Sangeeta Sudhaa Saara

Mahesh Bhatt is a personality of Indian Film Industry unlike none other. I had a lot of admiration for this capabilities sans his controversies. Barring a few mistakes off late (that he likes to call movies), I still admire a lot of his movies, simply for the deft direction, acting, and ofcourse the immensely melodious and meaningful songs. If the movie is from the Bhatt clan, one is certainly assured of a lilting number to keep the mind occupied. Even though off late, the movie by itself seems to be less and less capable of doing it. And as is the purpose of my monloguing here (which I would still like to call blogging), I would like to list some of my favorite numbers from the movies that had something to do with the Bhatts!! :P

I am not quite sure of the first movie directed by Mahesh Bhatt, which could be either Sakat, or Manzilein Aur bhi hain. But my list of songs would rather start with Lahu ke do rang.

Lahu ke do rang :- One of my all time favorites of KJY - zid na karo ab toh ruko yeh raat nahin aayegi, and there is another often forgotten song by Kishore Kumar - Muskuraata hua gul khilaata hua mera yaar both of which used to be constantly featured during the afternoon - Aap ki farmaaish on vividh bhaarathi, radio station.

Arth :- Hailed as the biographical movie by Mahesh Bhatt, this movie featured top class acting by Shabana Azmi, Smitha Patil and Kulbhushan Karbanda; not to mention some of the evergreen songs ever composed in Bollywood - Tum itna jo muskuraa rahe ho (brilliantly shot on Shabana Azmi, this song is a stand alone example on the acting prowess of this star), Jhuki Jhuki si nazar, to mention a couple. Both the songs have been sung by Jagjit Singh.

Naam :- The one most famous heart-rending song from this movie is but known to everyone - Chitti aayi hai vatan se Chitti aayi hai. Sung by Pankaj udhaas, it continues to bring tears into the eyes of lots of non-resident Indians to this day!

Kaash :- O Yaara... tu pyaaron se hai pyaara sung by Anupama Deshpande and Kishore Kumar, this movie also featured another beautiful ghazal by Asha Bhonsle and Mohd. Aziz - Chhoti si hai baat koi nahin jaane.

Aashiqui :- The movie which shot to fame the utterly forgettable Rahul Roy, and Anu Agarwal; it also became the much awaited boost for Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal. Some of the beautiful numbers of this movie include Bas ik sanam chaahiye, Ab tere bin jee lenge hum, Mein duniya bhulaa doonga teri chaahat mein, Nazar ke saamne jigar ke paas... Absolute melody was the hallmark of this movie.

Jurm :- Remember the song - Jab koi baat bigad jaaye ? Need I say more of it?

Sadak :- A much acclaimed movie that gave a new face to villainy - Sadashiv Amrapurkar (its a tragedy that the filmdom didn't know how to use his talents), some of the melodious hits of this movie are Tumhe apna banane ki kasam, Hum tere bin kahin reh nahin paate.

Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin :- A movie one instantly falls in love with, it holds a very special place in my life (Read on to know why..). Anupam Kher excelled himself in the comic role as Pooja Bhatt's father. Aamir's tongue in cheek performances, and Pooja bhatt as herself (the spoilt daughter of a rich father) makes this movie memorable along with its hit numbers - Galyat sangli son yachi (the song for which me and my crush had danced together ;) ), dil hai ki maanta nahin, tu chaahat hai kisi aur ka, mainu ishq daan lagiya rog.

Daddy :- The movie proved that the most simple story can take a multi-dimensional stature when it is coupled with mesmerizing performances by actors like Anupam Kher, wonderful lyrics from the likes of Suraj Sanim and equally awesome singers like Talat Aziz. Aaina mujhse meri pehli si surat maange, Waffa jo tumse ki hoti, were my all time favorites from this movie.

Saatwan Aasmaan :- A movie that was totally forgettable if not for a couple of really beautiful songs - Tum kyaa mile jaane jaan pyaar zindagi se ho gaya, Where is the time to hate (it sounds so much like a kid's poem), Socha tumhein khat likhoon, & Tum tum ho ke nahin. The one good thing this movie indeed do, is to convince Vivek Mushran of being creatively challenged! Well it did write off the epilogue for his acting career.

Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi :- The two memorable facts of this movie were that the poster was a rip off of "Basic Instinct", and the other being the songs - Tere dar par sanam chale aaye, Baadalon mein chup raha hai chaand kyon.

Naaraaz :- Yeddanoder fogeddable (am down with cold) movie with equally memorable songs - Chaaha to bahut na chaahen tujhe, Tere bin mein kuch.

Papa Kehte Hain :- Sure as hell, Mahesh Bhatt must have quit directing movies by now! This movie tried to launch that utterly chocolaty Jugal Hansraj into the mainstream, but was a complete washout! If it were released as a private album, I guess, it pretty much would've made equal sense! The songs were the only saving grace in this movie! Every song - Ghar se nikal te hi, Yeh joh thode se hain paise, pehli pyaar ka pehla gam, Pyar mein hota hai, Mujhse naaraaz ho toh were hummed over and over again in my bathroom, much to the dismay of my neighbors and family! Oh Well!!

Zakhm :- Finally a justifiably Mahesh Bhatt movie, it was again based on his real life, and provided us with a respite of melodies such as Gali mein aaj chaand, Hum yahan tum yahan, and Raat saari bekaraari mein. M M Kreem had set the tunes liltingly, which was an added bliss.

Well, the later films by the Bhatt clan including Pooja Bhatt, did have a few numbers that haunted and sometimes topped the music charts from movies - Kasoor, Murder, Paap, Raaz, Saaya, Zeher, etc.

Most of the songs from these movies need no special mentioning but nevertheless in the passing some of my favorites are :-

Garaj Baras, Mann ki lagan, Aalaap - from PAAP.

Bheege Hont tere, Kaho na kaho - from MURDER.

Aapke pyaar mein hum - from RAAZ.

Jaadu hai nasha hai, Aawaarapan Banjarapan, - from JISM.

Agar tum mil jao, Woh lamhe Woh baatein - from ZEHER.

Well, thatz that - my take on some of the memorable songs from his movies/production. Any more to add? Keep lookin'!