Ye hawa ye nadi ka kinara by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle from Ghar Sansar (1958), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Ravi The same year you have this gem by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle composed by the quiet genius Ravi, picturised on Rajendra Kumar and Kumkum. Ye ratein ye mausam nadi ka kinara by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle from Dilli Ka Thug (1958), lyrics Shailendra, music Ravi It is amazing, Kishore Kumar who sang crazy songs like CAT cat mane billi and Hum to mohabbat karega in this film, sings such melodious romantic song – naturally, it is a river song. Haiya re haiya ho must have occurred in dozens of songs, but none could match the prominence given in this song as a countermelody throughout the song.

Lata Mangeshkar starts the first line in slow tempo without any music, then the regulation Haiya re haiya ho followed by the incredibly beautiful river song in folk-classical style. When a genius like Naushad is at his peak of creativity you get a musical masterpiece like Udankhatola. Nadiya kinare Ram bagiya mein nagar paan by Bharat Vyas from Chandralekha (1948), lyrics Pt Indra, music S Rajeshwar Rao Though the mukhadaa starts with the word ‘nadiya’, it is more of a bullock cart song. One of the quintessential Surendra songs, filled with pathos. His style and voice was very reminiscent of KL Saigal, and for some time he was being built up as Bombay’s answer to Saigal, till the latter himself shifted to Bombay.

Kyon man dhhodhe prem nadi ka kinara by Surendra from Lal Haveli (1944), lyrics Munshi Shams Lukhanvi, music Mir Sahib Among the actor-singers of Bombay in late 30s and 40s Surendra was perhaps the best. Ek tu hai ek main hun ek nadi ka kinara hai by Suraiya from Kanoon (1943), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad Naushad would achieve spectacular popularity a year later with Rattan, but this less known Suraiya song is extremely pleasant, its beauty enhanced by the river theme. With this caveat I find this half-song extremely cute with Devika Rani singing about mangrove across the river and playing joyously with her puppy.

Odia serial song shehnai