Since long time, Trains have played a great part in Movies. Be it from Hollywood or from Bollywood. From the fantastic action in Sholay, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and recent Dhoom2, Rang De Basanti and Blue. Emotional at its best like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Dark like Devdas. To, absolutely fantastic songs since B/W era. Also, some movies which are totally based on Trains like The Burning Train and partially based like Jab We Met. and Kaminey. Trains have lured our film makers from time to time. So with that, here are some of my favorite Train songs. For which again, I would like to get more suggestions / additions from you all. [click on songs to go to Youtube]
7. Paper Planes : Slumdog Millionaire - Well, this is not actually a train song. An independent track by MIA, is used in such a way in the movie that we just can't help but imagine about the movie while playing it. Fantastic journey of the two kids is shown-from Mumbai via Rajasthan to Agra. Living their life in and around the train.
6. Chhaiyya Chhaiyya : Dil Se - You must be wondering why this song is at no.6? Well, its all because of the over exposure. Still, each and every 'so called' music channel shows this song without fail. So that made me annoyed. Besides that, what a great idea by Farah Khan, to make people dance on roof of Train. Beats of Rahman makes us feel the thump of train. And can't help but visualize Malaika Arora Khan.
5. Mere Sapno Ki Rani : Aradhana - How on earth one can forget this song while talking about trains? The one and only 'train' beauty - Sharmila Tagore - looking through the window !! S.D.Burman has made such a brilliant opening music for the track with Whistles of the coal Engine. [Toy Train of Darjeeling] Aah, talk about immortality. Kaka Rajesh Khanna was in full swing with Kishor da's vocals.
4. Hoga Tumse Pyara Kaun : Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai - Long before Dil se..., there was a couple who boarded roof of train to sing a song.[okay, most of the scenes where special effects though] Beautiful Padmini Kolhapure was sad, and cutie Rishi Kapoor trying to cheer her up. What a fantastic video. Toy Train of Darjeeling [again] looked wonderful. And Shailendra Singh's voice suited perfectly for R D Burman's creation.
3. Dhadak Dhadak : Bunty Aur Babli - The song itself says the beats of Train. Dhadak Dhadak. Also the fantastic words by Gulzar makes this Shankar-Ehsan-Loy composition a gem. So energetic the sound of music is, that makes you feel that you are in a train. Though the song talked much about the ambitious youth, Train is used as a backdrop, a medium to catch the running success.
2. Tu Kaun Hai : Bhopal Express - Originally featured in Lucky Ali's album Aks. Well, this is a very odd choice. The movie is not a mainstream one, nor the song is made exclusively for it. But again, the overall feel of the song is such perfect for it. With sounds of railway tracks, steam engine. The chimes and darkness of death of Bhopal Tragedy. Everything makes it such a haunting track.
1. Yeh Hawayein [Kasato Mazaa] : Parineeta - Oh So Cute kids singing 'Kasto mazaa'. And then Sonu and Shreya Ghoshal engages in pure divine tune of Shantanu Moitra. Heaven.....Worth menion is Swanand Kirkire's beautiful words. Interesting thing is , this is the same train where once Saif's mom Sharmila did travelled in the song Mere Sapno Ki raani.... Here its Gorgeous Vidya Balan who's giving her tough competition. Composition with whistles and sound of steam engine makes it a classic.
Update : Reader's choices :
Pal Do Pal Ka Saath Humara : The Burning Train - Added by Sujoy.
Hum Dono Do Premi : Ajnabee [1974] - Added by Anonymous
Gaadi Bula Rahi hai : Dost - Added by Anonymous
Jiya O Jiya Kuch Bol do : Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai - Added by Khushi
..and Added by BollywoodDeewana
Teri Hai Zameen : The Burning Train
Chuk chuk Chakka Bombay se Baroda : Rafoo Chakkar
Badal gaye : Baharein phir bhi aayengi
Rukh se zara naqab : Mere Huzoor
That's a great list. My favourites are Hoga Tumsa Pyaara Kaun, Kasto Mazza and Chaiyya Chaiyya. I need to think if there are more train-based songs. Let my grey cells work..I'll surely get back here then :D
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes, Yes!!!
ReplyDeleteKasto Mazza...is an all time favourite.
All the other tracks are absolute spot on..except for Slumdog.
I would have liked ..Pal do Pal ka Saath Hamara - from Burning train..
Who'd have thought trains could serve as such a great backdrop! I haven't seen all those, but I adore Chaiyya Chaiyya (even with it's overexposure) and Dhadak Dhadakh (which was one of my first fav songs). They inspire me to get on a train and sing and dance my heart out!
ReplyDeleteOne of the best train songs is from "Ajnabee" - Hum Dono Do Premi Duniya Chod Chaley - Rajesh Khanna and zeenat Aman.
