Let us celebrate Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti with a nostalgic journey through Hindi film tunes that echo the timeless charm of Rabindra Sangeet.
Rabindra Sangeet, also referred to as Tagore Songs, embodies compositions originating from the Indian subcontinent, created and composed by the versatile Bengali figure Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore's repertoire boasts an impressive 2,232 songs, each bearing the distinct musical essence of Bengal, resonating widely across India and Bangladesh. Annually, Tagore's birth anniversary is celebrated on May 7, although, following the Bengali calendar, Rabindra Jayanti will be observed on May 8 this year. Let's take a moment on Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti to explore some Hindi film melodies inspired by the rich tradition of Rabindra Sangeet.
Chukar Mere Man Ko
‘Chukar Mere Man Ko’ originates from the 1981 film ‘Yaarana,’ helmed by director Rakesh Kumar and featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Neetu Singh, Tanuja, and Kader Khan. The film's narrative draws inspiration from the deep bond between Karna and Duryodhana in the epic Mahabharata. This soul-stirring song, ‘Chukar Mere Man Ko,’ finds its roots in Tagore's composition ‘Tomar holo shuru amar holo sara.’ The Hindi song incorporates the initial two lines directly from Tagore's masterpiece.
'Piya bole, Piyu Bole' is a renowned melody from the 2005 film 'Parineeta,' featuring Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan. The movie is a musical romance, adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic 1914 Bengali novella of the same title. Directed by debutant Pradeep Sarkar, the movie stars Sanjay Dutt alongside Saif Ali Khan, and Vidya Balan in leading roles, supported by Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, and Dia Mirza. Drawing inspiration from Tagore's 'Phoole phoole dhole dhole' found in the Kalmrigaya collection, this enchanting song is brought to life by the melodious voices of Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal.
Tere mere milan ki ye raina
The song 'Tere mere milan ki ye raina' found its inspiration in Rabindranath Tagore's 'Jodi Raare Nai Chini Go Se Ki' from his Basanta collection. This Hindi melody was featured in the musical drama film 'Abhimaan,' directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani, Bindu, and David. Loosely based on the 1970 Bengali film Bilambita Loy starring Uttam Kumar and Supriya Devi, 'Abhimaan' showcased this song composed by S. D. Burman, which ingeniously borrowed the tune from Tagore’s composition.
Ekla Cholo Re
The stirring Bengali patriotic anthem 'Ekla Chôlo Re' was penned by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. In a bold experimentation with Rabindra Sangeet, the iconic song from the film 'Kahaani' with the same name drew inspiration from Tagore's timeless creation. The rendition featured Amitabh Bachchan's voice, set to a composition by the talented duo Vishal-Shekhar.
The melodious tune of 'Nain Deewane, ek nahi maane' found its inspiration in Tagore’s composition 'Sedin dujone dulechinu bone.' The song is featured in the 1950s film 'Afsar,' directed by Chetan Anand and produced by, as well as starring, Dev Anand. Sung by the talented Suraiya, the movie is based on Nikolai Gogol's renowned play, 'The Government Inspector.'
