1. Lag jaa gale se (Woh Kaun Thi): Sadhana never knew this song would define her beauty and the concept of onscreen romance for all times to come. “It was special, just like all the songs that Lataji sang for me. That I would be known as the Lag ja gale se girl for all times to come…nobody knew this. Such things can never be predicted,” Sadhana said.
2. Aji rooth kara abb kahan jayiega (Arzoo): The Shankar-Jaikishan composition that made Lataji go red in the face. The notes were so high, she told the composers to buzz off. But they persisted. That’s how another Sadhana classic song was born.
3. Kaise rahun chup (Inteqaam): This Laxmikant-Pyarelal soundtrack had hits galore, Aa jaan-e-jaan being top of the charts, but Kaise rahun chup was the one that topped the hit parades. Lataji’s tipsy twists and turns were tough to emote to. Sadhana admitted she couldn’t do justice the singing.
4. Oh sajna barkha bahaar ayee (Parakh): just like Lataji’s Pyar kiya toh darna kya, Thade rahiyo, Raina beeti jaye and Bahon mein chale aao define the beauty of Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Sharmila Tagore and Jaya Bhaduri, this rain-splashed gem manifests Sadhana’s timeless allure.
5. Saamne mere saawariya (Anita): When Raj Khosla changed from Madan Mohan to Laxmikant-Pyarelal, the outcome was outstanding. From L-P’s songs in Anita, this one lingers for its haunting, evocative quality.
6. Tera mera pyar amar (Asli Naqli): …Phir bhi mujhko lagta hai darr… Exquisitely composed by Shankar-Jaikishan and sung by Lataji, this one was a massive ear-pleaser, still a hot favourite on music-contest shows. Dev Anand, who co-starred with Sadhana, wished he got to sing this. We hear you.
7. Oh mere bairagi bhanwra (Ishq Par Zor Nahin): The other solo Tum mujhse dur chale jana na, had everyone weeping into their hankies. But Lataji and Sadhana preferred this other solo composed by S D Burman. It has, what do you call it, geelapan.
9. Abhi na jao chhor kar (Hum Dono): With this one, we depart from our list of solos, merely for the sake of its popularity. Very few songs in the history of Indian cinema have impacted the romanticists so intensely. Sahir Ludhianvi’s words and Jaidev’s composition are magical. On screen, Sadhana looks so much in love …with love.
9. Suniye zara dekhiye na (Geeta Mera Kaam): One of Sadhana’s last hits, directed by her husband R K Nayyar, is best remembered by this astoundingly intricate number. How did Lataji do it? Sadhana once wanted to know. We have been wondering the same forever.
10. Jhumka gira re (Mera Saaya): The biggest chartbuster of Sadhana’s career was sung by Asha Bhosle. This zingy, naughty number recently got a renewed lifespan in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani. “I wish Sadhana Aunty could hear this,” Karan sighed. She can.
