The ‘Sisters Songs’ – Mehfil Mein Meri

Happy Women’s Day!
It’s very obvious that if I’m posting it today, it has something special related to the female characters in Hindi films. Of course, it’s a light hearted post. I dedicate the post to the strong pillars of my life, my mother, my sister, my wife and my daughter.

A couple of months back while I was traveling in a car, I heard a song from the movie, Vivah. I was surprised and was happy as well to listen to it as it portrayed a conversation between two sisters. I thought it to be a rare scenario because such types of songs are not common.
The incident stimulated my thought process and I started thinking of songs picturised on on-screen sisters where they lip sync to the song as well (at least one of them), their mere presence in a song as a listener doesn’t qualify for the post, though I’ve included a background song on the list.

Of course even if a film does have two actresses portraying sisters, all of those films hadn’t got a song picturised just on the two of them. For example, ‘Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi’ has Mala Sinha and Tanuja playing sisters, but there’s no song picturised on them where they actually sing together. I also remembered the film 100 days where Madhuri Dixit and Munmun Sen play sisters, but there’s no song picturised on the pair. But the film revolves around the mystery behind the murder of Munmun Sen.

Here I should also add that, romantic songs picturised on sisters, for example, Sun Le Pyar Ki Dushman Duniya from Pyar Kiye Ja or Mohabbat Dil Ka Sukoon Hai from Dil Hai Tumhara, don’t fit my idea of this post, so I have refrained from adding such songs. Also Gore O Banke Chhore, though picturised on the pair of Nalini Jaywant and Kuldeep Kaur, who play sisters, the song is a dance performance on stage and doesn’t portray relationship between the two. So I have skipped that as well. Here I remember, Sai and Subbulakshmi, who were real sisters and were on screen sisters in Azad (1955). The two dance performances including the splendid, Aplam Chaplam, again don’t count for today’s list.

The next film I could think of was Naata (1955) where Madhubala and Chanchal, who were real life sisters also played the on screen sisters. The songs picturised on them however were not very specifically depicting their relationship, it could have been just friends if a viewer is not aware of their on-screen relationship. Otherwise the beautiful melodies are really worth listening to.

A couple of films that instantly popped up in my mind as I continued my thought process, were Baazigar (1992) and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun? (1994). In the former, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty played sisters while Madhuri Dixit and Renuka Shahane in the latter.
Baazigar, though had a few scenes between sisters, there was no song picturised on them. On the other hand, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun had a few songs picturised on the sisters, but except, Wah Wah Ramji, where Madhuri praises her sister a bit, the other songs (Didi Tera Devar Deewana and Lo Chali Main, that was more about Bhabhi and Devar than between the sisters) had no significant portions dedicated to their relationship per se. So with a heavy heart I left it. No One Killed Jessica was my obvious next choice, but while it had sister’s love as the prime theme, it had nothing that would have suited today’s theme.

The usual situation of such songs is that of introducing the characters and highlighting their relationship with each other to the audience. I did think of making it the prototype scenario for the post, but when I found a few other interesting situations as well, I allowed the other situations also.

The songs on the list are in exact sequence as either I could recollect or gathered after I researched for the topic.

Doesn’t that sound interesting! Let’s see the list,

1. Vivah (2006) –
Vivah was Rajshri production’s movie that portrayed traditional Indian values and the journey of a couple from engagement to marriage. Amrita Rao and Amrita Prakash played on-screen sisters. The initial part of the movie depicts the relationship between the cousins and it was refreshing to listen to a song that portrays the younger sister teasing the elder one, getting married soon. Bollywood had nearly forgotten such innocent and cute songs, which used to be there in the olden days.
A cute interaction or dialogue between the sisters, chhoti behna teasing her jiji, how would she address her husband. Jiji says she would prefer gestures to words and would refrain from the traditional ways of addressing one’s husband.

