He turned a fit 83 on April 7. For Jeetendra, music was always a key part of his career. Though he had a major association with Laxmikant-Pyarelal (a mindboggling 100-plus films of his 200-plus movies!) he was also involved in the 1980s South movies with Bappi Lahiri. But everyone from Naushad to Nadeem-Shravan gave him at least one popular song.
And for someone who thus remains one of our most musical stars, the first iconic song in which he played a part was not lip-synched by him! Yes, it was Tu chhupi hai kahaan from Navrang (1959), in which he was one of the princes in the background!
Here we go to the 20 iconic songs actually filmed on the actor.
Mast baharon ka main aashiq / Farz / 1967
In all-white (outfit and shoes!), the Indian James Bond was “introduced” in this golden jubilee blockbuster. The film established him as a top name (many had refused the role), a musical actor and dancing star (termed the Jumping Jack). It also affirmed his personal and professional rapport with singer Mohammed Rafi and composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Baar baar din yeh aaye / Farz
In the same film, we get this “Happy Birthday” song that, even over 50 years later, remains the benchmark birthday song for all of us, as written by Anand Bakshi, also a Jeetendra favorite.
Je hum tum chori se / Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke / 1969
This Mukesh-Lata cult classic remains an eternal favorite with the rustic lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. It showed Jeetendra’s rural avatar impeccably. L-P again.
Gham uthane ke liye / Mere Huzoor / 1969
Shankar-Jaikishan swarm in for just one iconic song of the star though they did have other popular songs in Jeetendra’s films Gunahon Ka Devta, Ek Nari Ek Brahmchari and Yaar Mera. Hasrat Jaipuri wrote this Rafi litany.
Ek banjara gaaye / Jeene Ki Raah / 1969
Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s Filmfare award-winning score had many winners by Rafi, but in the long run this brilliantly worded (Bakshi again) inspirational solo triumphed over the others.
Chandi ki deewaar na todi / Vishwas / 1969
This Mukesh evergreen remains among the cream of Kalyanji-Anandji’s compositions for the singer. For the actor, it effortlessly towers over the rest of the songs K-A composed for him in Parivar, Suhaag Raat, Mere Humsafar, Kathputhli, Ek Hasina Do Diwane and Neeyat. Gulshan Bawra’s hard-hitting lyrics spun their own magic.
O jaan-e-chaman / Anmol Moti / 1969
Low-key at that time, though decidedly popular, this Rajendra Krishan-written Ravi composition sung beautifully by Mahendra Kapoor has grown over the years in popularity, especially on YouTube. Pure in its erotic words (!), it may have suffered a bit then as the movie fumbled at the box-office.
Dhal gaya din / Humjoli / 1970
Badminton being played during the enactment gave this catchy Asha-Rafi duet a boost in popularity. This film was Jeetendra’s first of multiple home productions and Leena Chandavarkar and the actor ‘sportingly’ lip-synched it! L-P with Bakshi again.
Arey ho goriya kahaan tera des / Caravan / 1971
Asha-Rafi came in, this time for a Majrooh-written R.D. Burman earthy duet from Caravan. Jeetendra and Aruna Irani gambol as the caravan proceeds on its way through green fields.
Kitna pyara vaada hai / Caravan
Lata Mangeshkar replaces Asha in this Rafi duet in the same film. The song was a sedate romantic duet with Asha Parekh.
Musafir hoon yaaro / Parichay / 1972
This time R.D. Burman was paired for the first time with lyricist (and the film’s director, Gulzar). The song was the first to be recorded for Parichay, an “adaptation” of The Sound of Music. Kishore Kumar was the singer.
Dil ki baatein / Roop Tera Mastana / 1972
This 1972 non-starter was a musical bonanza and the 100th film of Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The music-fest had Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar singing this twinkle-toed melody written by Asad Bhopali.
Kabhi khole na tijori ka taala / Bidaai / 1974
This L.V. Prasad melodrama was a huge hit and ended Jeetendra’s first indifferent career phase. The rambunctious Kishore number with the actor teasing his money-crazy father-in-law was a perky delight. L-P-Bakshi again did the creative honors.
Hum banjaron ki baat / Dharam-Veer / 1977
The musical trio this time went in for a high-energy gypsy tango in Manmohan Desai’s costume spectacle. Neetu Singh was Jeetendra’s partner in this dance-a-thon.
Toone mujhe bulaya Sherawaliye / Aasha / 1980
Mohammed Rafi and Narendra Chanchal sang this Mata bhent with pulsating dynamism. The song was actually shot on the way to the Vaishno Devi shrine, penned again by Bakshi and composed again by L-P.
Pal do pal ka saath hamara / The Burning Train / 1980
R.D. Burman’s masterful qawwali with Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi was a classic in that genre, with trenchantly philosophical lyrics by Sahir in Jeetendra’s only 70mm film (which however derailed). Neetu Singh was his partner again.
Maar gayi mujhe teri judaai / Judaai / 1980
In the bumper year for Jeetendra that was 1980, the actor acted in 10 films, from which six were either hits or successes. This South melodrama featured Rekha (his most frequent co-star from the 1970s to the millennium!) and it had an all-popular score composed by L-P—six songs within a day! This Kishore-Asha Anand Bakshi duet topped them all in popularity.
Nainon mein sapna / Himmatwala / 1983
Bappi Lahiri, who had worked with the actor in the low-key Jyoti, scored this thumping ditty sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. Once again, Himmatwala ended a kind of bleak phase in the actor’s career and opened up what came to be known as the ‘Padmalaya’ brand of typical raunchy numbers, usually filmed on Jeetendra and Sridevi (or Jayapradha), and written by Indeevar.
Ooeee amma ooeee amma / Mawaali / 1983
Re-created with great success in The Dirty Picture, Jeetendra’s 2011 home production, the song was originally again a Bappi-Indeevar creation sung with gusto by Kishore and Asha and filmed on Jayapradha and Jeetendra.
Pyar ka tohfa tera / Tohfa / 1984
A zinger of a Kishore-Asha duet by the same composer-lyricist duo, with the same lead pair as above, this was another full-on dance number that is still enjoyed.
