By Omair Alavi Saira Banu was known for her beauty when she came onto the film scene in the early 60s. For the next 2 decades, she kept acting in films mostly along side her husband Dilip Kumar and established herself as one of the top Bollywood heroines in the 60s and the 70s. She…
SAMAA | Omair Alavi – Posted: Aug 23, 2017 | Last Updated: 4 years ago
By Omair Alavi
Saira Banu was known for her beauty when she came onto the film scene in the early 60s. For the next 2 decades, she kept acting in films mostly along side her husband Dilip Kumar and established herself as one of the top Bollywood heroines in the 60s and the 70s. She excelled at dance, was breathtakingly beautiful and carried herself elegantly during her career. She turns 73 this year and we would like to celebrate her birthday with 7 of her most famous film songs – one for each decade of her life. Read on:
Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par feat Shammi Kapoor
Film: Junglee (1961)
Music: Shankar-Jaikishan
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Making her debut opposite a hearth throb was never a big thing for Saira Banu who was exceptionally beautiful in Junglee. In this song, she resembles a fairy and looks drop dead gorgeous and went onto rule the hearts of many including the iconic Dilip Kumar whom she later married.
Main Kamsin Hoon feat Rajendra Kumar
Film: Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)
Music: Shankar – Jaikishan
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
This tandem is the heroine’s reply to the hero who had sung the Rafi version of the song earlier. It has been shot on beautiful locations and doesn’t look outdated even after 5 decades. If you listen closely to it, you will find out the similarities between this song and many that were composed later in India and Pakistan.
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar feat Joy Mukherjee
Film: Shagird (1967)
Music: Laxmikant – Pyarelal
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Saira Banu’s character was the bone of contention in this film where both the teacher (I S Johar) and pupil were in love with the same woman. In this song, Saira dances her heart out and helps in making this number an evergreen hit.
Main Chali Main Chali
Film: Padosan (1968)
Music: R D Burman
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle
In a film that revolved around music, Saira Banu entered the story with this song and if you hadn’t fallen in love with her before, here you will. Words can’t describe her beauty and she fitted the role perfectly where the simpleton Bhola (Sunil Dutt) falls in love with her and so does her music teacher (Mehmood).
Unse Mili Nazar
Film: Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan (1968)
Music: Shankar – Jaikishan
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Saira Banu was way ahead of her times but even then she maintained decency in filming of her songs. Here Lata Mangeshkar lends her voice for a number that required the heroine to undress but Saira never crossed the limits of decency.
Gentleman Gentleman feat Dilip Kumar
Film: Gopi (1970)
Music: Kalyandji – Anandji
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor
After her marriage to Dilip Kumar in the late 60s, Saira got to work with him for the first time in this flick and their chemistry set the screen on fire. Before this song, the real-life husband and wife speak a language that no one understands but themselves, followed by a song that is still popular after 47 years!
Choti Si Umar Main Lag Gaya Rog feat Dilip Kumar
Film: Bairaag (1976)
Music: Kalyandji – Anandji
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Dilip Kumar’s last film as a leading man had him in a triple role with Saira being the heroine of one of them. They have a couple of hit numbers in the film with this one having Saira dance like never before. Lata’s vocals gave the song the eternal touch it deserved and although the film didn’t do well at the box office, the songs are popular even today.
