Happy Duets of Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar

 He had velvety and soothing voice and she had sweet voice suffused with divine beauty. He was King of Gazals and She was Queen of Melody. Both had high regards to each other. Talat always praised Lata's simplicity and modesty and Lata regarded his diction and intonation in high esteem. Both had synergy and were well aware of each others virtues. Therefore when two such great voices come together, there is no doubt the resulting melody would certainly be outstanding and spell bounding. Talat Mehmood sang total 67 duets with Lata, some sad, melanchollic, some soothingly quiet and calm and some lilting happy and cheery ones as well.

Here are some of his best Ten happy Duets with Lata as far as my personal preference goes.

1.Gaya Andhera Hua Ujala-Film Subah ka Tara 1954-Lyrics Noor Lucknowi- Music C.Ramchandra.

Subah Ka Tara was a film depicting the dismal life of a forlorn widow.Mohan (Pradeep Kumar) is madly in love of a young widow Padmini (Jayashree). However, Padmini's mother is opposed to their marraige as she thinks a widow should not indulge in such carnal pleasures. After mother's death, Padmini goes to paternal uncle, where she is treated badly. Mohan goes there and after seeing her plight, expresses his feelings towards her. The Aunt drives her out of home. Padmini comes back to her mother's house commits suicide by setting the house on fire.Mohan is devastated , disheveled and goes insane. Thus the film shows how the social taboos destroy a love nest. This song is in Raag Pahadi .Both Lata and Talat complementing each other splendidly. Usha Mangeshkar sang her first hindi film song in this movie" Bhabhi Aayee Badi Dhum Dham Se"

2.Aaha Rimzim ke Ye Pyare Pyare-Film Usne Kaha Tha 1961-Lyrics Shailendra-Music Salil Choudhary

Rain drenched serene night. Trees are calm and  contended after the rain. The full moon hangs in the sky.This is the perfect backdrop for a romantic pair to express their tender feeling towards each other. Nandu (Sunil Dutt) is in love with Kamli (Nanda). When Nandu's mother approaches Kamli's parents for marraige, she is humilated as Nandu is unemployed. Disgusted, Nandu joins army to prove his worth. There he comes to know that his officer is Kamli's husband. War is called for. Before going to war, Kamli takes a promise from Nandu that he should protect her husband. During the war, Nandu dies while saving Kamli's husband. When the officer asks why Nandu risked his life for saving him, Nandu says "Usne Kaha Tha". That's why the name of the movie. Both Nanda and Sunil Dutt looks so refreshingly pleasant in this song.Salilda's music is scintillating. Evergreen Song.!!

3. O Dildar Bolo Ek Baar-Film School Master 1959-Lyrics Pradeep-Music Vasant Desai

 This movie was based on the Marathi movie Oonpaus. It's Kannad ramake got National award, but hindi remake could not.The song is filmed on Raja Gosavi and B.Saroja Devi.The entire song races fast rhythmatically. Out of nine songs,this song proved to be most popular.

4.Hay Koi  Dekh Lega-Film Ek Gaon Ki HKahani 1957-Lyrics Shailendra-Music Salil Choudhary.

This is one of the few films in which Talat himself acted as a hero, other were Dil E Nadan, DakBabu, Waris, Lala Rookh and Sone ki Chidiya where he was hero against Shyama , Nadira, Suraiyya, and Nutan. He was not successful as actor, fortunately for music lovers, and later concentrated on his singing career. This song has it's own inherent Tanga like rhythm which gives the song undulating quality. Mala Sinha looks very refreshing and gorgeous here. Another of Salilda's masterpiece.

5.Kisi Se Pyar Hai Hamko-Film Devta 1956-Lyrics Rajendra Krishna-Music C.Ramchandra

Gemini Ganeshan and Anjali Devi starer mythological film.The musical gem from C.Ramchandra catches the rootha manana mood of the two love birds.Both talat's and Lata's voice full of mischief and romance.The lyrics of Rajendra Krishna is captivating and tune playful.All in all, very pleasant experience.

kisi se pyar hai hamko magar ham na bataenge ,

Tumhari inn jhuki ankho se ham to jaan jaenge

Ham ankhe khol denge to ham ankhe khol denge to 

Jhukana hamko ata hai jhukana hamko ata hai 

Hato ham ruth jayenge hato ham ruth jayenge 

Manana hamko ata hai manana hamko ata hai

6.Aayee Zoomti Bahar-Film Insaniyat 1955-Lyrics Rajendra Krishna-Music C.Ramchandra

The only time the two leading stars of 1950s came together was in this film. Bhanu (Devanand) is bandit and works with Zangoora (Jayant).When Bhanu raids a village ,Mangal (Dilip Kumar) persuades him to abondon banditry. Bhanu becomes head of villagers. Zangoora abducts him. While saving Bhanu , Mangal risks his life. Beena Roy looks so young and tender in this song, whreas Dev in moustache looks ridiculous.The film has Madras glamour hence was immensely popular and hit.This is the first film of Gemini Pictures, in which a bollywood composer was specially called for arranging music department.

7.Bagomein Khilte hai Phool-Film Suhag Sindoor 1961-Lyrics Rajendra Krishna-Music Chitragupta.

Lovely duet in golden voices of Talat and Lata. Rajendra Krishna's profoundly beautiful lyrics and Chitragupta's music creates a pleasantly romantic mood.Grade I material.....

8.Teri Chamakti Aakhon Ke-Film Chote Babu 1957-Lyrics Indivar-Music Madan Mohan.

Very pleasant and soothingly calm and quite song. Talat's soft voice and Lata's honey voice blending with each other superbly.The song starts with Lata's aalap, and the her intermittent aalaps bind the song effectively to create a sweet and mesmerizing melody. Madan Mohan magic is clearly evident here.

9.Dilmein Sama Gaye Sajan-Film Sangdil 1952-Lyrics Rajendra Krishna-Music Sajjad Hussain

By the time Sangdil went on the set, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar were deeply in love.Their chemistry is evident here in this song. The whole song has Sajjad Hussai written all over it. Sajjad Hussain was rumoured to be egoistic and did not speak well for anyone.He referred Talat mahmood as "Galat" Mahamood, but frankly speaking in this song, Talat never seems Galat. In fact, we can't imagine this song without his voice. Another of Talat's masterpiece in this film was "Ye hava Ye Raat Ye Chandani". The song is so sweet that even a gifted composer like Madan Mohan could not resit to copy the tune in his film Aakhari Dao            ( Tuze kya Sunaoo Mai Dilrooba). Sajjad Hussain gave stellar performance in Sangdil. All the songs were hit.Today this movie is remembered for Sajjad and Sajjad only.

10.Ye Nayee Nayee Preet Hai-Film Pocket Mar 1956-Lyrics Rajendra Krishna-Music Madan Mohan

Refreshingly pleasant youth dreamland.Flamboyant and debonair Dev Anand and mischievous, starry eyed Geeta Bali....Two Love birds enjoying their first formed love on sea.They confess their love but simultaneously also desire to keep it secret, nobody should know it. It should be their own private sweet secret shangrila. Dev playing with Geeta's hairs, Geeta leaning heavily on Dev while walking on bridge....all these small things contribute to the sweet melody. The actors, the lyrics and music all makes this song worth  watchable.