Bhaiyyon aur behenon, woh Vividh Bharati aur Radio Ceylon ka zamaana tha . Back in 1974, Doordarshan was relatively new in Mumbai, and the latest Hindi film songs were picked up on radio, or while watching the movie in a theatre.
Rajesh Khanna was still the reigning superstar, though Amitabh Bachchan was gaining in popularity. The former had most of the hit songs over the previous five years. In that scenario, two songs picturised on one particular actor stood out.
The Mohammed Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar duet ‘Vaada Karle Saajna’ ( Haath Ki Safai ) and Kishore Kumar's ‘Ruk Jaana Nahin’ ( Imtihan ) were huge, with both films providing a sudden boost for Vinod Khanna.
When news of the actor's death broke on April 27, many posted ‘Ruk Jaana Nahin’ on social media, along with Kishore Kumar’s Mere Apne masterpiece ‘Koi Hota Jisko Apna’, released in 1971. Till today, these two songs remain favourites among Vinod Khanna fans.
There have been others over the years. But the fact was that among the 1970s and 1980s crop, compared to Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and for a brief phase even Amol Palekar, Vinod Khanna had fewer hits picturised on him. He had some wonderful songs but many went unnoticed.
There may be a few reasons for this. One is that some of his films with good numbers ( Qaid , Bombay 405 Miles , Insaan ) didn’t fare well. There were also films with only one hit – ‘Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost’ in Aap Ki Khatir and ‘Chahiye Thoda Pyar’ in Lahu Ke Do Rang .
As second lead in many films, Khanna had to accept the fact that the hero got more commercially viable songs. He also acted in offbeat films like Achanak , Shaque and Rihaee which had lesser scope for mass-oriented music. There were many hit songs where he appeared on-screen but wasn't part of the singing process. Examples were ‘Maar Diya Jaaye’ (from Mera Gaon Mera Desh ), ‘O Saathi Re’ and ‘Pyaar Zindagi Hai’ ( Muqaddar Ka Sikandar ) and ‘Karuna Suno Shaam’ ( Meera ).
A couple of songs were blatant lifts too. Laxmikant-Pyarelal's ‘Saathiya Tu Mere Sapnon Ka Meet Hai’ ( Insaan ) was a copy of Brotherhood Of Man's ‘Angelo’ and Rajesh Roshan's ‘Jab Koi Baat’ ( Jurm ) rehashed the folk standard ‘500 Miles’.
And there was the classic case of Amar Akbar Anthony . Khanna appeared on two songs along with the main male co-stars - the title track and ‘Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyaar’. But while the famous ‘My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves’ was filmed on Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor had three tunes – ‘Parda Hai’, ‘Taiyeb Ali Pyaar Ka Dushman’ and ‘Shirdi Waale Saibaba’.
The most interesting thing, however, was that Khanna wasn’t associated with any particular playback singer. Rajesh Khanna had Kumar on most hits. Bachchan had Kumar too, unless he sang the song himself. Rishi Kapoor had Shailendra Singh and later Rafi, with Kumar in some films. Palekar had Yesudas, Bhupinder or Kumar.
Let's look at some of Khanna's biggest hits. While ‘Koi Hota’ and ‘Ruk Jaana’ were Kumar and ‘Vaada Karle’ was Rafi, ‘Hum Tumhe Chahte Hain’ ( Qurbani ) was by Manhar and ‘Bambai Se Aaya’ by Bappi Lahiri. In Achanak , S.D. Burman sang ‘Sun Mere Bandhu Re’ for one of his scenes. ‘Yeh Khidki Toh Band’ ( Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki ) had Rafi, ‘Lagi Aaj Saawan Ki’ ( Chandni ) had Suresh Wadkar and ‘Jab Koi Baat’ had Kumar Sanu.
‘Aaj Phir Tumpe’ had Pankaj Udhas and ‘Jaag Ke Kaati’ ( Leela ) was sung by Jagjit Singh. In ‘Humko Tumse’ from Amar Akbar Anthony , Khanna’s part was rendered by Mukesh. One wonders whether any other top actor from that era had so many voices representing him.
In mainstream Hindi cinema, the number of hit songs filmed on an actor plays a somewhat important role. Compared to his contemporaries, Khanna may have been at a disadvantage. Maybe the filmmakers and music directors overlooked his prowess. But he more than made up with his looks, choice of roles and versatility.
Khanna was one guy who dazzled in Elvis Presley sideburns, as in ‘Koi Hota’, looked great in spectacles and tie, like in ‘Ruk Jaana Nahin’, rocked the casual jeans ‘n’ jacket attire, like in ‘Hum Tumhe Chaahte’ or had that bare-chested macho look, like ‘Aaj Phir Tumpe’. Most songs suited him perfectly. Goodbye, o raahi!
