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Salil Chowdhury

Maayaa (1961)

A musically rich and emotionally layered soundtrack featuring some of Salil Chowdhury’s most unforgettable compositions.

Maayaa Poster

Film Information

Language: Hindi

Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Maayaa (1961) contains some of Salil Chowdhury’s finest melodic and orchestral creations.

The soundtrack features **four powerful Rafi performances**, including the evergreen “Zindagi hai kya, sun meri jaan” — inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight theme.

Lata, Asha and Dwijen Mukherji deliver some of their career-best Salil tracks, including the haunting “Jaa re jaa re ud jaa re panchhi”.

HMV’s later CD release omitted two songs (MA4 & MA9). Song MA6 is incomplete in the film — the full version exists only on the original record.

Songs

Nr Song Singer(s) HndMalTamTel KanBngOth
MA1 Koi sone ke dil waala Mohammed Rafi ✔--- ---
MA2 Zindagi hai kyaa, sun meri jaan Mohammed Rafi ✔--- -OS26-
MA3 Tasveer teri dil mei.n, jis din se utaari Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi ✔--- -LM4-
MA4 Jaadoo Daale hai machal machal Asha Bhosle, Chorus ✔--- ---
MA5 Jaa re, jaa re uD jaa re panchhi Lata Mangeshkar ✔--- -LM1-
MA6 Phir ek baar kaho, isi adaa se kaho Lata, Dwijen Mukherji ✔--- ---
MA7 Ai dil kahaa.n teri manzil Dwijen Mukherji, Lata, Chorus ✔--- -DM5-
MA8 Ai dil kahaa.n teri manzil (Lata Version) Lata Mangeshkar ✔--- -DM5-
MA9 Sanam tu chal diyaa rastaa mere binaa Mohammed Rafi ✔--- ---

Notes & Background

Maayaa (1961) contains some of the most refined compositions of Salil Chowdhury’s Hindi career.

The highlight of the album, “Zindagi hai kya, sun meri jaan” (MA2), is famously based on Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight theme, but elevated by Rafi’s expressive singing and Salil’s orchestral touch.

The haunting “Tasveer teri dil mein” (MA3) is known for its difficult antara that Rafi handled masterfully despite challenges.

“Jaa re, jaa re ud jaa re panchhi” remains one of Lata’s most beloved Salil songs, also recorded in Bengali (LM1).

Song MA6 appears in the film only partially with interruptions — the complete uninterrupted version exists only on the original record.

Two songs (MA4 & MA9) were omitted from later HMV CD releases but remain essential for collectors.