With the onset of the monsoons and the arrival of the rains after the scorching temperatures that rise in the summers in most parts of India, monsoon is a much awaited season and it brings in the magical moments of the spell as well as the charm and soon we see couples continuing to flock on the Marine Drive in the rains. The exciting experience soon wears off with the problems it brings along in terms of local train delays, water clogging , clothes not drying on time and a lot of more inconveniences that take hold of our day to day lives during the rains. However in Bollywood, Monsoon creates a perfect setting for a song and never ceases to weave a magic on the screen with its chartbuster tracks in a rain sequence.
There have been countless films where in rains have depicted romance or a melancholy mood or it simply paved the way for sensuality in rain song sequences. Some of the songs have also been seductive and sexy and there were some rain songs that have created a sheer joy with a new hope and there are times when the heroine has just danced her way into the audience’s hearts. Some of the gems that make the rains songs very special are also the best captured scenes in the film. A drenched couple on the screen has got popular over the years.
To rewind on the monsoon mood in Bollywood we have some of the most memorable and forgotten tracks from Hindi Cinema that you would enjoy listening to again and again as you hear them and what better would it be if you had a plate full of pakodas and hot cup of chai to go along with it to relish.
In a chronological order here are some of the Top Bollywood rain songs.
Barsaat – Barsaat Mein Hum Se Mile Tum – 1949
The beautiful song sung by the nightingale Lata Mangeshkar is from the film Barsaat released in 1949 picturized on Nimmi which established her career along with Nargis in this famous film which was a debut for the music directors Shankar Jaikishan.
Shree 420 – 1955 …Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua Hai
This song is picturised with Raj Kapoor and Nargis holding an umbrella which is an iconic scene and the song got very popular capturing the lovely moments of a couple in love. The song was composed by Shankar Jaikishen and sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey.
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi – 1958.. Ek Ladki bheegi bhaagi si.
Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si sees the versatile actor singer Kishore Kumar singing it to the gorgeous Madhubala who is drenched and stranded in a faulty car of hers! Music was composed by Sachin Dev Burman, lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and playback by Kishorekumar himself.
Barsat Ki Raat – 1960 – Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi
A well known song which was the masterpiece with the combined efforts of Sahir Ludhianvi, Roshan, Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar picturised on Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala. Directed by P. L Santoshi the film Barsat Ki Raat released in 1960 was a super hit film.
Aradhana – 1969 . Roop Tera Mastana
This very popular track from the blockbuster film Aradhana picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore . Music composed by S. D . Burman with lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. The song was a super hit with one of the most hot star pair of that era , charming and in love. The rains lead them to a lonely hut and a fireplace that sets a perfect stage to take the story forward. The film Aradhana propelled Rajesh Khanna to the super stardom.
Ajnabee – 1974- Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein.
The 70’s sensuous rain song Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein featuring Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat aman a newly married couple on a rainy night from the film Ajnabee set the screen on fire with the peppy number of romance . The lyrics depicted that the rains awakened their feelings for each other. Music composed by R. D Burman with lyrics written by Anand Bakshi and playback by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.
Manzil – 1979 Rimjhim Girey Saawan
A beautiful rain song describing what the rains do to a couple in love superbly picturized on Amitabh Bachchan and Moushmi Chatterji which went on to become a superhit in the late 70’s. The song that is sung by Lata Mangeshkar shot in South Mumbai showing its old Victorian promenade near Marine Lines.
Chasm-E-Baddur– 1981 – Kahan Se Aaye Badaraa
It is not necessary there is always a rain scene shot with the star couple of the heroine getting drenched. Monsoons also depicts the emotions like in this film Chasm-E-Baddur Dipti Naval in a melancholy mood that compares the rains to her tears dropping to the earth as she feels the separation pangs from her lover causing her to dream of the dark clouds in the sky which she compares to her eyes. These beautiful lyrics are by Indu Jain with playback by Yesudas and Haimanti Shukla.
Namak Halal – 1982. Aaj Rapat Jaaye Toh…
This song from the film Namak Hala sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar shows Smita Patil the reigning queen of the Art Film in the most candid romance with Amitabh Bachchan which turned out to be a superhit song with lyrics written by Anjaan and music composed by Bappi Lahiri left the audience astonished seeing the demure elegant Smita Patil in the rain song sequence
Mr. India – 1987 . Kaante Nahi Kat tey Yeh Din Yeh Raat.
The song from one of the greatest hits of the year went on to become the cult classic of the highest imagination that a film maker has dared to challenge. Anil Kapoor and Sridevi blaze the screen with their romance that would have set any man’s heart race looking at the very stunning Sridevi make her dance moves in a wet saree with her invisible lover Mr.India. Composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal this song stays on for a life time in the minds of the Bollywood fans.
Chandni – 1989 – Lagi Aaj Sawan
Lagi Aaj Saawan Ki phir wo Jhadi Hai….. picturized on the beautiful Sridevi in the rain as she sings and sways in a fiery sensuous moves in the rhythm of the lyrics composed by Anand Bakshi in the romantic film Yash Chopra starring Sridevi, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. The song is sung by Suresh Wadkar and Anupama Deshpande in the film Chandni.
1942 : A Love Story – 1994 .. Rimjhim Rimjhim.
