Hemant Kumar's Best

This is a post I've wanted to write since quite sometime, finally found the time to do it. There are few singers of the old days who are still relevant today. Those who still are, like Kishore Kumar, Rafi, Mukesh, Manna De were immensely popular in their times. However, the depth in voice which Hemant Kumar possessed could not be matched by anyone back then or now. Hemant Kumar is probably not as famous as any of the above listed names today, because he didn't do as much work in the Hindi Music Industry as the rest of them. But the two songs which I love of his far surpass those which any of the other legends have sung. The one thing which all the legends had in their songs was more focus on vocals than instruments, that's changed today [there's nothing wrong with it], but it's just that if you go to a live concert of any of the current day singers, you can be surprised by the dip in quality over the studio versions of their songs.

If you haven't heard these 2 songs, please give them a listen immediately:


Tum Pukar Lo from the movie Khamoshi -

Hm hm hm hm
Hm hm hm, hm hm hm

Tum pukar lo, tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo
Khwaab chun rahi hai raat beqarar hai
Tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo

(Honth pe liye hue dil ki baat ham
Jaagte rahenge aur kitni raat ham) -2
Muqtasar si baat hai tum se pyaar hai
Tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo

(Dil bahal to jaayega is khayal se
Haal mil gaya tumhara apne haal se) -2
Raat ye qaraar ki beqarar hai
Tumhara intezaar hai

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The above song I had heard when I was just about 6 years old, that was a time when DD was still a relevant channel on TV. They were showing this brilliant movie called Khamoshi which was a trendsetter in terms of a storyline involving a mental patient and a lady doctor who get romantically involved. If the brilliance of the movie itself wasn't enough, there was this amazing song which just blew me away in terms of lyrics and music which touches your heart. And even at that age I knew I'd continue to love this song for years to come.

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Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila from the movie Pyaasa

Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila

Humne To Jab Kaliyaan Maangi Kaaton Ka Haar Mila

Bichhad Gayaa Har Saathi Dekar Pal Do Pal Ka Saath
Kisko Phursat Hai Jo Thaame Deewane Ka Haath
Humko Apna Saaya Tak Aqsar Bezaar Mila
Humne To Jab...

Isko Hi Jeena Kehte Hain To Yunhi Ji Lenge
Uf Na Karenge Lab See Lenge Aansoo Pee Lenge
Gham Se Ab Ghabraana Kaisa Gham Sau Baar Mila
Humne To Jab...

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This song from Guru Dutt's masterpiece Pyaasa is a classic. I love it far more than the other classic in this movie "Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai".

I salute this brilliant singer and music composer.