O jiji – Vivah (2006) Shreya Ghoshal & Pamela Jain / Lyrics and composed by Ravindra Jain

2. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) –
The film was inspired by the critically acclaimed Marathi classic, Doghi (दोघी), though there were a few differences. The audience had heightened expectations from the film, made under the prestigious banner of Yash Raj films, and featuring popular faces and stars of the eta, Rani Mukherjee, Konkona Sen Sharma, Jaya Bhaduri, Anupam Kher and Abhishek Bachchan. However it couldn’t survive for long at the box office. I remember watching it on the first day of its release with just a handful of audience members in the theatre. It was even criticized for being regressive with an outdated concept. The story revolves around a once rich family, now in a financially tight position with Rani Mukherjee Konkona and Sen Sharma playing sisters.
The song is just a perfect example of my idea for today’s post. The song not only introduces us to the sisters, it also throws light on their family members. It tells us how the elder sister had to abandon her studies, how their poor mother makes ends meet by sewing clothes, while their sick father, unable to earn for the family, hopes to crack a lottery, once and for all. We also meet their rivalrous uncle and cousin, who are waiting for an opportunity to grab their home. And above all, it portrays the bond of love and affection between the sisters and their aspirations to change the situation. The song is primarily shot at and around the banks of river Ganga in Banaras and also talks about the life there with mentions of Banarasi paan and religious integration.

Hum To Aise Hain Bhaiya – Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Swanand Kirkire, Pranab Biswas / Shantanu Moitra – Swanand Kirkire

3. Sargam (1950) –
In this film there’s a group of siblings, 7 of them actually (including 5 sisters played by Rehana , Paro Devi, Bimla, and others and 2 brothers with Ratan Kumar as the youngest one), but the elder two are highlighted in the film. Their father, who is no more but was a renowned classical singer has left his singing legacy and also a debt of around ten thousand rupees. I’m presenting a song where we see all the siblings either singing or playing an instrument. The song talks about the healing power of music as it alleviates the pain of agony. Lata Mangeshkar sings for Rehana while Sarswati Rane sings for Paro Devi. Sargam was one film where C Ramchandra was at his best and had a full portrayal of his potential as a composer. There were semi classical songs, as well as western songs. The song comes as a symbol of unity of the family.

Chhed Sakhi Sargam – Sargam (1950) Lata Mangeshkar, Saraswati Rane & Chorus / C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi

4. Bride and Prejudice (2004) –
Based on Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, the film was directed by Gurinder Chadha. I watched this movie when I was in the first year of post-graduation in dermatology. I had already read the Marathi translation of the novel and had an idea of all the characters. Though I couldn’t find Elizabeth Bennet from the original, in Aishwarya Rai’s character, the film was in general not bad. Thanks to the touches of humour at places, The awkward ‘Cobra dance’ by Maya, the embarrassing mother by Nadira Babbar, Mr Kohli at the dining table and he proposing to Lalita etc. The film revolves around the Bakshi family from Amritsar with four sisters, Jaya, Lalita, Maya and Lakhi.
They get an opportunity to tease Lalita a good deal when Mr Kohli from LA shows interest in Lalita as his wife. Lalita is however a sorted girl, she has clear ideas of her husband and answers back to her sisters. A good deal of fun to watch! I couldn’t find the video of the Hindi version though you can listen to the audio here.

No Life Without Wife – Bride and Prejudice (2004) Sowmya Roah, Gayatri Ganjawala, Nisha Mascarenihans / Anu Malik – Zoya Akhtar

