After having covered many legendary music composers, lyricists, and singers in my blogs , both in Hindi & Tamil films, I thought of  breaking the monotony of organizing my blogs artists-wise and start a separate section on  “ theme” based songs. Of course , I have a huge list of artists yet to be covered , but I thought it is good to do something different .

And when we think of one theme or word that has been the most common one  in many songs  in Hindi films , right from the vintage era to  the present  times, it is Zindagi-literally meaning  life .  

If one starts listing out songs that have Zindagi as the core theme , it will run into hundreds or maybe thousands! I will try  using some filter to work out a list that may help in fine tuning the selection of songs. Initially I thought of selecting one song that had Zindagi in the mukhda of the song , from each of the prominent male and female playback singers. But on second thoughts , I felt selecting them  lyricist-wise might be a better way. So here we go with 20 selected songs that are primarily about Zindagi. I have covered almost all the major lyricists and few  relatively less-known.  

The word Zindagi is basically derived from the Persian language and has been extensively used in Urdu and Hindi. The Hindi equivalent is Jeevan. Many decades ago , when I was  staying in hostel during my graduation , in a small town deep south in Tamil Nadu, I was one of the very few guys to listen to Hindi songs. Many of my friends were not familiar with Hindi and they used to comment “ most of the Hindi songs have Zindagi or Duniya”! True to some extent, but when I started searching for songs composed by each lyricist that has Zindagi in the mukhda, I could not find any popular song by some of the lyricists!  For example , despite extensive searching, I could not find any popular song by the lyricist Gopaldas Neeraj who had written some of the most philosophical songs! Maybe my own poor  top-of-the-mind recall and research could have resulted in leaving out some of the lyricists or even some of the popular songs!

Zindagi  is a word that was used by our lyricists to denote  many things. Sometimes it is literally life, sometimes it may refer to one’s love or lover, in other situations it can even refer to the struggles one undergoes in life etc. I am not an expert on poetry/literature/etymology etc and so will restrict myself to how I enjoy listening to these film songs and briefly touch upon the salient part of the lyrics to the best of ability.

Since I have gone by the rule of one song per lyricist, the music directors and singers covered may not be extensive, but to my own surprise , I find many of the major ones covered. Of course repetitions are bound to be there. Also I have selected those songs that have the word Zindagi in the mukhda of the song. Mostly it appears in the first line itself , some starting with that word , but in very few songs  it appears in the second line of the mukhda. Also the entire song need not be as such describing Zindagi. With that disclaimer , let me take you through 20 songs that I could list out .

These are arranged in the chronological order of the year of the film, with the lyricist name mentioned first, followed by , in that order-song, film, year, singer(s) and music director. Also some of the songs  may be relatively  unknown -I have selected their song purely for the excellent lyrics that talks about Zindagi. As I always mention , my selection may not be everyone’s selection. Readers can enrich the blog by mentioning their own favourites in the comments section !

1. Shakeel Badayuni :  Yeh Zindagi ke mele-Mela-1948-Rafi-Naushad

Shakeel Badayuni’s name is known mostly to those who love the songs of golden era. Although he is identified  as Naushad’s trusted shayar, he had written many memorable songs for Hemant Kumar and Ravi also .  In this song look at the way in which he condenses the philosophy of life in so simple words:

ye zindagi ke mele,ye zindagi ke mele,

duniya me kam na hoge, afsos hum na honge

duniya hai mauj-e-dariya, katre ki zindagi kya

paani me mil ke paani, anjaam ye ke faani

and further…

Ek din padegaa jaana, kya waqt kya zamana

Koi Na saath dega,sab kuch yahin rahega

Jayenge hum akele , yeh Zindagi ke mele

Naushad’s simple orchestration is carried through by the exquisite poetry of Shakeel Badayuni and Rafi’s evocative singing.

2 Rajendra Krishan-Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai-Anarkali-1953-Lata-C Ramachandra

If Shakeel painted a sad reality and ephemeral nature of life , Rajendra Krishan captures Anarkali’s ode to love by stating that Zindagi is for that person who falls in love. He goes on to say Zindagi hai bewafa …Loot pyaar ka maaza

This song also has a sad version , when Anarkali’s love is not accepted by Jahangir’s father , Emperor Akbar,  and she is supposed to be buried alive…note how Rajendra Krishan comes out with these superb lines:

jo dil yahan na mil sake

milenge us jahan me

khilenge hasrato ke phool

ja ke aasman me

ye zindagi chali gayi

jo pyar me toh kya hua

ye zindagi usi ki hai

jo kisi ka ho gaya

And he ends the song with these touching lines…

ai zindagi ki sham aa

tujhe gale lagaoon mein

tujhi me doob jaun mai

jahan ko bhul jau mai

bas ek nazar mere sanam

alvida alvida…..