One of the best rain songs ever from the classic and romantic film 1942 A Love Story with music composed by the music genius R.D Burman and playback by Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy sung in a film that is set in the times of the British Raj which was released
Mohra – 1994 – Tip Tip Barsa Pani
This hot and sizzling song with the lyrics Tip Tip Barsa Pani,…. Pani ne aag lagaayi . Aag Lagi dil mein… with Raveena Tandon drenched in a yellow saree as she romances with Akshay Kumar just had its own sex appeal and the song became an iconic song sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik with Viju Shah‘s music score and lyrics that was so apt for the rainy season was penned by Indeevar and Anand Bakshi and Sameer.
Dil to Pagal Hai – 1997 – Chak Dhoom Dhoom
One of the most memorable and an unforgettable track from Dil to Pagal Hai that gets us to tap our feet too as we watch Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan dance through the heavy rains in an outstanding dancing steps on Shiamak Davar‘s choreography. The couple here is seen performing the dance with school kids and a song track that got very popular as much as the film did a blockbuster . The song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan with lyrics written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Uttam Singh.
Dahek – 1999 – Sawan Barse Tarse Dil
The adorable visualization of the song from Dahek sung in the rains by Sonali Bendre a Muslim girl and Akshaye Khanna a Hindu boy who try to secretly meet and the rain plays the spoilsport. What better way to make the most of it as the lovers sing in the rain to celebrate the joy of meeting.
Lagaan – 2001 – Ghanan Ghanan Ghan.
Composed by A. R Rehman this amazing track is from the film Lagaan where in the song itself portrays the feel the joy of the first rains and much awaited in the village where rains are unpredictable and scant as the entire village get together to look up hopefully for the rains. An Oscar entry film of 2001 that was sent in a village in the Western village with Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh , the singer Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan , Shankar Mahadevan and Shaan who have lent their voice for this song was one of the most popular tracks of the film.
Hum Tum – 2004 Title Track
The beautiful rain song that highlights the thoughts of the two people in love Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherji and support each other through life’s ups and downs a film that took help of cartoon series to highlight the feelings. Inspired by the film Harry Met Sally , a story that will remind everyone of their adolescence and romance. This enchanting rain song is sung by Alka Yagnik and Babul Supriyon with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi .
Fanaa – 2006 – Dekho Na
This popular rain song Dekho Na sung by a tourist guide of New Delhi, Aamir Khan who is a flirt but falls in love with the blind girl Zooni played by Kajol. The song shows a new hope for the blind girl as they sing through their romance in the rains from the romantic thriller crime drama film, Fanaa released in 2006 directed by Kunal Kohli with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi
Chameli – 2003. Bhaage Re Mann.
This mesmerizing song and dance in the rain by the sizzling beauty Kareena Kapoor clad in a red saree who dances with her sensuous moves as she embraces the rain with open arms while Rahul Bose watches her from the film Chameli . Song sung by Sunidhi Chauhan in the film directed by Sudhir Mishra, with composed by Sandesh Shandilya and lyrics penned by Irshad Kamil.
Koi Mil Gaya – 2003 – Idhar Chala Udhar Chala
The beautiful rain song sequence Idhar Chala Udhar Chala from the film Koi Mil Gaya directed by Rakesh Roshan . The big budget film that made Hrithik Roshan is seen as man with a damaged brain cells and in this song with the child like dance moves by him and Preity Zinta got very popular as much as teh film did with the kids of all ages was composed by Rajesh Roshan and was sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. Koi Mil Gaya was one of the first science fiction film to be released in Bollywood.
Guru – 2007 – Barso Re Megha Megha
The beautiful diva of the Hindi Cinema, Aishwarya Rai seen singing in the rain in the film as she runs away from home with her lover Guru in the South Indian Director Mani Ratnam’s film Guru. Since a decade now the rain songs give a bold avatar of the heroine in the film which has paved its way to showing actresses in a wet saree song sequence. The song is shot in a village in Karnataka near Athirappilly Falls which receives a majority of rains thus the monsoon song did not require much of the artificial rain and was shot naturally. The song was well received with the song composed by A. R Rehman with lyrics provided by Gulzar and was sung by the very versatile singer Shreya Ghoshal.
3 Idiots – 2009 – Zoobi Doobi
This peppy rain song from the film 3 Idiots starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor is an imagination of the actor Aamir Khan as he starts falling in love with the heroine of the film Kareena Kapoor picturized on both of them in the rain. Song sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam . The song became a super hit and on top of the charts . The song is set almost like on a stage with artificial thunder lightning and rain used to create the scene which made the song even more popular. Music composed by Shantanu Moitra .
Agneepath– 2012 – O Saiyyan.
The handsome heartthrob of the Hindi cinema actor Hrithik Roshan and the beautiful Priyanka Chopra in an intimate scene in the rains in the film Agneepath shows both the stars in a sensual and passionate scene with the song sung by Roopkumar Rathod and composed by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The scene which literally made the women go weak in their knees .
Aashiqui 2 – 2013 – Tum Hi Ho
One of the best compositions by Mithoon Sharma sung by the singer Arijit Singh in his melodious voice this song from the film Aashiqui 2 featuring the handsome Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor as they romance in the rain is now placed among the list of ever green romantic songs . A soulful song that won the award at the Big Entertainment Awards 2013.
