Rajesh Khanna’s romantic overtures turned him into a superstar sensation like never before and never after.
While his fame is the stuff of legends, it’s his precious philosophical musings that continue to resonate whenever a feeling of desolation, despondency or existential crisis takes over. If anything, it makes him more relevant than ever.
In a post-COVID-19 world, where anxiety and sleepless nights have become our constant companion, you’ll find more solace and wisdom in Kaka’s melodious reflections on ‘zindagi‘ than all the chartbusters put together.
Sukanya Verma makes a playlist of 15 profound Rajesh Khanna ditties.
Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli, Anand
Music: Salil Choudhury
Lyrics: Yogesh
Singer: Manna Dey
Rajesh Khanna fathoms and fascinates about the many mysteries and frailty of life in and as Anand against the vast expanse of Mumbai’s sea-facing landscape in this poetic number.
Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar,Safar
Music: Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics: Indeevar
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Playing terminally ill characters allowed Kaka a poignant perspective in the point and pointlessness of it all.
You just cannot mistake the melancholy and misery in the sublime despair of the song’s words.
Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Andaz
Music: Shankar-Jaikishen
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Life is a journey into the unknown and, for a good part, Rajesh Khanna endeavoured to document all its moods and moments.
And the yodelling, live-it-up excitement of Zindagi Ek Safar is by far its most sunny example.
Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain, Aap Ki Kasam
Music: Rahul Dev Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Intense regret and the many lessons that follow an irreconcilable folly are heartbreakingly expressed in the bittersweet truths of Zindagi Ke Safar Mein.
Kuch Toh Log Kagenge, Amar Prem
Music: Rahul Dev Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Kuch Toh Log Kahenge Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna is the last word on saving the soul and ignoring the nonsense people spew and judgement they are likely to pass, like it or not.
Dil Sachaa Aur Chehra Jhutha, Sachaa Jhutha
Music: Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics: Indeevar
Singer: Kishore Kumar
All that glitters is not gold, don’t judge a book by its cover, yadda yadda, Kaka passes on gyaan by the heaps in his lively warning against what they say and what they mean.
Do Rang Duniya Ke, Do Raaste
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singer: Mukesh
Long before Raj Malhotra gave fundas on life’s quintessential do raaste — the tough and honest as well as the easy but deceitful — a sanctimonious song from the Rajesh Khanna emphasised it amply without mincing words.
Rona Kabhi Nahi Rona, Apna Desh
Music: Rahul Dev Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Vijeyta and Sandhya Pandit
Kaka puts a smile on young faces in his trademark style and trains them to chin up against life’s topsy-turvy ways and the eternal truth — you can’t always get what you want in the cheerful Rona Kabhi Nahi Rona.
Jisne Paap Na Kiya Ho Jo Paapi Na Ho, Roti
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singer: Kishore Kumar
No song calls out at the holier-than-thou moral police better than Kaka’s ‘pot calling kettle black’ sentiments Jisne Paap Na Kiya Ho Jo Paapi Na Ho.
Aaj Bichchde Hain, Thodisi Bewafai
Music: Khayyam
Lyrics: Gulzar
Singer: Bhupinder Singh
Life goes on, time heals but things can never go back to where they once were and other sombre realisations in Aaj Bichchde‘s soulful reflections.
Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai, Souten
Music: Usha Khanna
Lyrics: Sawan Kumar Tak
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Rajesh Khanna shows his gratitude for the gift of life and a resolve to appreciate it in all its highs and lows in the lilting Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai.
Duniya Mein Kitna Gham Hai, Amrit
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Singer: Mohammed Aziz
Whenever you feel awful about your life, Rajesh Khanna offers a reality check in Duniya Mein Kitna Gham Hai Tera Gham Kitna Kam Hai — it is the anti-grass is greener on the other side.
Hasne Ki Chah Ne Kitna Mujhe Rulaya Hai
Music: Kanu Roy
Lyrics: Kapil Kumar
Singer: Manna Dey
A disappointed, discontented soul’s lamentations over futile attempts to chase happiness is both incredibly relatable and extraordinarily melodious.
Ek Andhera Lakh Sitare, Aakhir Kyon?
Music: Rajesh Roshan
Lyrics: Indeevar
Singer: Mohammed Aziz
Much inspiration to be found in the uplifting sentiments of Ek Andhera Lakh Sitara and its ‘the glass is half full’ ardour.
Goron Ki Na Kaalon Ki, Disco Dancer
Music: Bappi Lahiri
Lyrics: Anjaan
Singers: Suresh Wadakar, Usha Mangeshkar
Goron Ki Na Kaalon Ki…. Duniya Hai Dilwalon Ki. ‘Nuff said!
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