3. Shailendra-Zindagi Khwab Hai-Jagte Raho-1956-Mukesh-Salil Chowdhury

Shailendra, one of the greatest poet-lyricists , had the knack of conveying profound philosophy in absolutely minimum words. Taking off with the popular doha from Kabir, he compares life to a dream…where there is  no difference between truth or false .

Rangi ko naarngi kahe, bane dudh ko khoya

Chalati ko gaadi kahe, dekh kabira roya

Zindagi khwaab hai

Khwaab men jhuthha akya aura bhala sach hai kya

Sab sach hai

Dil ne ham se jo kaha, ham ne waisa hi kiya

Fir kabhi furasat se sochenge, bura tha ya bhala

Ek katara maya aka jab patthar ke honthon par pada

Us ke sine men bhi dil dhadka, ye us ne bhi kaha

The last stanza is the best one…

Ek pyaali bhar ke mainne gam ke maare dil ko di

Zahar ne maara Zahar to murde men fir jaan aa gayi

4. Qamar Jalalabadi-Aye Meri Zindagi Tujhe dhoondhoon kahan-Adil-E-Jahangir-1956-Talat -Husnlal Bhagatram

In this Qamar Jalalabadi’s song , Zindagi  refers to the hero’s lover who has been separated from him. This song also has a female version sung by Lata , with different anatara. I came to know about the Urdu word ‘ mehmil’ -literally means a camel’s saddle and figuratively ‘ that by which anything is supported.

Qamar sahab has used it so beautifully in these lines:

Ae meri zindagi tujhe dhoondhoon kahaan

naa to mil ke gaye naa hi chhodaa nishaan

Naa wo laila rahi naa wo mehmil rahaa

paas manzil pe aake lutaa kaarwaan

ho lutaa kaarwaan

ae meri zindagi tujhe dhoondhoon kahaan

5. Jan Nisar Akhtar-Mere Zindagi Ke Humsafar-Shrimati 420-Geeta Dutt-O P Nayyar

While selecting the major lyricists for this blog, I almost forgot this great lyricist who had penned some of the most  memorable songs. Also , while my focus was mainly on the lyricists, somehow my listing included all the main singers , excluding Geeta Dutt, till I discovered this song. Here the word Zindagi is used in close association with a partner who travels with one’s life . Jan Nisar Akhtar had a great collaboration with O P Nayyar and this is a rarely heard song . In the early years, OPN had used Shamshad Begum and Geeta till he discovered Asha .

meri jindagi ke humsafar

dekhna yaha bhin ek najar

tera mera raz kya

is kadar bhi naz kya

thoda thoda pyar kar le

kal ki kuch nahi khabar

6. S H Bihari-Yeh Hansta Hua Carvan Zindagi Ka-Ek Jhalak-1957-Hemant & Asha-Hemant Kumar

I discovered this song while searching for songs to be included in this blog and what delightful discovery it turned out to be! As one may observe while going through these 20 songs, many of  them are pathos , but some like this one is a delightful , happy one. S. H Behari has written it so well.

ye hansta huaa karavaa zindagi kaa

naa puchho chalaa hai kidhar

tamannaa hai saath chalate rahe ham

naa bite kabhi ye safar

zami se sitaaro ki duniya me jaaye, haan haan
wahan bhi yahi geet ulfat ke gaaye…

Asha only keeps responding with one or two words in between, but the way Hemant da has composed this song , it is truly delightful. It was truly a pleasant surprise for me to know that this song has a cover version sung by Mukesh…I think Mukesh must have sung very few songs in Hemant da’s composition and both these versions have their own unique charm. I am giving the link to both of them here.

7. Asad Bhopali & Prem Dhawan-Zindagi bhar gham judaiyee ka -Miss Bombay-1957-Rafi-Hansraj Behl

I could not find any reason why there were two lyricists for a song-it is absolutely rare in film songs. Set in Malkauns raag by Hansraj Behl and sung superbly by Rafi this is a very rare song and is made immortal by Rafi’s emotional  singing.