5. Aaina (1993) –
Aaina was a love triangle where both the sisters played by Amrita Singh (as Roma) and Juhi Chawla (as Reema) fall in love with Jackie Shroff (as Ravi). Ravi is in love with the elder sister, Roma. But when they are about to get married, Roma (who’s already a successful model) leaves him to try her luck in films. Reema gets married to Jackie Shroff in the course of events (to save the family name) and ultimately both of them fall in love with each other. Their life however faces a crisis when Roma returns and tries to get back her love, calling the marriage as betrayal. The song perhaps (I have watched the movie ages ago) portrays one of Roma’s attempts to attract Ravi, who seems to have fallen prey to her charm. Making a scene in a party is one of the popular scenarios in Hindi films. This is one of those. It wouldn’t be fair to disclose the end, but I think smart readers can guess it. The basic plot of the movie revolves around the selfish sister and the contrasting younger sister. The superiority complex, jealousy and self obsession of the elder sister creates a lot of problems for the family, but the understanding, caring and loving nature of the younger sister counterbalances the things.
The song has been very popular and it’s the last song sung together by the Mangeshkar sisters for Hindi films.

Aaina Hai Mera Chehra – Aaina (1993) Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle & Suresh Wadkar / Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen – Sameer

6. Khubsoorat (1980) –
Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Khubsoorat was one of the memorable films of the 80s. Rekha looking beautiful and acting fabulous, Dina Pathak portraying a martinet, Ashok Kumar at one of his bests, good lyrics by Gulzar with suitable tunes by R D Burman, were the highlights of the film.
Anju (Aaradhana) and Manju (Rekha) are sisters and it’s the playful nature of both that brings joyous moments in their lives. When their father’s friend suggests one of his acquaintances for the elder daughter Anju, Manju pulls her leg and teases her. She tells about an imaginary groom and his family to her, who belongs to a reputed family, but he stammers and has dark spots on face. He is a drunkard, he gambles, etc. His mother is deaf, but speaks loudly, while his father can listen, but he’s dumb. Of course, it’s to be taken in a lighter vein. The affection and bonding of the sisters is clearly seen in the song as well as throughout the movie.

Sun Sun Sun Didi Tere Liye – Khoobsurat (1980) Asha Bhosle / R D Burman – Gulzar

7. Saaz (1998) –
The Sai Paranjape directed film was about the story of two sisters working as playback singers in the Hindi film industry. Allegedly based on a popular pair of sisters (The Mangeshkars) in Bollywood, Sai Paranjape never stated it to be so. And if you watch the film, you will notice the differences very clearly.
Manasi (Aruna Irani) and Bansi (Shabana Azmi) both sing, but Bansi isn’t aware of her potential and never thought of taking it as a profession. But Mansi has established herself as a playback singer in Hindi films. Though she’s otherwise affectionate to her younger sister, she considers her as a tough competitor as well. Aware of the potential threat to her career, she plays tricks to snatch Bansi’s opportunities to be a lead singer. She announces their first duet, but during the final recording reduces Bansi’s contribution to a mere chorus. Manasi sings the lines which were originally assigned to Bansi and sings her own lines as well. Bansi learns a lesson that she has to make her own way without the support of her elder sister or her husband, who even abuses her physically. So the song has a significant place in the narrative and throws light on Manasi’s jealous and manipulative nature.

Baadal Chandi Barsaye – Saaz (1998) Devaki Pandit & Jyotsna Hardikar / Bhupen Hazarika – Javed Akhtar

8. Shehnai (1947) –
Shehnai had very good songs, many of which are still popular even after more than 75 years. The film was about four sisters and their love interests, and featured Rehana, Dulari with Mumtaz Ali and Nasir Khan in the main lead.
The film opens with this wonderful song where we can see all the four sisters along the banks of a river or lake. I could identify Rehana and Dulari, but the print is too bad to identify the other two. They are swimming and washing clothes as well,
enjoying themselves at the same time. The song underlines the closely knitted bond between the sisters. The song is a trio, but I couldn’t differentiate the voices even after listening to the clear audio here.
The film with its wonderful score became extremely popular and boosted Rehana’s career, who delivered a few more hits in the 50s with Santoshi.

