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U/L: "Moojhsay poochey mayray meeth" (Film: DIL AUR DEEWAR)

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Thirty-four years have passed since that song was first heard. It is a well-known song of Kishore Kumar. Perhaps not one that most fans may define as a “classic”. The song is “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai” from the film “KATI PATANG”. But this song brings back special memories to me.

Those were the days when Rajesh Khanna could do no wrong! He was the darling of the film media as well as the rage of the movie-going public. Issue after issue of one particular film magazine highlighted the actor, with cover features, photographs, articles and interviews.

Mr. Jatin Khanna, renamed “Rajesh” for the film world, had made a modest debut in “AAKHRI KHAT”. Perhaps this movie had a delayed release. For all practical purposes, “RAAZ” and “THE TRAIN” might have been the first movies in which the public viewed him. What I remember about “RAAZ” are the locales and the haunting tandem tune “Akele Hain Chale Aao”. As for “THE TRAIN”, it’s catchy tunes and the distinct recollection of a movie-review which almost prophetically praised the style of this new actor. But, following “ARADHANA” there was no turning back: Rajesh Khanna became the craze of the times. His trade-mark kurta also became the fashion-statement of an entire generation of teenagers.

Somewhere along the way came “DO RAASTE”, musically dominated by Lata Mangeshkar’s foot-tapper, “Bindiya chamkegi". But, having been regaled by Kishore singing for Rajesh Khanna in the block-buster “ARADHANA”, listeners were eagerly awaiting a follow-up act. It came with the music of “KATI PATANG”.

The music of “ARADHANA” was credited to the senior Burman. In later decades there has been a lot of discussion about the role of Rahul Dev in the compositions. But with “KATI PATANG” there was no room for doubt. Here were RDB’s compositions rendered by Kishore Kumar and picturized on Rajesh Khanna. And the first song that came to our attention was “Yeh jo mohabbat hai”.

That RDB was a class composer was established in his first score for “CHHOTE NAWAB”. His tuning of “Ghar aa jaa ghir aaye badra savariya” would have made a Roshan or a Madan Mohan proud. But now, he was churning out compositions that had popular appeal, reflecting the tastes of a younger generation of listeners. It was believed that behind the scenes he had contributed to several of the catchy numbers attributed to his father. It was time to step before the curtains.

Ridiculous as this might read, for young listeners of that time (such as I), when Kishore-da starts off with “Haeeee……..Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai”, it was a vicarious siren-call to woo the girl of our dreams!

“KATI PATANG” is one of those rare films in which almost every song is appealing. Kishore-da had two other lovely solos, the melodious “Pyar Diwana Hota Hai” and the glorious “Yeh Shaam Mastani”. Lata-ji sang for this movie one of her classics, “Na Koi Umang Hai”. And Mukesh had the lovely “Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar” --- I wonder why RDB decided to use Mukesh-ji for this number also picturized on Rajesh Khanna. Kishore-da could have rendered it too. But, whatever be the reason, in the process we acquired a Mukesh gem.

“SWAGATH” Restaurant, Chennai. Some evening sometime around 1970. Me lighting a cigarette as a diplay of “maturity” to impress my girlfriend (not that it did!). And the first time I heard “Yeh jo mohabbat hai” as it beamed in from the restaurant’s sound system.

Some Kishore-da songs are etched in the memory of most fans, e.g. “Jeevan ke safar mein raahi”, “Chhoti si yeh duniya”, “Hum matwale naujawan”, etc. For me, the song from “KATI PATANG” is one such tune.

[Chitralekha]

Thirty-four years have passed since that song was first heard. It is a well-known song of Kishore Kumar.  Perhaps not one that most fans may define as a “classic”. The song is “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai” from the film “KATI PATANG”. But this song brings back special memories to me.

Those were the days when Rajesh Khanna could do no wrong! He was the darling of the film media as well as the rage of the movie-going public. Issue after issue of one particular film magazine highlighted the actor, with cover features, photographs, articles and interviews.

Mr. Jatin Khanna, renamed “Rajesh” for the film world, had made a modest debut in “AAKHRI KHAT”. Perhaps this movie had a delayed release. For all practical purposes, “RAAZ” and “THE TRAIN” might have been the first movies in which the public viewed him. What I remember about “RAAZ” are the locales and the haunting tandem tune “Akele Hain Chale Aao”. As for “THE TRAIN”, it’s catchy tunes and the distinct recollection of a movie-review which almost prophetically praised the style of this new actor. But, following “ARADHANA” there was no turning back: Rajesh Khanna became the craze of the times. His trade-mark kurta also became the fashion-statement of an entire generation of teenagers.

Somewhere along the way came “DO RAASTE”, musically dominated by Lata Mangeshkar’s foot-tapper, “Bindiya chamkegi". But, having been regaled by Kishore singing for Rajesh Khanna in the block-buster “ARADHANA”, listeners were eagerly awaiting a follow-up act. It came with the music of “KATI PATANG”.

The music of “ARADHANA” was credited to the senior Burman. In later decades there has been a lot of discussion about the role of Rahul Dev in the compositions. But with “KATI PATANG” there was no room for doubt. Here were RDB’s compositions rendered by Kishore Kumar and picturized on Rajesh Khanna. And the first song that came to our attention was “Yeh jo mohabbat hai”.

That RDB was a class composer was established in his first score for “CHHOTE NAWAB”. His tuning of “Ghar aa jaa ghir aaye badra savariya” would have made a Roshan or a Madan Mohan proud. But now, he was churning out compositions that had popular appeal, reflecting the tastes of a younger generation of listeners. It was believed that behind the scenes he had contributed to several of the catchy numbers attributed to his father. It was time to step before the curtains.

Ridiculous as this might read, for young listeners of that time (such as I), when Kishore-da starts off with “Haeeee……..Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai”, it was a vicarious siren-call to woo the girl of our dreams!

“KATI PATANG” is one of those rare films in which almost every song is appealing. Kishore-da had two other lovely solos, the melodious “Pyar Diwana Hota Hai” and the glorious “Yeh Shaam Mastani”. Lata-ji sang for this movie one of her classics, “Na Koi Umang Hai”. And Mukesh had the lovely “Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar” --- I wonder why RDB decided to use Mukesh-ji for this number also picturized on Rajesh Khanna. Kishore-da could have rendered it too. But, whatever be the reason, in the process we acquired a Mukesh gem.

“SWAGATH” Restaurant, Chennai. Some evening sometime around 1970. Me lighting a cigarette as a diplay of “maturity” to impress my girlfriend (not that it did!). And the first time I heard “Yeh jo mohabbat hai” as it beamed in from the restaurant’s sound system.

Some Kishore-da songs are etched in the memory of most fans, e.g. “Jeevan ke safar mein raahi”, “Chhoti si yeh duniya”, “Hum matwale naujawan”, etc. For me, the song from “KATI PATANG” is one such tune.

Awesome! nice read Just got Kati Patang yesterday on DVD to watch again. Cant wait to watch it... may be tonight.

Just remembered hearing this one a couple of days back. Thought I will share it with you guys