Badlaa to aise badlaa hai kuchh rang-e-gulsitaan

ik phuul pe bahaar hai ik phuul pe Kizaan

zindagii bhar gam judaai ka mujhe tadpaayegaa

har nayaa mausam puraanii yaad lekar aayegaa

From the lyrics it appears to be picturized on a lover conveying his pangs of separation . The line ‘har nayaa mausam puraanii yaad lekar aayegaa ‘ sums up the essence of the song-even as time flows with changing seasons, he is still haunted by the old  memories of his love.

8. Kavi  Pradeep -Gaa Rahi hai Zindagi-Anchal-1960-Mahendra Kapoor & Asha Bhonsle-C Ramchandra

For every song that talks about the struggles in life or  separation brought into one’s life by failure in  love life , there is an equally   cheerful one also.

Here Kavi Pradeep says  life is a song that seems to blossom like spring after the hero and heroine fall in love.

Ga rahi hai zindagi har taraf bahar me kis liye

char chad lag gaye hai tere mere pyar me

is liye

zindagi bhar ke liye tu baanh meri tham le

jab talak ye sans hai har sans tera nam le

ek nayi duniya khadi apane itezar me kis liye

char chad lag gaye hai tere mere pyar me

is liye

9. Prem Dhawan-Mujhe Pyar Ki Zindagi denewale-Pyar Ka Sagar- 1961-Rafi & Asha-Ravi

Prem Dhawan was a lyricist, music director and a choreographer and even acted in two films. Mostly known for his soul stirring patriotic songs , in this song  he gets into a romantic mood . Although the hero is happy that he got his life through the love from his lover , he has lot of apprehensions whether it will last, whether she will turn away from him in future and even if the world may conspire to separate them! However she assures him that  she has totally surrendered herself to his love and even asks him to test her!

Mujhe Pyar Ki Zindagi denewale

Kabhi gam na dena Khushi denewale

Mohabbat ke waade bhula to na doge

Kahin mujhase daaman chhuda to na loge

Mere dil ki duniya hai tere hawaale

Mujhe pyaar ki jindagi denewaale

10. Shiv Kumar Saroj -Khamosh Zindagi Ko awaaz de rahe ho-Naag Mandir-1966-Rafi-Lakshmikant Pyarelal

Very few might have heard this rare song from an obscure film called Naag Mandir, written by an unknown lyricist Shiv Kumar Saroj. He was an announcer in the famous Radio Ceylon and written a handful of film songs. When there is Rafi to sing, even such obscure songs become eternal melodies.

khamosh zindgi ko aawaj de rahe ho

tute huye haatho mein kyu saaz de rahe ho

benur meri aankhe aur dur kaa safar hai

uthate hain paanv lekin gir jane ka bhi dar hai

gir jane ka bhi dar hai

par kaat ke kisi ke paravaj de rahe ho

11. Majrooh Sultanpuri-Hui shaam unka khayal aa gaya wohi Zindagi ka sawaal aa gaya-Mere Hum Dum Mere Dost-1968-Rafi-Lakshmikant Pyarelal

While searching for popular songs written by Majrooh one of the most prolific lyricists, I could not find any song that immediately came to my mind .I could only dig out this song, that is no doubt very popular but has the word Zindagi appearing in only  the second line of the mukhda!

Hui shaam un ka khyaal a gaya

Wahi zindagi ka sawaal a gaya

12. Kaifi Azmi -Zindagi Hai Kya Bolo Zindagi Hai Kya -Satyakam-1969-Kishore Kumar, Mukesh & Mahendra Kapoor-Lakshmikant Pyarelal

My search for one more famous lyricist , Kaifi Azmi also turned out to be almost futile like that of Majrooh , till I came across the film Satyakam. The film is considered as one  that had a career best performance of Dharmendra in the role of a person who tried to tread the path of truth in his life despite numerous hurdles. There are two songs in this film that talk about Zindagi and both are superb ones; however I selected this one for the excellent lyrics that not only talks about Zindagi but  ‘ aadmi’, ‘ dosti’  and that too in a very interesting manner. The three singers , Mukesh , Kishore and Mahendra Kapoor singing together is one more rarity! Kishore and Mahendra Kapoor give comical interpretations for Zindagi, Aadmi, Dosti etc whereas Mukesh comes out with a sober meaning for the same. Superbly composed , written and sung.

The other song from the same film is Do din ki Zindagi Kaisi Hai Zindagi, by Lata which is also too good.

13. Sahir Ludhianvi-Zindagi Ke Rang Kayee Re-Aadmi Aur Insaan-1969-Asha-Ravi

When one thinks of Sahir’s songs with ‘Zindagi’ the top of the mind recall will always be Mein Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata from Hum Dono and Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat . However I had covered these two songs in detail in my earlier blogs and so I have selected a less popular but no doubt a masterpiece by the great combination of Ravi & Asha -who gave so many good songs that were unfortunately never acknowledged by the singer herself.

