In her brief career, which began with Man Ka Meet in 1968 and ended abruptly after marriage to Kishore Kumar, Leena Chandavarkar was part of many musical hits.
1. Buddhu pad gaya pale (Anhonee): The biggest hit of Leena’s career was this Lata Mangeshkar solo from a Sanjeev Kumar starrer, where she had to seduce him into staying home as it rained seductively outside the window. Terrific dancing by Leena, the director Ravi Tandon’s daughter Raveena, during her childhood, used to imitate Leena’s steps.
2. Mere dil ne jo manga mil gaya (Rakhwala): When Leena danced and sang in joy, she lit up the screen with Dharmendra in another hit film.
3. Ganga mein dooba na jamuna mein dooba (Apne Rang Hazaar): Sanjay Leela Bhansali swears by the enticing Laxmikant-Pyarelal composition sung to perfection. Leena once said, “Most of my hit songs were sung by Lataji, and that’s the way I liked it.”
4. Gham ka fasana (Manchali): Not a very praiseworthy song, this one was very special for Leena. She got to sing with her husband, Kishore Kumar.
5. Jhula jhulat Kanhaiya re (Daku Aur Jawan): A rare Lata-Asha duet. Reena Roy lip-synced to Asha Bhosle’s voice while Leena Chandavarkar sang in Lataji’s voice in this rousing Janmashtami number.
6. Tanhai mein dil ghabraye (Jawaab): Supremely quiet rendering of a minimalist Laxmikant-Pyarelal tune, Lataji tiptoes through the lyrics while Leena on screen doing an all girls dormitory night in pyjamas is a delight.
7. Mohe jaal mein phansaiyee liyo (Jaane Anjaane): During the same year, 1971, Leena did two films with Shammi Kapoor—Pritam and Jaane Anjaane. This fisherwoman’s song, rendered by Lataji, has an alluring cadence to it. Leena gave a swinging hip to the undulating lip.
8. Dekho dekho ji (Bidaai): Another big hit, this one featured Leena as a wife who separates her husband from his mother. Leena’s solo Maine tum sang pyar kiya was a chartbuster. This Lata-Kishore duet also did the trick.
9. Jaane kyon log Mohabbat (Mehboob Ki Mehdi): Though the film bombed, Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s soundtrack was a historic hit. This solo by Lataji is regarded as the best ever song that Leena rendered on screen. Leena herself prophesied, “All I’ve done may be forgotten, not this song.”
10. Dhal gaya din (Humjoli): The badminton with the shuttlecock playing a pivotal role in the across-the-net romance. Some may prefer Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika doing it in Om Shanti Om. Nothing to beat Leena and Jeetendra. Love all.
