutt and Rafi is picturised on Johnny Walker; it’s a comical number. Rafi is excellent in mimicking Johnny’s style but I still don’t like this song.
Do you already have a favourite track? Vote below :
With three good tracks and a couple of ok ones, this album is worth a listen (or re-listen). I present my favourite song here. Check out the talented kids !
Kabhi Aar Kabhie Paar–Shamshad Begum
Music To My Ears 
We understand that for someone with a strong penchant for classical music , Geeta Dutt’s voice and the numbers sung in this album find it difficult to extract favourable support. May be you didn’t get to listen these songs often in childhood (they were old songs then too) so they have faded from the memory. I for one remember all these songs well and love to listen to them (exception being ‘Hoon abhi jawan’).
But Kanwal, you are mistaken if you think that the songs didn’t find favour with me – look at my blog again, I have given a score of ‘Big Smile’ for two of Geeta Dutt’s songs – Yeh Loh Main Hari Piya and Babuji Dheere Chalna ! I love them too! Of course I had heard them in my childhood and I am very fond of Geeta Dutt’s voice. I’ll be featuring more of her songs to be sure !
All delightful songs, but 56 years later must declare the top song to be ‘babuji dheere chalna’. I must confess that I’m sometimes confused between the Geeta and Asha voices … then I look for that sultry something that only Geeta had.
“Babuji Dheere Chalna, a smoky and sensuous number. The action is set in a nightclub, and the song is perfect . . ”
Well, I’m not surprised that there is one-before-me (S. Bhogle) who also liked it!
But, Suja, I’d like you to ‘feature’ a write-up on a particular song from the 1945 film “Meghdoot”. I’m referring to “O Varsha ke pahale baadal . . ” sung so melodiously by Jagmohan, with serene-softness of his voice and the accompanying musical instruments creating the right moods for the listener.
Perhaps, Jagmohan was the right one to lend voice to the ‘Yaksha’ of Kalidasa’s Megha Sandesham (Meghaduta) – telling the clouds “Dheere Chalna”!
I know that the monsoon clouds are close to three months away here in Goa, but, come monsoon-after-monsoon, the song gives me too fresh & full hopes of . . . !!
God Bless you.
Raj
Hi Raj,
I have not seen the film Meghdoot but your nice memories of it resound with me. Our minds make up these wonderful neural pathways of connections which bring forth one image after another, and so wonderfully, don’t you think? 🙂
Cheers. Suja
“Our minds make up these wonderful neural pathways of connections which bring forth one image after another, and so wonderfully,”
Suja, you are right!
While still on “Babuji Dheere Chalna . .” my uncontrollable Foot-Loose Memories remind me of the nice song composed & sung by by S.D. Burman – “Dheere se jaana Bhagiyaname . . ” and an that led to my remembering/recalling an intelligent adaptation of it – sung Kishore Kumar – “Dheere se jaana Khatiyaname . . .” from the film Chupa Rustum (1972)!
I too have not seen Meghdoot; nor have I seen Chupa Rustum. Why, I’ve not seen Aar Paar either!! But I’ve heard the songs long ago and am glad I recall them – thanks to “neural pathways of connections”.
Divines Bless you. (I don’t want the Blessings to come to you from God (male?) only!
Raj