'Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aayein'- The Tune Clicked in a Restaurant

 

This immortal song from 'Naujawan' film created waves in 1951 continued to mesmerize music lovers and creators for decades. Music Director Roshan used the same tune in the song Rahein Na Rahe Hum from Mamta (1966). R D Burman used the same tune in the song 'Saagar Kinare Dil Yeh Pukare' from Ramesh Sippy's Saagar (1985).

The birth of this song is quite interesting. Sachin Dev Burman, the composer of this film made one tune which was not liked by Director Mahesh Kaul, Sachin Da made one tune after another but none of the tunes clicked to the director. Dada got irritated and moved out of that place and went for a walk at Juhu Beach. He kept humming one tune after another but was not getting satisfaction.

After walking for a bit, he decided to have a break, he went to a restaurant for a cup of tea. When he was sipping the tea, he suddenly heard a tune on a Piano,' Sa-Re-Sa-Sa-Pa'. it clicked to him, he immediately went to the Piano to see who is playing. He saw a waiter at that Restaurant was playing the Piano and keeping on repeating the same keys. 

He immediately went to his home and improvised the tune. Next day he called the director of the film to his workplace and presented the new tune. Mahesh Kaul liked and approved the song. This is how an immortal tune was created. 

The song became a great hit and remains one of Lata’s and S D Burman's career bests. This song is picturized on Nalini Jaywant.

Song of Naujawan' 1951

Over the years, many composers used the first few notes and made minor changes to them to compose many more mellifluous songs each of which was popular in its own right.

 Roshan (father of Rajesh & Rakesh Roshan) who was so inspired by the music of the song that he formally requested S D Burman’s permission to recreate the tune and use it for the initial part of his composition Tera Dil Kahaan Hai which was sung by Asha Bhosle for the movie “Chandni Chowk” in 1954 with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Song of Chandni Chowk 1954

 Roshan used it again in 1966 for the movie “Mamta”. Picturised on the beautiful Suchitra Sen and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rahe Na Rahe Hum had two versions. The more popular version was sung by Lata Mangeshkar

Song of Mamta 1966

Ten years later in 1964, legendary Madan Mohan used the same few notes for the initial lines of the composition Yehi Hai Tamanna Tere Dar Ke Saamne sung by Mohammed Rafi and penned by Raja Mehndi Ali Khan for the Dharmendra-starrer “Aap Ki Parchchaiyan”.

Song of Aap Ki Parchchaiyan 1964

 In 1983 R D Burman used this tune for Hame Aur Jeene Ki Chaahat with lyrics by Gulshan Bawra in the Rajesh Khanna, Raj Babbar and Rekha-starrer “Agar Tum Na Hote”. 

Song of Agar Tum Na Hote 1983

Two years later Pancham used the same tune for Saagar(1985) song

Song of Saagar  1985