String Instruments Playing songs in Bollywood Films
Few months back I posted a blog on the songs in which Piano being played by the hero or heroine in the song.In this blog I have selected those songs where Hero or Heroine playing String Instrument like Guitar, Sitar or Mandolin.There was a song in Uran Khatola (1955) "Hamare Dil Se Na Jana"here Nimmi is playing a string instrument HARP which was new to Indian public.Before that Acoustic Guitar was introduced in 1952 hit film Baazi in the famous song" Tadbeer se bidgi hui taqdeer bana le ".I would also like to mention another Indian String Instrument of Rajasthan the Ravanhattha,This was first seen in a hindi film Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957 in the song Saiyyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj niklaa.. Here are few songs on unusual and exotic string instruments.
Guitar- The curious thing about guitar in the Hindi movies is that the guitar is a fashion statement; the hero or the heroine swings it any which way � across the shoulder, left and right like a man gone berserk with his carbine, or even to rotate it around on the floor.One Music Director who really mastered the acoustic guitar in his songs was Sachin Dev Burman. As soon as you think of the acoustic guitar on the Indian scene, you think of Goa and that�s where Guru Dutt�s 1952 movie Jaal
Song from Jaal 1952
Song from Baazi 1952
After the success of 1952 movie Jaal�s guitar based song Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan, Sahir Ludhianvi, SD Burman and Hemant Kumar did it again, in another Dev Anand movie, the 1955 film Munimji in which Dev Anand acted with Nalini Jaywant and Pran.
Song from Munimji 1955
Dev Anand in 50s had popularized Guitar in films He appeared in many songs playing Guitar,in this song from Manzil 1960 he sings along with Guitar
Song from Manzil 1960
The next song on guitar was a peppy classic black and white bollywood song "Baar Baar Dekho" from the superhit bollywood blockbuster China Town. Starring Shammi Kapoor , Shakila , Helen . Film directed and produced by Shakti Samanta. Music composed by Ravi.
Song from China Town 1962
The Guitar also has a strong role in sad songs. Shanker-Jaikishen�s Ajeeb dastan hai yeh (Dil apna aur preet parai) appears lively but also has a hidden sadness.
Song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960
This is a rare song from the film Aakhri Khat 1966 in which Rajesh Khanna made his debut and also singer Bhupendra also made his debut as a singer Interestringly this song is picturised on him he is playing guitar
Song from Aakhri Khat 1966
Song from Kismat 1968
Guitar became popular among common people after the release of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971 the song Dum Maro Dum became the craze
Song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971
Another film that popularized Guitar songs was Yaadon Ki Baarat. One song that was extremely popular among teens was the song where the boy invites a girl to come to the stage. A dream situation for desi teens those days.
Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973
Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973
Song from Zameer 1975
Song from Khel Khel Mein 1975
By the late 70s the Guitar changed to Electric Guitar,in 1977 film Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin in the Song Kya Hua Tera Vaada electric guitar being played by the hero Tariq
Song from Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin 1977
This beautiful Guitar song is picturised on Rakesh Roshan in PRIYATMA 1978. He and friends have thrown a party for Jeetendra and Neetu Singh, who have recently got married.
Song from PRIYATAMA 1978
Song from Karz 1980
Song from Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak 1988
Mandolin -The mandolin originated in Italy, and is a typically hollow-bodied instrument made of wood, with either a round, a flat, or a carved top. For a string instrument that hails from lands far removed from India, the mandolin makes surprisingly frequent appearances in Hindi cinema. First time it was seen in Hindi song Suhani Raat Dhal huki from Dulari 1949 then in Tera dil kahaan hai (Chandni Chowk, 1954)
Song from Dulari 1949
Song from Chandni Chowk, 1954
Waheeda Rehman plays mandolin in the song Kaheen pe nigaahein kaheen pe nishaana;in CID 1956
Song from CID 1956
Song from Pyar Ka Mausam 1969
Sitar-A purely Indian instrument used mainly in Hindustani music and Indian classical music. The sitar became popularly known in the wider world through the works of Ravi Shankar, beginning in the late 1950s and early 1960s..Used often in Hindi films to denote the gentle falling of rain (a famous Ravi Shankar composition in Satyajit Ray�s Pathar Panchali captures this brilliantly), sitar music is a classic Bollywood backbone.Some popular songs in 50s and 60s show the hero or heroine playing this instrument
Song from Baiju Bawra 1952
In the 1960 film Kohinoor Dilip Kumar is shown playing Sitar the most popular song Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re
Song from Kohinoor 1960
Song from Meri Soorat Teri Aankhein 1963
Song from Dil Ek Mandir 1963
Song from Hamrahi 1963
Tanpura: A 4-string instrument to accompany a Hindustani classical vocalist that does not play a melody, but rather provides a harmonic drone throughout the piece.
Song from Basant Bahar 1956
Ektara-As the name suggest it is one string instrument held in one hand and with the string plucked with the index finger.The Baul singers of Bengal use this instrument.The popular song from Devdas 1955 Aan milo aan milo Shyaam saanwre, this instrument is being played.Another famous song Ek Tara Bole Tun Tun where this instrument shown from Yaadgaar
Song from Devdas 1955
Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970
Veena.In Dekh Kabira Roya, Ameeta plays a girl who is devoted to her music.she plays veena in this lovely song Meri Veena Tum Bin Roye.A masterpiece composed by Madan Mohan and sang by the great sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle
Song from Dekh Kabira Roya, 1957
Sarangi: A bowed short-neck stringed instrument famed in Hindustani classical music for its close imitation of the human voice.this instrument can be seen in ths song Aansu Bhari Hain Yeh Jeevan Ki Rahe from Parvarish 1958
Song from Parvarish 1958
Song from Umrao Jaan 1981
Ravanahatha-the Rajasthani Folk instrument was first shown in the song Saiyyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj niklaa (Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957):
Song from Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957
Banjo: A plucked 4-5 string instrument with origins in Africa that traveled to America around the 18th century with African-American traditional music and became a staple of country and folk genres.In hindi film Azad 1955 in the song Kitna Haseen hai Mausam this instrument is seen.
Song from Azaad 1955
Recently released movie an Electric Benzo is shown in this song being played by Ritesh Deshmukh in the film Benzo
Song from Benzo 2017
VIOLIN -
A highly popular bowed 4-string instrument with roots in 16th century Italy that has had global impact, including in orchestral performances of Hindi film music.It was first shown in hindi film Barsat 1949 in the song "Muje Kisi se Pyar Ho Gaya Hai"sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Raj Kapoor is seen here playing violin.
Song from Barsaat 1949
Another famous song is from 1972 film Shor,Manoj Kumar is playing violin in this song
Song from Shor (1972)
Song from Mohabbatein 2000
Song from Sur 2002