Part I (2019 to 2022) of this post was published on 26 Mar 24 with the following introduction:
“In the year 2015, ten years ago, the love of my life, Lyn, started showing signs of losing her memory. On that year’s wedding anniversary, on 24 Mar 2015, I wrote Lyn and I – Scene By Scene and consolidated the story of our lives from our courtship days in the year 1979 until our marriage in Coimbatore on 24 Mar 1981, which led to our marriage by our parents on 12 Dec 1982. This story was up to date as on 24 Mar 2015, our 36th wedding anniversary.
We are, therefore, a couple who have two anniversaries of our wedding: one on 24 Mar 1981, and the second one on 12 Dec 1982 consecrated by our parents.
In Feb 2019, I took her to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) and they confirmed that she was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Moderate stage.
I made a ten-pointer programme to alleviate her condition and, if possible, to heal her. Music became an essential part of therapy for her. I didn’t know ABC of singing (though quite well-versed in music and songs). I tried to learn singing and make myself better.
The basic reason for my singing is to sing to Lyn. When she smiles, laughs, or gestures encouragingly, it is the biggest reward for me. I shall always sing for and to her.”
Here is then Part II (2022 to Mar 2025) of my songs to her on our two wedding anniversaries:
24 Mar 2023
Song #19
Dekha hai teri aankhon mein pyar hi pyar
This was the title song of the 1968 movie Pyar Hi Pyar starring Dharmendra and Vyjayanthimala.
It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.
Mohammad Rafi sang for Dharmendra.
Please enjoy: Dekha hai teri aankhon mein…
Song #20
Aye meri zohrajabeen
Many men younger than me have sung it as oldies singing to their wives. So, it was only apt that I should, too.
This song was composed by Ravi in Raag Pilu on the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi. It was sung by Manna Dey as playback for Balraj Sahni singing to his wife Achla Sachdev in a doston ki mehfil at home on their wedding anniversary.
It is from the first of the big multi-starrers in Hindi cinema, the 1965 movie Waqt.
Please enjoy: Aye meri zohrajabeen…
12 Dec 2023
Song #21
Aur kuchh der thehar
This is from superstar Rajesh Khanna‘s debut movie Aakhri Khat, a 1966 movie directed by Chetan Anand. He was offered this role in the movie after winning the All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare. Indrani Mukherjee acted opposite him.
Lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi and composition is that of Khaiyyam.
Of course, the original was sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Aur kuchh der thehar…
Song #22
Ae mussavir mere mehboob ki tasveer bana
This is a rare song of Mohammad Rafi.
Its lyrics are by Tajdar Taj and composition is that of Ratandeep Hemraj.
It is from the 1970 unreleased movie Insaan Aur Insaan.
Please enjoy: Ae mussavir mere mehboob ki tasveer bana…
Song #23
Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan andhera
In the condition in which she is, this is an inspirational song. Indeed, it is one of the most inspirational songs ever made. Both the Raag and Tal chosen by OP Nayyar are difficult: Raag Jogiya, Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
This was a beautiful 1958 Shaheed Latif movie Sone Ki Chidiya (penned by Ismat Chugtai who later wrote Garam Hawa). The movie is about Nutan who is an impoverished orphan. A relative’s family adopts her. Everyone in the family treats her like a servant. And then, she comes into money with her talent. Now, everyone treats her as a Sone Ki Chidiya. She wants to commit suicide being ill treated by the family both when she is poor and then when she becomes rich. Balraj Sahni inspires her with this song.
Once again, the original singer was Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan andhera…
Song #24
Hamko to jaan se pyaari hain tumhari aankhen
This song has lot of personal value for Lyn and I. It was shot in St Mark’s Square in Venice where Lyn’s first cousin held a special mass for her during our visit to Italy in 1983. I was sent there to accept an Electronic Warfare equipment for the Indian Navy and I took her with me on a shoe-string budget.
It is from the 1973 movie Naina based roughly on Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. It starred Shashi Kapoor, Maushmi Chatterjee and Rajshree.
Lyrics are by Hasrat Jaipuri, composition is by Shankar Jaikishan, and the original singing was by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Hamako to jaan se pyaari hain tumhari aankhen….
Song #25
Hum to mohabbat karega
Lyn is happiest when I sing comic or light-hearted songs to her. Here in this, I tried to be like Kishore Kumar who both enacted and sang this song, on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and composition of Ravi for the 1958 movie Dilli Ka Thug starring Kishore Kumar and Nutan. In the same movie, they have the immortal duet between them: Ye raaten ye mausam nadi ka kinaara ye chanchal hawa.