ReplyDeleteRD Burman's music was simply fab especially the real sounds of a train travelling on its tracks interspersed in the song.
Another good oldie is "Gadi Bula Rahi Hai, Seethi Baja Rahi hi" - from Dost with Dharam, Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha
Nice post .....my favorite one is Chhaiyya Chhaiyya : Dil Se -.:)
ReplyDeleteold songs main * Jab pyaar kisi se hota hain * ka trai nsong... " jiya ho.. jiya ho jiya kuch bol do..." and new songs main *Parineeta * ka "Kasto Mazza.." r my fav.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Darshit, i love all the songs you've posted. i think i would have included ones from the burning train for definite, i love that film sooo much, and its the only film i have Ever cried to (i was 8 at the time) it was the 'teri hai zameen' song with the school kids on the train
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvjORuq8U8Y
Here's another one you might want to add to a future list 'Chuk chuk Chakka Bombay se Baroda' from Rafoo Chakkar (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4YGYnFu3T0
There's also 'badal gaye' from from baharen phir bhi aayengi (1966) with Dharmendra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PACthvmbXdo
Then there's this awesome song 'rukh se zara naqab' from Mere Huzoor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0VAAIzY02I
Bhargav
ReplyDeleteJaldi bhai, kuchh socho. I have to make this list longer and longer. :)
Sujoy
Well, for slumdog, I knew it was an odd choice. Never mind. And I have to see that song from Burning Train now.
shell
Aah, Dhadak dhadak has such lively beats that you just can't help but to dance on the theme. indeed.
Anonymous
R D Burman gave such wonderful songs in his era. Yes, your choice is really good, but as I m behind in older movies. Thanks for the recco.
And how I forgot immortal Gaadi Bula Rahi hai????
Umang Amin
ReplyDeleteThanks and welcome to my blog.
Khushi
Khushi ben, a great reminder. Dev saab is my most favorite star from the past. I simply love his songs. Jiya o is so so much fun.
bollywoodDeewana
Thanks a lot for such additions. I haven't seen some of those. But yes, the Mere Huzoor is really really beautiful. Why there are no any 'muslim centric' movies are made now???
I wonder why as well, i was reading a very interesting post the other day saying post 9/11, bolly movies with muslims have shifted to having terror in the background as opposed to Love Triangles/ courtesan tales they used to be about
ReplyDeleteHere another interesting article on bollywood muslim heroines
http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/12/bollywoods-muslim-heroines-of-love-and-hate/
Here's another list of rail songs to feast your eyes and ears on
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wordpress.com/tag/rail-song/
These are all awesome!! I adore train songs in Indian movies.
ReplyDeletebollywooddeewana
ReplyDeletewell, Saawariya was nearer to that kinda movies. beautiful outset of Idd and all. I am not a fan of such movies where only terror things are getting related to muslims. the Old times muslim movies like Paakeezah and Mere Huzoor were really poetic.
Thanks for the links. Will be looking over..
GauriRadha
Thanks for stopping by. Trains are such a filmy transport, isn't it? :)
They are one of the awesome styles of filmi-transport in Bollywood movies. And I didn't realize there were so many of them!!
ReplyDeleteThats a great list! Love most of these songs, especially Hoga tumse pyaara kaun, Yeh hawayein, Jiya O jiya o jiya and the songs of The Burning Train. There are so many good train songs in Hindi! One of my all time Dev-Rafi favorite is Apni to har aah from Kala Bazaar - such a clever use of double meaning! And then there is the unusual Dhanno ki aankhon mein from Gulzar's Kitaab. Another one that played a lot on Chitrahaar was Haathon ki chand lakeeron ka from Vidhaata - its not a favorite but one of the first train songs that springs to mind!
ReplyDeletegood songs. I loved Slumdog Millionaire and Paper Planes is one of my favorite songs, spot on!
ReplyDeletebollyviewer ji, Thanks for your suggestions. Will include in the post very soon. I think Trains have played a major role in our movies. Do u remember another Dev Saab's train song? Kishore's Phoolon Ke Rang Se... I think you are a Dev Fan too.
ReplyDeleteKlara
Thanks for visiting Klara. Yeah, SM had nice picturisation of that song which made it interesting.
I looove this. Sorry I missed it
ReplyDeleteIts fine Nicki. Thanks for stopping by. :) Any suggestions from your fav 80's era??
ReplyDeleteGoodness, that's awesome!!! I got to check this post out at leisure. I haven't even seen/listened to some of the songs you've listed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kanan . Do add your picks too. :)
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Hi! Great article! One song you missed out has to be 'Chalte Chalte' from the movie Pakeezah. It is a timeless classic and quite addictive. The sound of the heroine's ghungroo echoes the sound of the train tracks & the train's whistle is a constant theme in both the song and the movie. oh, and lets not forget the utterly charming note placed between her toes!!! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work!
Fathi