Zindagi ke rang ki re, saathi re

Zindagi ke rang ki re

Zindagi dilon ko kabhi jodati bhi hai

Zindagi dilon ko kabhi todati bhi hai

Zindagi ke rng ki re

Zindagi ki raah men khushi ke phul bhi

Zindagi ki raah men gamon ke dhul bhi

Zindagi ke rang ki re

Zindagi kabhi yakin, kabhi gumaan hai

Har qadam pe tera mera imtihaan hai

Zindagi ke rang ki re

14. Indeevar -Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Kaisa  -Safar-1970-Kishore-Kalyanji Anandji

Indeevar pleads his inability to comprehend life-he goes on to say no one has understood it nor known it well. The film Safar has the hero struck with a terminal illness and so the song captures his mood .

Zindagi ka safr, hai ye kaisa safr

Koi samajha nahin, koi jaana nahin

Hai ye kaisi dagar, chalate hain sab magar

Koi samajha nahin, koi jaana nahin

Zindagi ko bahut pyaar hamane diya

Maut se bhi mohabbat nibhaayenge ham

Rote-rote zamaane men aye magar

Hnsate-hnsate zamaane se jaayenge ham

Jaayenge par kidhar, hai kise ye khabar

Koi samajha nahin, koi jaana nahin

15. Hasrat  Jaipuri -Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana-Andaaz-1971-Kishore-Shankar Jaikishan

One of Kishore Kumar’s iconic songs, and also my eternal favourite for the superb lines written by Hasrat Jaipuri , the out-of-the world yodelling by Kishore da and a peppy rhythm and orchestration by …who else…the great Shankar Jaikishan. Though Hasrat shares Indeevar’s thoughts partly-that is , he also agrees no one  knows what will happen in our life tomorrow, but paints a brighter, optimistic  picture .

Many-a-times we tend to dismiss film songs as not class, but it is  to the credit of lyricists and poets like Hasrat who convey profound philosophy in a language that anyone can  understand.

Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana

Yahaan kal kya ho kisane jaana

Chaand-taaron se chalana hai age

Asamaanon se badhna hai age

Pichhe rah jaaega ye zamaana

Hansate gaate jahaan se guzar

Duniya ki tu parwa n kar

Muskuraate hue din bitaana

Maut ani hai aegi ek din

Jaan jaani hai jaaegi ek din

Aisi baaton se kya ghabaraana

16. Yogesh -Zindagi Kaisi hai paheli-Anand-1971-Manna Dey-Salil Chowdhury

Yogesh wrote excellent songs for Salil da in addition to few other composers. The film Anand had two songs by him -Zindagi Kaisi hai paheli and Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye.

Yogesh  talks about life as a riddle that sometimes makes you laugh and sometimes cry. And unwillingly we get caught in the race to run behind our dreams and ultimately a day comes when we go beyond our dreams into the other world.

Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haae

Kabhi to hnsaae, kabhi ye rulaae

Kabhi dekho man nahin jaage

Pichhe pichhe sapanon ke bhaage

Ek din sapanon ka raahi

Chala jaaye sapanon se age kahaan

Jinhon ne sajaaye yahaan mele

Sukh-duhkh sng-sng jhele

Wahi chunakar khaamoshi

Yun chale jaaen akele kahaan

17. Anand Bakshi -Zindagi Ae Zindagi Tere Hai Do Roop-1972-S D Burman-S D Burman

A very rare and almost forgotten song, I had not known earlier that Burman Da got the National award for best music for this film. Anand Bakshi is more  known for his lively , romantic songs rather than  philosophical songs . But in this song he has gone all out and written a masterpiece. Not only Zindagi, but he goes on to say Chandini, Aadmi and Dillagi-all have two sides to them.

