What is Life? Zindagi Kya Hain?

What do Bollywood have to say about life? Here is a quick list of songs which define 'zindagi' as opposed to describing it. If I add the ones on what zindagi will be without you (Aandhi) and whether one should embrace zindagi or not (Sadma), then we are looking at 1733 songs here!

* Zindagi pyaar ka geet hain / Isse har dil ko gaana padega / Zindagi ghum ka sagar bhi hai / Hanske us paar jaana padega - Souten

* Zindagi ek safar hain suhana / Yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana - Andaz

* Zindagi ka safar, hain yeh kaisa safar / Koi samjha nahin, koi jaana nahin / Hain yeh kaisi dagar, chalte hain sab magar / Koi samjha nahin, koi jaana nahin - Safar

* Zindagi ek khel, koi pass koi fail / Khiladi hain koi, anadi hain koi - Seeta Aur Geeta

* Zindagi kaisi hain paheli haai / Kabhi to hansaye, kabhi yeh rulaye - Anand

* Zindagi hain ek juaa / Kabhi haar hi, kabhi jeet bhi / Yahan dushmanon ke bhid mein / Kabhi mil jayenge yaar bhi - Zindagi Ek Jua

Rajesh Khanna seems to be ruling the roost here with a 2/3rd majority. So, which one is your favourite zindagi song?

Comments

Nilendu said…
Sounds like antakshari - India's national picnic sport!

You missed the alltime favourite (and a bazooka of train songs!) - "Zindagi ke khel mein guzar jaate hai jo makam, woh phir nahin aate, woh phir nahi aate"..

That's the eternal song after the 3rd peg.

Or, a flamboyant Dev Anand's - "Zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gya..
Har phikar ko dhuNyen mein uData chala gya". You can easily fit a Nirma ad between "Har fikar ko" and "dhuNyen mein uData".

(Someone, looking at a 40-ish Madhuri snap recently dubbed her as "Lady Dev Anand"!)

A nasal Shanu's "T(n)u MERI Zindagi hai..."

Zameer's (old - Bachchan - Saira Banu)'s optimistic rendition - "Zindagi haaNsne gaane ke liye hai pal ..do pal"..

A more recent "Sarfarosh" gazal within desert prays - "Zindagi maut na ban jaaye yaaroN"..

Nothing much happened in that "Barsaat ki rat" but still "Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi..woh barsaat ki rat".

Even Himesh poked his nose - "Tune zindagi mein aake zindagi ho..Zindagi badal di" (Humraaz)..

Or, how about the alltime Chitrahaar favourite - "Yeh zindagi ke mele..ye zindagi ke mele.." - from the movie - guess - MELA (Yusuf Bhai)!

Though it does not start with Zindagi, but "Zindagi to bewafa hai, ek din thukrayeegi. Maut mehbooba hai aapne saath leke jayegi" carries 70s romanticism for untimely death of the lovable hero.

Being respectful to this blog I eschewed mentioning the ones from "Agni Pankh", "Khel" (92, released during Brilliant Tutorials exams) etc. Still, one can always get as many "Zindagi" songs from Jagjit Singh as one wants. Can anyone name 5 "English" songs that start with "Life"? Movie - sure (Life is Beautiful, Lifeboat, Life of David Gale, Life or something like it, Life begins at 40); but it sure looks like firang lyricists live quite a bit longer to brood about it.
Surya said…
My favorite has got to be Zindagi ka safar, hain yeh kaisa safar.
Diligent Candy said…
I am assuming that you are looking for the meaning of zindagi rather than just the word zindagi in songs ....so my choice would be:

Singer: Jagjit singh
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Movie Name: Saath Saath

Tumko dekha to yeh khayal aaya
Zindagi dhoop tum ghana chaya
Aaj phir dil ne ik tamana ki
Aaj phir dil ko humne samjhaaya
the mad momma said…
wow.. i think i'm all done out of zindagi songs.. you guys have it all wrapped up. by the way.. since candy is a class mate and surya is the brother... and nilendu is your friend.. its almost like we're sitting around on a lazy afternoon chatting at ur place!..i'm such a romantic... :(
Unknown said…
Zindagi Ki Yehi Reet Hai
Haar Ke Baaz Hi Jeet Hai

from Mr. India
Lavs said…
Andaz song is my favourite. No other song comes closer to it.
Old Hindi Songs said…
Its a question which can't be answered in s few words but a thought which can be shared.....!