Clean Juhu beach, empty roads near Marine Drive and no traffic jams... looking at the Bombay of the 1970s through the songs of that time
Tina Munim and Amol Palekar in a still from Baaton Baaton Mein
The master of ‘middle class’ films Basu Chatterjee explored the Mumbai (Bombay) of the 1970s not through fancy cars and restaurants, but like most Mumbaikars do, through BEST buses, yellow-black taxis and the ever dependable trains.
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His love for the city came through each of these films. When asked about it, Basuji had simply said, “I lived in Borivili and I come from a middle class family. I had to travel in trains and buses from Borivili to Churchgate.
This was my life and so obviously it would become part of the movies that I make.” Here are popular songs (and films) that depicted Mumbai at its best.
Tina Munim and Amol Palekar in a still from Baaton Baaton Mein
Top 5 songs
1. Song: Kai baar yun bhi dekha hai
Film: Rajnigandha
The modest kali peeli taxi goes through the city and fortunately for the people belonging to that era, with almost nonexistent traffic jams.
2. Song: Na jaane Kyon and Jaaneman jaaneman tere do nayan
Film: Chhoti si baat
Shows the boy and the girl traveling to work in BEST buses. Yet again, buses sans the crowded situation prevalent today.
A still from Gharonda
3. Song: Baaton baaton mein
Film: Baaton Baaton Mein
The title song of the delightful Amol Palekar and Tina Munim starrer shows an upper middle class couple in a new relationship exploring each other and the city through daily commute in trains and places like Bandra bandstand.
4. Song: Bambai shahar ki chal tujhe sair kara doon
Film: Piya ka Ghar,
This gem talks about the space crunch and lack of privacy in the city. In this song, Anil Dhawan takes his young bride Jaya Bachchan out for sight seeing in Bombay.
A still from Piya ka Ghar
5. Song: Rim jhim gire sawan
Film: Manzil
The song is a tribute to the Bombay rains as Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan go splashing in the rain near Marine Drive.
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