Please enjoy: Hum to mohabbat karega…
Song #26
Kisi raah mein kisi mod par
I am very fond of this Mukesh-Lata duet singing for Jeetendra and Sharmila Tagore in an open truck.
The song was penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Kalyanji Anandji in Raag Charukeshi.
It is the title song of the 1970 Dulal Guha movie Mere Humsafar.
Song #27
Tu jungle ki morni te main baagan da more
Another couple who had a lot of chemistry between them was Shashi Kapoor and Nanda. Indeed, Shashi Kapoor, in an interview, stated that Nanda was the best actress that he worked with.
This duet is from their 1969 movie Raja Saab. Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur sang for them. Both the lyrics by Anand Bakshi and the tune by Kalyanji Anandji have a Punjabi touch about it.
Please enjoy: Tu jungle ki morni te main baagan da more…
Song #28
Mohabbat hi na jo samajhe woh zalim pyar kya jaane?
I took this Talat Mahmood song from the 1952 V Shantaram movie Parchhain starring himself and his wife Jayshree.
Noor Lakhnavi penned the lyrics and C Ramchandra composed them.
I chose these lyrics to indicate her Alzheimer’s condition.
Please enjoy: Mohabbat hi na jo samajhe…
24 Mar 2024
Song #29
Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par
And now we have songs during the Birth Centenary Year of the greatest singer on earth: Mohammad Rafi.
It is a beautiful composition of Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Kalyan on the lyrics of Hasrat Jaipuri for the 1961 movie Junglee starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bano.
Please enjoy: Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par…
Song #30
Gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhin
Rajesh Khanna re-ushered the era of Kishore Kumar into Hindi movies. However, even he would have acknowledged that the songs Rafi saheb sang for him were classic, popular, and added to the success of the movies.
This was from the super-hit movie, the 1970 movie The Train starring Nanda opposite Rajesh Khanna.
Lyrics were by Anand Bakshi and composition was that of RD Burman.
Please enjoy: Gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhin…
Song #31
Is rang badalti duniya mein
This is from the 1964 movie Rajkumar with Shammi Kapoor in the title role opposite Sadhana.
This song scene had set many a heart of the viewers aflame.
It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.
Please enjoy: Is rang badalti duniya mein…
12 Dec 2024
Song #32
Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega
And here I am again with my favourite Raag Pahadi.
This won the lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi a Filmfare Award.
The composition is that of Roshan. The duet is between Mohammad Radi and Lata Mangeshkar.
It is from the 1963 movie Taj Mahal with Bina Rai as Mumtaz and Pradeep Kumar as Shahjehan.
Please enjoy: Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega…
Song #33
Tumhen dekha hai maine gulsitaan mein
Many a times you come across a Mohammad Rafi song that didn’t become as popular as others, but nevertheless with superb rendition, lyrics and composition.
This is one of them.
Lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and composition is that of RD Burman.
It is from the 1967 Ismail Memon movie Chandan Ka Palna starring Dharmendra and Meena Kumari.
Please enjoy: Tumhe dekha hai maine…
Song #34
Nain ladh jayin hain to manwa main kasak
It is a classic composition of Naushad Ali on the lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni for the only production of Dilip Kumar: Gunga Jumna starring him with Vyjayanthimala.
Naushad Ali based the composition on a Poorbi qawwali about a Maslim’s desire to visit Medina.
It is a very difficult song to sing because of high tempo and being in Poorbi language.
Please enjoy: Nain ladh jayin hain…
24 Mar 2025
Song #35
Ye jo chilman hai
Once again, with the magic of Mohammad Rafi singing for Rajesh Khanna.
This is from the HS Rawail movie Mehboob Ki Mehndi, which didn’t do as well as Mere Mehboob. The movie starred Leena Chandavarkar opposite Rajesh Khanna. The movie’s songs became quite popular.
The lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and the composition is that of Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Please enjoy: Yeh jo chilman hai…
Song #36
Maine poochha chand se
This is a beautiful composition of RD Burman for Sanjay Khan’s movie Abdullah starring him in the title role with Zeenat Aman as the object of his love.
Lyrics are by Anand Bakshi.
Mohammad Rafi sang for Sanjay Khan.
Song #37
Tere husn ki kya tareef karun
As always, the main song on our anniversary is penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad Ali.
This is from the 1964 super-hit movie Leader starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.
Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar sang for them.
Please enjoy: Tere husn ki kya tareef karun…
I hope you liked my songs sung to Lyn for our wedding anniversaries from the year 2023 to Mar 2025 in Part II of this post.
It is some time to go for the Part III.
