The title of this post really should be “My nine favorite rain songs and one rain scene” but—too long! The rains have a special place in Hindi cinema, as many before me have pointed out. I have always loved rain and thunderstorms, and I am determined to someday run around some trees in a (not transparent) sari as it pours down rain. Until that day dawns, though, I’ll settle for watching the cinematic rain fall.
So here are my nine favorite rain songs and one favorite rain scene! I have selected them based on how much I like the song, the picturization and its place in the film (I’m only using songs from films I’ve seen, not so much because I’m a purist but to make my task easier). And of course in my own selfish interests I can’t wait to find out about others that I haven’t encountered yet (hint, hint). Enjoy!
10. “Rimjhim Ke Tarane Leke” from Kala Bazaar (1960) (sung by Geeta Dutt and Rafi, music by SD Burman). Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand come face to face on a rainy day in Bombay after being separated by circumstances despite loving each other. Taxis are all taken so they have to walk; they are silent as they go, each lost in their memories of the other as the song plays. It’s a gorgeous song (actually all of this film’s songs are), and Geeta is one of my very favorite singers.
9. “Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua” from Shree 420 (1955) (sung by Manna Dey and Lata, music by Shankar Jaikishan). I know I’d get comments if I didn’t include this one—but it’s such a beautiful song I would include it anyway! Nargis looks radiant (how come heroine makeup doesn’t run?) and I love the picturization: the gusting wind, the chai wallah, and of course the three Kapoor kids at the end.
8. “Hum Tum” from Hum Tum (2004) (sung by Babul Supriyo and Alka Yagnik, music by Jatin Lalit). Finally! Karan and Rhea express their feelings for each other in the song as the rain pours. Of course the best part is that they kiss on the beach (I think it might have been the first kiss in a Hindi film I’d seen). Rani looks gorgeous in her red sari, and Saif…well, he looks gorgeous too.
7. “O Ghata Sanwari” from Abhinetri (1970) (sung by Lata, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal). Also not a romantic duet, this is picturized on Hema Malini singing about the falling rain while she spends a cozy evening alone at home. She does her calisthenics and then luxuriates in the bath, just enjoying herself. What she doesn’t know is that she’s about to meet The Shash, who will turn up on her doorstep sheltering from that rain. Except for the Shashi part *sad* I can really relate to this song!
6. “Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein” from Ajanabee (1974) (sung by Kishore and Lata, music by RD Burman). Such a lovely duet between Zeenat Aman and Rajesh Khanna, who have crackling good chemistry!
5. “Dil Tera Deewana” from Dil Tera Deewana (1962) (sung by Rafi and Lata, music by Shankar Jaikishan). What a downpour! This song is windy and wild, and very sexy; and I wish with *all my heart* I were the heroine in this monsoon cavorting with Shammi.
4. “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) (background music). Okay so this isn’t really a rain song, but it’s my favorite rain scene and since Shah Rukh and Kajol are dancing to the movie’s theme song I think it counts. (It’s my blog!) Anyway, I can’t watch this without crying; it’s Shah Rukh at his intense romantic best and Kajol has loved him for so long…but then she remembers that she’s engaged already to Salman. It’s pretty much a non-stop tearfest from this point on until the film ends.
3. “Rim Jhim Rim Jhim Dekho” from Shehzada (1972) (sung by Lata and Kishore, music by RD Burman). Rakhee and Rajesh Khanna admit to their love for each other in this beautiful song. Everything is beautiful: the two of them, the scenery, the lighting. So romantic! I *heart* Rajesh, and I want to look like Rakhee.
2. “Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si” from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1959) (sung by Kishore, music by SD Burman). Kishore is just so funny as he sings this song while he fixes Madhubala’s car and eyes her drenched figure. A classic song from a classic film; I can watch it and listen to it over and over again.
1. “Aaj Rapat Jaaye To” from Namak Halal (1982) (sung by Asha and Kishore, music by Bappi Lahiri). I love absolutely everything about this song. Smita Patil and Amitabh look like they are having so much fun as they tease and seduce each other; I think it’s the sexiest rain song ever. And it’s beautifully lit and shot, giving a lovely misty feel to the streets of Bombay.
MemsaabStory 