Chhuk Chhuk Chhaiya Chhaiya – Shehnai (1947) Meena Kapoor, Mohantara Talpade & Binapani Mukherjee / C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi

9. Namkeen (1982) –
Based on a story by Samaresh Basu, the story depicts the life of a former Nautanki dancer (Waheeda Rehman) and her three daughters (Sharmila Tagore, Shabana Azmi and Kiran Vairale).
Though living in a dilapidated house, the three sisters happily work to make spices which they sell to make ends meet. There’s also a room put on rent which Sanjeev Kumar occupies for a while. It’s a delight to watch and listen to this beautiful song with good lyrics by Gulzar. Interestingly both Sharmila Tagore and Kiran Vairale lip sync to Asha Bhosle’s voice. Gulzar has incorporated Bangla words
‘panta bhate tatkal baingan poraa’ in the lyrics which has something to do with brinjal and rice.
Though the film has a few light hearted moments, at the core it’s a movie with a serious mood.

Aanki Chali Banki Chali – Namkeen (1982) Asha Bhosle / R D Burman – Gulzar

10. Sajan Bina Suhagan (1978) –
Though not a film completely centered around sisters, the film does have three sisters, Basanti (Radhika Bartake), Barkha (Aarti Chopra) and Bulbul (Padmini Kolhapure). I won’t go into the details of the movie, but when the family proposes marriage between Anand (Vinod Mehra) and Basanti, the two younger sisters of the proposed bride tease their jija no end. It’s quite fun to listen to. Sisters asking for a lot of pampering for their elder sister. Seven conditions they propose to him followed by their jija. Jija also agrees to the conditions and gives suitable replies that make the sisters happy.

Jijaji Jijaji Honewale Jijaji – Sajan Bina Suhagan (1978) Suresh Wadkar, Anuradha Paudwal & Dilraj Kaur / Usha Khanna – Sawan Kumar Tak

11. Baseraa (1981) –
Baseraa was directed by Ramesh Talwar and it was based on a Marathi novel. The story was about sisters played on screen by Rakhi and Rekha.
Rakhi is married to Shashi Kapoor, but when she gets the news of the death of her newly married sister’s (Rekha) husband, she loses her mental balance, eventually landing up in a coma after a head injury. The coma continues for 14 years. Ultimately Shashi Kapoor marries Rekha. In the end, after recovering from coma, Rakhi acts faux violent behaviour to leave the now happy couple, Rekha and Shashi Kapoor.
The added song is during the marriage of Rakhi and Shashi Kapoor, when Rekha teases them. The affection between the sisters is well seen in the song. She seems to accompany them even for their honeymoon. The song also witnesses a leap. Though the song has a light hearted mood, given that Rekha actually has to come to the house later in a dramatic way, the lyrics get a new meaning. Notably both Rekha and Rakhi lip sync to Asha Bhosle’s voice.

Aaungi Ek Din, Aa Jaaun – Baseraa (1981) Asha Bhosle / R D Burman – Gulzar

12. Dangal (2016) –
The final song on today’s list is from Dangal, which was a biopic of the Phogat sisters, Geeta and Babita Phogat, who are India’s first world class female wrestlers. Amir Khan produced the films and also played their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat.
Aamir Khan adapts the Hitler mode, compelling his daughters undergo rigorous training to become wrestlers. The song portrays the struggle of Phogat sisters, as they want to be like any other girl of their age. They beg him for a little mercy, but he is stern. The song is fun to listen to as their complaints are presented in a comic way and the singers have perfectly captured the comic tone of kids complaining of their strict father. In addition the song also has an unmistakable rustic Haryanvi touch, that no one can escape. So I included the song though it’s a background song and is not lip synched by the on-screen characters. I must add that I thoroughly enjoyed the lyrics.

Haanikaarak Bapu – Dangal (2016) Sarwar Khan & Sataz Khan Barna / Pritam – Amitabh Bhattacharya

I end my list here. I hope you all enjoyed reading it. I’ve tried to keep it crisp, though for a few films I did go a bit in detail.

I’m sure you are ready with your additions to the list. Please add the songs in your comment.

Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs vests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.