Shankar Jaikishan Expressions - 2 - Non- Lata Mangeshkar Duets (Ashaji's photo COURTESY www.asha-bhonsle.com)

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I have often stated that I love Shankar Jaikishan's music for the deeply intrinsic melody and their interludes which had polished finesse and clear tonal quality rarely heard in HFM. Two more aspects that I love in their music are:
a) Their beautiful use of counter melody the music that runs parallel to the antaras (best heard in the Mukesh number Teri yaad dil se bhulane chala hoon from Haryali Aur Rasta) or the music that rounds of a mukhda: for example, Deewane ka naam to poochho (An Evening In Paris) cannot be hummed without the ta-ta-ta sound after every two words: deewane ka ta- ta- ta naam toh poochho ta- tat- a. I hope you understand!
b) Their music had an unusual richness; in the sense even their tabla or dholak was never alone, it always had an accompanying jhankar to it long before those horrid external ‘jhankar beats’ were devised.
Shankar Jaikishan worked for some 190 films (including Telugu movies and documentaries) and composed a spectacular 1348 songs, of which 334 were duets*. Selecting a few lovable duets (not in any particular order except as and when I recalled them), which do not feature Lata Didi but are nevertheless a pleasure to hear:

Dilruba dil pe tu yeh sitam kiye ja - Rajkumar - Exotic drums and erotic sighs make this one hot steamily scalding sensational song! Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhonsle fantabulously modulate their voices.
Raat ke humsafar thak ke ghar ko chale - An Evening in Paris - It is believed that Shankar composed the number immediately after cremating his mother, even offering the first line of the mukhda. Considering this, the song has a far deeper layer than what meets the eye and places it in a philosophical zone otherwise not seen in the ostensibly romantic situation. The interludes are something to hug tenderly!
Dil ek mandir hai pyaar ki jisme hoti hai pooja - Dil Ek Mandir - I grew up thinking it to be a Lata Mangeshkar song, but must say Suman Kalyanpur steps in effectively. The interludes haunt. Shankar Jaikishan at their best!
Tujhe dekha tujhe pooja bas itni khata hai meri aur khata kya - Chhoti Si Mulaqat - It’s a quintessential Shankar Jaikishan song with lavish violins in the interlude.
Around the world in eight dollars -Around the World -A collosal and monumental ditty that is wide and panoramic, and covers the entire world in its ginormous size. The superb Shankar Jaikishan orchestration is to be heard to be believed.
Aap yahan aaye kis liye- Kal Aaj Aur Kal - Naughty and effervescent, young lovers Randhir Kapoor and Babita on screen upped the perk factor several notches.
Yehi hai woh saanjh aur savera -Saanjh Aur Savera -Awesome sitar pieces shapes this gentle number into a beauty. The rhythm is subtle and just perfect for a love song.
Ajhun aaye na baalma saawan beeta jaaye haaye - Saanjh Aur Savera -This classical and serious sounding song gets an unlikely picturisation on the then hit comedy pair Mehmood and Shobha Khote!
Mud mud ke na dekh - Shree 420- Hip and happening the song defies time and is still modern enough to shame any new ditty. The swing and the sway are unsurpassable.
Jaane chaman shola badan baahon mein aa jaao- Gumnaam - It’s unbelievable that the smooth voice is actually that of the otherwise shrill Sharda’s. Unlike Dilruba dil pe tu, this creates the steam in a mild and mellow manner. It has extremely sensuous interludes. Absolutely adorable, it raises warmth and love! The album is one of Shankar Jaikishan’s best ones.
Aaya na humko pyaar jataana -Pehchan -If electronic gadgets have to be used, then Shankar Jaikishan knew it extremely well. A handsome duet by Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur!
Nanhe munhe bachhe teri mutthi mein kya hai- Boot Polish -An inspiring and motivating number from the Shankar Jaikishan baton that immediately uplifts the mood.
Tumne pukara aur hum chale aaye - Rajkumar- There is the “it” factor in Rajkumar’s songs which makes you come back to it time and again. Hasrat Jaipuri’s opening phrase has long entered the realm of a ‘dictum’ or an ‘adage’ than being just a song lyric. The poetic flavor in the antaras stimulates the heart.
Ghungharwa mora chham chham baaje - Zindagi - There is nothing singular about Shankar Jaikishan’s music. It’s always layered. In this song the voice quality is impeccable but it’s the chham-chham that resonates throughout which thumps the hearbeat.
Chhoti si mulaqat pyaar ban gayi - Chhoti Si Mulaqat - The Ya ya yipee yipee makes you go yipee every time you hear the number !
Duniya isi ka naam duniya isi ko kahte hain - Duniya -A thoughtful number reverbating some hard truths about the world and life. I like the number for its matter of fact approach in tuning and music.
Teen baje bola tha baj gaye char - Duniyadari - A fun song on Asrani and Aruna Irani (IIRC) and sung by Asha Bhonsle and the still raw Amit Kumar. Keeps you swaying!
Baaton mein na taaloji dil de daaloji - Kanch Ki Deewar - All those who grew up watching Chitrahar will immediately recall this number from a little known 1986 film(one of the last few of Shankar’s). It used to be quite a staple then. Smita Patil and Sanjeev Kumar dance to this zesty ditty in a party (in the typically eighties garish costumes!) with Rajan Sippy trying to gain unnecessary attention. It’s quite sometime since I heard the number, but putting it here in the list for nostalgia’s sake!
Tum pyaar se dekho hum pyaar se dekhen -Sapno Ka Saudagar- Hema Malini’s debut film didn’t boast of very great music but there were a couple of songs that showed the same luminous aura which made Shankar Jaikishan a household name. This Sharda-Mukesh duet is one of them. A very neat and uncluttered song.
Sau baras ki zindagi se achche hain pyar ke do char din - Sachai - This is what I call a cute romantic number!
Tum haseen main jawaan - Title Song - This laugh riot starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini (about a navy man with an unwanted toddler) had some interesting music (including Suman Kalyanpur’s solo Kamdev jaisi teri suratiya and Rafisaab’s Dil achcha hai achchi hai soorat).
Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche - Brahmchari- Now, is there anything to write on this super-duper-bumper hit of a song?Shankar Jaikishan won an award for this score!
Dil usse do jo jaan de de - Andaz - Not very great, but still a good hummable number. Finds a mention on this list because Andaz had overall good music, if not matching up to the standards Shankar Jaikishan themselves built!
Chhatri na khol udd jaayegi - Do Jhoot -Kishore Kumar and Usha Mangeshkar whip up a storm in this jovial song. Those who were Vividh Bharti regulars will recognize this number easily.
Tu mera din hai mai teri raat aaja har raat teri meri hogi mulaqat aaja (Choron ka maal sab chor kha gaye) - Sanyasi -Ok I admit. I have a love for Sanyasi’s music bordering on obsession, right from my childhood. It’s simply impossible to describe but the music in this typically seventies melodrama is absolutely stunning, resonating and tickling. I know many would disagree. While the lion’s share is sung by Lata Mangeshkar, this duet is by Suman Kalyanpur (with Mukesh).