Celebrate Janmashtami with These Songs

Bollywood has often celebrated Lord Krishna with lovely songs over the years.
On the festive occasion of Janmashtami, Subhash K Jha picks his favourite Kanha songs.

Kanha Bole Na, Sangat

In her illustrious career, Lata Mangeshkar has sung numerous Krishna bhajans of impeccable quality. This one remains the most under-rated.

The songs was composex by Salil Chowdhary for the unreleased film, Sangat.

Kanha Bole Na is one of Salil Chowdhary's greatest compositions with Lataji soaring to heights of expressiveness as she describes Radha's stolen moments with her precious Kanha.

Manna Dey accompanies Lataji.

 

Kanha Re Kanha Tune Lakho Raas Rachaye, Truck Driver

How did a Krishna bhajan as beautiful as this be a part of a film titled Truck Driver?!

This song is a beauty, a jewel among for Lataji's Krishna bhajans, which I place much higher than her more popular songs Yashomati Maiyaa Se Bole Nandlala (Satyam Shivam Sunderam) and Bada Natkhat Hai Re Krishna Kanhaiya (Amar Prem).

Composers Sonik-Omi never got their due.

 

Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re, Kohinoor

Every time I hear the great Mohammed Rafi sing this ode to Radha as she dances to Girdhar's flute, my heart dances.

To think the lyricist (Shakeel Badayuni), the composer (Naushad), the singer (Rafi) and actor it was picturised on (Dilip Kumar) were all Muslim!

It's a true, melodious emblem of India's secularism.

Badi Der Bhai Nandlala, Khandaan

The divine euphoria of Janmasthami as Krishna bhakts sing chant and dance waiting for the birth of Krishna... captured with grace in Mohammed Rafi's voice in this evergreen ode composed by Ravi Sharma.

Sunil Dutt, who lip-synced it, counted it among the most favourite songs of his career.

 

Mujhko Bhi Radha Banale Nandlal, Ankahee

Asha Bhosle touches sublime chords in this exquisite Krishna bhajan, composed by the great Jaidev. There is an aching longing, as the woman pines to be the Radha in her Krishna's life.

The words by legendary poet Balkavi Bairagi amply punctuate the sense of longing.

Ashaji's voice has seldom been in a better form. She had another extraordinary Krishna bhajan, Kaun Thagwa Nagariya Lootal Ho in Ankahee.