Top 10 Usha Khanna Hindi Soundtracks

[prem]

I have tried to create a top 10, though personally I would have preferred a top 5

Aap To Aise Na The
Bin Phere Hum Tere
Dada
Dil Dekhe Dekho
Ek Sapera Ek Lutera
Hawas
Honeymoon
Hum Hindustani
Saajan Bina Suhagan
Souten

 

[Naturelover]

So, what's the top 5?

 

[prem]

Aap To Aise Na The
Bin Phere Hum There
Dil Dekhe Dekho
Hawas
Souten

Only Dil Dekhe Dekho would feature in my top 100

 

[Naturelover]

Do we smell a top 100 coming up

 

[prem]

No

 

[prem]

It’s too much of an effort. I have to go through all releases from late 1940s to 2023. It’s a Herculean task. Beyond me.

 

[himadri]

Usha khanna and mohammad rafi

 

[jenson]

adding be-shaque to the list

Dil deke Dekho has to be a glorious debut for any composer, and what a follow up with hum hindustani.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Is Usha Khanna the only mainstream female composer of substance in Hind films till date? And, isn’t that shocking in today’s age? Sure, Lata Mangeshkar in her early days or Kishori Amonkar did try their hand at it, but they didn’t persevere with composing. Sneha Khanwalkar has had some interesting works, but in collaboration with other (male) composers, except GOW duology of course, which still remains her calling card after 12 years.

Wonder why this one domain in our film industry still remains a glass ceiling for women. It also makes Usha ji’s achievements that much more special/ unique.

 

[jenson]

Is Usha Khanna the only mainstream female composer of substance in Hind films till date? And, isn’t that shocking in today’s age? Sure, Lata Mangeshkar in her early days or Kishori Amonkar did try their hand at it, but they didn’t persevere with composing. Sneha Khanwalkar has had some interesting works, but in collaboration with other (male) composers, except GOW duology of course, which still remains her calling card after 12 years.

Wonder why this one domain in our film industry still remains a glass ceiling for women. It also makes Usha ji’s achievements that much more special/ unique.

For her time, she was far ahead of the curve, introducing many new singers. As a result, her soundtracks carry a distinct and unique flavor.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Is Usha Khanna the only mainstream female composer of substance in Hind films till date? And, isn’t that shocking in today’s age? Sure, Lata Mangeshkar in her early days or Kishori Amonkar did try their hand at it, but they didn’t persevere with composing. Sneha Khanwalkar has had some interesting works, but in collaboration with other (male) composers, except GOW duology of course, which still remains her calling card after 12 years.

Wonder why this one domain in our film industry still remains a glass ceiling for women. It also makes Usha ji’s achievements that much more special/ unique.

I forgot Saraswati Devi, who was actually one of the pioneers of Hindi film music back in the 30s and 40s. She was the preferred composer for Bombay Talkies movies (like Achut Kanya, which had the timeless Ashok Kumar - Devika Rani song ‘Main Ban Ki Chidiya’). This Parsi lady who had to take a pseudonym due to opposition from the community, was very prolific and gave hit film albums till the early 1960s.

There were a few other female composers in Hindi cinema too, like Jaddan Bai (actress Nargis’s mother), but Saraswati Devi and Usha Khanna remain the only two with a lifelong body of work. Across two eras, their combined careers spanned from the 1930s till 2000. But unlike Saraswati Devi, Usha Khanna did not get patronage from any of the leading banners which makes her achievements all the more commendable. In some way, she reminds me of Reena Roy - the actress from 70s and 80s who had to make do with smaller banners, but had a unique star value that ensured box office success.






Ending this post with a favourite Usha Khanna song of mine from the delicate relationship movie ‘Sweekar Kiya Maine’.

 

[premoddev]

Usha Khanna has done music in few Malayalam movies too. One of the notable work was on movie "Moodal Manju".. the song "nee madhu pakaroo" is one of the all time hits of Yesudas too.

Ps , please delete this in case if violates the thread title.