As Al(ka)ways, Hariharan was dependable

Given A R Rahman’s exacting standards of perfection, it would not be incorrect to state that the soundtrack of Guru (2007) wasn’t his best. But fortunately, even its passable tracks were memorable.

Of course, Aye Hairathe, which Gulzar penned, didn’t disappoint.

That was attributable to the fact that it was rendered by Hariharan and Alka Yagnik, who are among the pet singers of the composer, who was, incidentally, credited as the third crooner.

Of the four songs from the film on this blog, it was the longest – it was six minutes and nine seconds long.

(Ud)It was the KatcHiest track

The piece de resistance of Swades’ soundtrack was Yunhi Chala Chal, which was, incidentally, the longest song in the film as well – it was seven minutes and 28 seconds long.

It was the perfect song to play when one is on a road trip or at a jam session with friends.

And the best part of it is it gave the listeners a message (to keep going forward) without becoming preachy.

Penned by Javed Akhtar and composed by A R Rahman, (Ud)it was rendered by Narayan, Hariharan and Kailash Kher (the highlight of the track).

Singh could Har(iharan)dly be heard

Clichéd as it may sound, everyone wants his/her partner to say, “You are not in front of me. But that is besides the point. You are near me.”

That was what Nahin Saamne, from Taal, could be translated to.

The next couple of lines of the song, which was six minutes and four seconds long, went, “Yeh alag baat hai, mere paas hai tu.”

It was rendered by Hariharan, who was joined behind the microphone by Sukhwinder Singh (who was barely heard).

The track was penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by A R Rahman.

Indeed, Hariharan rendered (Sadh)anawesome track

The first thing one associates with Jeans is the pair of denims that is a must-have in every wardrobe.

It was also the title of a Tamil film that released in 1998 and was dubbed into Hindi.

Only a die-hard A R Rahman fan would admit that it had some hummable tracks.

Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam rendered a song that was six minutes and 57 seconds long.

It was titled Ajooba and penned by Javed Akhtar.

And, as any Hindi film music buff and his Ajoba (Marathi for grandpa) would tell you, it was 'wonder'ful.

Sadhana sang (Harihar)an outstanding track

Without an iota of doubt, Chanda Re was the best song on the soundtrack of Sapnay.

Javed Akhtar penned the track, whose next two lines – “Kabhi toh zameen pe aa, baithenge baatein karenge” – can be translated to, “Come to earth some time. We will sit and chat.”

There were a couple of versions of the song, which was composed by A R Rahman.

They were the same length – both were five minutes and 58 seconds long.

Both the versions were rendered by a pair that has sung a number of duets – Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam.

It was bizarre but K(avit)atchy

Telephone Dhun Mein Hansnewaali must have conjured up the image of a woman whose laugh sounded like a ringing telephone.

But since that didn’t have a nice ring to it, it must have amused the listeners no end. 

The song, which was from Hindustani, was six minutes and 15 seconds long.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the song, which P K Mishra penned, became popular because it was absurd (Can someone explain what its second line, Melbourne Macchli Machalnewaali, meant?)

A R Rahman composed it.

It was rendered by Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy.

It waS(warnalath)a typical Hariharan number

Rangeela, which released in 1995, marked the Hindi film debut of A R Rahman.

It earned him the Best Music Director Award and the R D Burman Award for New Music Talent at the Filmfare Awards the following year.

In fact, he was the first recipient of the latter.

Hai Rama was the longest song in the film – it was six minutes and 46 seconds long.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to state that Hariharan’s rendition was the highlight of the track.

He was joined behind the microphone by Swarnalatha.

The song was penned by Mehboob.

It was (Harihar)an excellent rendition

When Hariharan rendered Sun Ri Sakhi, every female Hindi film buff (and her male companion) listened with rapt attention.

Soothing to the ears, the track, from Humse Hai Muqabala, was five minutes and 11 seconds long.

It was penned by P K Mishra, who used an interesting word, Naagmani (which means a gem possessed by a shape-shifting cobra).

The rest of the line went, “Teri nagin si zulfon ko sanvaaroon main” (which can be translated to, “I will part your hair that is like a female cobra.”)

The track was composed by A R Rahman.

Kavita rendered (Harihar)an outstanding number

Tu Hi Re, from Bombay, was the Hindi version of Uyire, an acclaimed song from the original, which was in Tamil.

They were the longest songs on their respective soundtracks – both were seven minutes and 14 seconds.

The Hindi version of the song, which was penned by Mehboob, was composed by A R Rahman.

Hariharan rendered both the aforementioned versions (and the Telugu version, which was titled Urika Chilaka and was as long as the other two versions.)

Kavita Krishnamurthy rendered the Hindi version. The Tamil and Telugu versions were sung by K S Chithra.

This was (Harihar)another awesome version

Version 2 of Roja Jaaneman, the title track of Roja, had four things in common with Version 1.

Firstly, they were the same length – five minutes and seven seconds.

Secondly, both versions were penned by P K Mishra.

Thirdly, A R Rahman composed them.

Fourthly, Sujatha Mohan rendered both the versions.

There was just one difference between them – Version 2 was sung by Hariharan.

The fact that the listeners thought comparisons between the two versions were unnecessary proved a point, that could be called the fifth (and most important) similarity – both the versions were outstanding. 

It was (Harihar)an outstanding number

Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai was, undoubtedly, one of the best patriotic songs of our times.

It was from the Hindi version of Roja, a Tamil film which released in 1992 and marked the debut of A R Rahman.

Merely calling him a composer would do absolutely no justice to the musical genius, who would go on to become India’s pride.

P K Mishra penned the song.

It was, technically, the second-shortest song on the soundtrack – it was just three minutes and five seconds long.

Hariharan, who rendered it, was accompanied by a chorus.