Burman da used to sing the title song for some of his films and must have sung just a dozen odd songs in his entire career in Hindi films , but whenever he sings with his unique voice that had an earthy feel, it becomes a masterpiece. The flute used throughout the song is simply out-of-the world ( though I have not researched , could have been Hariprasad Chaurasia as he had played for many of Burman da’s songs-purely my guess)

zindagi aye zindagi zindagi, tere hai do rup

biti hui raato ki bato ki tu chhaya

chhaya vo jo banegi dhup

kabhi tere kinare thi thandi thandi hay re

ab tu hi mere ji me aag lagaye

chandani aye chandani chandani, tere hai do rup

tute hue sapno ki apno ki tu chhaya

chhaya vo jo banegi dhup

aate jate pal kya hai samay ke ye jhule hai

bichade sathi kabhi yad aaye kabhi bhule hai

adami aye adami adami, tere hai do rup

dukh sukh ke jhulo ki phulo ki tu chhaya

chhaya vo jo banegi dhup

koi bhuli hui bat mujhe yad aai hai

khushi bhi tu layi thi aur ansu bhi tu layi hai

dilagi aye dilagi dilagi, tere hai do rup

kaise kaise vado ki yado ki tu chhaya

chhaya vo jo banegi dhup

18. Gulzar-Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa-Aandhi-1975-Kishore Kumar & Lata-R D Burman

Aandhi film had some of the best songs from the team of Gulzar and R D Burman. I think for a majority of Hindi film music lovers, Gulzar is a favourite lyricist-personally I am not a big fan , though I do like most of his early  songs and selected few from his later years  like this one. Composed superbly by Pancham da and sung brilliantly by Kishore and Lata, this one can count among their best duets ever. Gulzar captures the emotions of the couple who are unable to spend time together with the immortal lines:

Tere bina Zindagi se koi shikwa toh nahi, shikwa nahi, shikwa nahi

Tere bina Zindagi bhi lekin , Zindagi toh nahi, Zindagi nahin, Zindagi nahin , Zindagi nahin

19. Sudharshan Fakir-Zindagi Zindagi mere ghar aana- Dooriyan-1979-Bhupendra & Anuradha-Jaidev.

Sudharshan Fakir was a Urdu poet and lyricist and is well known for his ghazals , many that were popularised by Begum Akhtar and Jagjit Singh.

Note the excellent poetry in the lyrics-I think there is no need to explain anything-the various stages in life – from falling in love , getting married and having a child (princess-“ shehzaadi” !) are all captured so beautifully by Sudharshan Fakir.

Zindagi, zindagi, mere ghar ana, ana zindagi

Zindagi o zindagi mere ghar ana, ana zindagi

Mere ghar ka sidha sa itana pata hai

Ye ghar jo hai chaaron taraf se khula hai

Na dastak zaruri na awaaz dena

Mere ghar ka darawaaja koi nahin hai

Hain diwaaren gum aur chhat bhi nahin hai

Badi dhup hai dost, kadi dhup hai dost

Tere anchal ka saaya churaake jina hai jina, jina zindagi

Mere ghar ka sidha sa itana pata hai

Mere ghar ke age mohabbat likha hai

Na dastak zaruri na awaaz dena

Main saanson ki raftaar se jaan lungi

Hawaaon ki khushbu se pahachaan lungi

Tera ful hun dost, teri dhul hun dost

Tere haathon men chehara chhupa ke jina hai jina, jina zindagi

Magar ab jo ana to dhire se ana

Yahaan ek shahajaadi soyi hui hai

Ye pariyon ke sapanon men khoyi hui hai

Badi khub hai ye, tera rup hai ye

Tere angan men, tere daaman men

Teri ankhon pe, teri palakon pe

Tere qadamon men isako bithhaake jina hai jina, jina zindagi

20. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan-  Kaise kategi Zindagi tere bagair- Tere Bagair Album-2009-Private Album-Rafi-Madan Mohan

I was surprised to note that Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, who wrote many superb ghazals for Madan Mohan did not have any popular one with the Zindagi word. Then I discovered  this -a relatively new song in the sense that it was initially recorded for a film that was never released and much later , in 2009, Madan Mohan’s son Sanjeev Kohli released many such hidden gems of Madan Mohan through an album titled Tere Bagair. Now how Madan Mohan’s music was far ahead of his times-a superb ghazal , written so well and above all rendered with a passion that can be done only the great singer – Rafi sahab.

kaise kategi jindagi tere bagair, tere bagair

paayunga har shay mein kami tere bagair, tere bagair

kaise kategi jindagi tere bagair, tere bagair

phule khilein tu yun lage, phul nahi yeh daag hai

taare falak pe yun lage jaise bujhe chiraag hai

aag lagaaye chaandani tere bagair, tere bagair

chaand ghata mein chhup gaya, saara jahaan udaas hai

kehati hai dil ki dhadkane tu kahi aaspaas hai

aake tadap raha hai ji tere bagair, tere bagair

kaise kategi jindagi tere bagair, tere bagair….

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:

I sincerely thank the publishers of following  Internet sources   for the information that I could gather for this article:

1. You Tube
2. Wikipedia

The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here   only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the  original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.