The Best Lyrical Songs in Kannada films ( 1960s to 1980s)

      TOP 25  SONGS  IN KANNADA  FILMS, WITH MOST  APPEALING LYRICS

IT is always  not the music or  the Voice of  Playback singers which appeals  to the music  fans , but one more  important thing will be  the  words or  Phrases in the  songs , so  invariably the lyricist plays an important role in the  Success  of  the  Songs, be it any language. In this special series my attempt  will be  to pick the BEST  25 LYRICAL  Songs  across  Kannada films , to make it more effective I have  restricted  myself  to films released  between 1960s to 1980s.

Not in any particular  Order, here goes  my list, with  what ever  information I can add  to make the whole listing more  interesting.  Also  I have tried  to  take one  Song  at least  from all the Poets/lyricists whose  songs  , were famous  during this  period, of course  for few there are  multiple songs  since their numbers of  songs  were  very high in Number.

Let  us  start with the great  Poets  first , ( three of them)  since they  deserve  the  first  place.

1)Ku Vem Pu : Our Rashtra Kavi,  there  are  quiet a  few  songs of him, I have  choose this  duet by PBS  and  S Janki , Naane  Veene Neene Tanthi Avane Vyanika from  film    Mavana Magalu, picturised  on popular  pair of  Kalyan Kumar and  Jayalalitha, and  composed  by  T Chalapathi Rao.

Of course  Done Saagali  from Miss  Leelavathi  was  very much in the  race

2)Da Ra Bendre : Another  great  Poet, and  again  few  songs  of him used in films,  My Pick  is  from  1980s,  Film was little less known , Prema Taranga, Song is  Nee Hange Noda Beda Nanna , why this song  and  not the  more  popular  ones, Mudala Maneya and  Uttara Dhruvadin, well  the Poet wrote  this song when he was in full sorrow. He  had lost his  son,  the dead body was in house and Da Ra Bendre, writes  this song, asking his  wife, not to see  him like  that, since he does not have any answer to give  for  her sons death.   This  is  so  nicely sung by Classical  singer, Rajkumar Bharati  and  composed by M Ranga Rao.

3)Dr GS Shiva Rudrappa : This  song written by him, used  by Puttana in his  Film,  Mansasa  Sarovara, so nicely  depicts  the  dilemma a  Poet and  Philosopher faces while  writing about a  Woman, Vedanthi Helidanu Honnella Mannu , sung  by PB Srinivas  in his own typical  style and  Composed  by  , Puttana's  Favourite, Vijay Bhaskar

 Next  we  take  My  All  time favourite , RN Jayagopal, the most all round  lyricist I would say Kannada films  has seen, who  excelled  in all  situations,  choosSing  Five  songs  of  Him

4)Neerinalli Alaya Ungura   ,as  per  me  Best  written  Song ever in Kannada Films, from Film Bedi Bandavalu, picturised on Kalyan Kumar and  Chandrakala,   Sung by PBS and  Susheela, and composed by R Sudarshanam . Apparently  this  song was  written by RNJ, when he  had  lost a  Ring which was very  personal for  him, and  thoughts  in his mind  , flowed  out  in form of this beautiful songs and  how  lucky we  were ??

5)Barede Neenu  Ninna Katheya ,  from film SEETHA, it has  two versions, one sad one by PBS and  other  happy one by S Janaki,  picturised  on Gangadhar  and  Kalpana,  this was  composed by Vijay Bhaskar, stand  out  thing of  this  song, the  simplicity of  words  used describing  , life .

6)Agadu Endu Kai katti Kulithare, from the  Epic  film Bangarda Manushya, sort of  anthem for Kannada film fans, which  conveys  nothing is  impossible, most  notable  are  examples which RNJ has used  to explain how things  were made possible  by some  great men. Picturised on Dr  Raj, sung by PBS  , was  composed  by  GK Venkatesh.

7)Nee  Bandu Ninthaaga  , who can leave  out  this song, in any category , one of most heard romantic  songs ever , voted # 1  song in many platforms, and of course  the lyrics by RNJ was very instrumental in making this song, what it is . Picturised  on Dr  Raj and  a very young  Aarti from Kasturi Nivasa, sing by  PBS and  Susheela  and  tuned  by GK Venkatesh  again.

8)Hoovu Cheluvella  Nand  Endithu,  another  WOW  song  by RNJ, each line  of this  song has  such deeper meaning, so well  sung  by P Susheela  from the  film Hannele Chiguridaga, picturised on Kalpana  and  Composed by  Vijay Bhaskar , this is  again a  TOP contender  for best lyrics song.

The  next  lyricist I have picked  is Vijay  Narasimha,  2 Songs, both  from Puttana  films

9)Viraha Nooru  Nooru Taraha , from Edakallu Goodada Mele probably  the best  pathos/sad  song, all  things related  to this  song is  excellent,  the  acting of Jayanti,  the  way  Susheela  has  sung with all emotions,  of course Vijay Narasimha's  stand out lyrics  and  M Ranga Rao's  composition .  Top Class  song, any day.

10)Ee Sambashane , Namma  Ee Prema ,  another  all  time favorite , Romantic  song, so well  sung by SPB  and  Janaki  from Dharma Sere picturised on Srinath and Sathyapriya, and  so nicely composed by Upendra  Kumar.  Choice of  Each words, simply  superb.  

The  next lyricist  is , one of most prolific  in Kannada Cinema , one and Only Chi Udayshankar, I have  chosen Five  songs ,from his  1970s  films

11)Baadihoda Balli Inda : A  sad  song from film Eradu Kanasu, sung by PBS, and composed by Rajan Nagendra, this  film had some  wonderful  duets, but  this  song stands  out  for  simple  reason , it conveys  the sorry state of  the  hero  , again showing how important songs  were for our films.

Dr Rajkumar's  acting  in this  song was also, simply superb.

12)Bannegondu Elle Yelide, from Preamda Kanike, for  me  best  Chi Uday Shankar song, sung and  picturised on Rajkumar and  composed  by Upendra Kumar, in just  few  sentences the poet has  explained  the phases of  life, conveying dreaming is not  the only thing in life, Go slow.

13)Yenandu Na  Helali , From Giri Kanye , Dorai Bhagwan films  were always known for  its  songs and  this was best  example, sung so well  By Dr  Rajkumar  and  composed by Rajan Nagendra, this  song  again conveys  how  desires  makes  man  make mistakes  and  how  we need  to correct it.

14)Mamara vello Kogile Yello , from  Devara  Gudi,  again composed  by Rajan Nagendra, this  film was  based on Music and  Singer , and  hence  some wonderful songs, this being stand  out again for its  simple  lyrics  and   a real  romantic  number.

15)Aadsi Nodu  Bilisi Nodu  , One  more gem  from Kasturi Nivasa, picturised  on Dr Raj, the happy version  sung by  PBS  and  Sadder version by Composer  GK Venkatesh himself.  Just thro a  doll, the poet conveys , how  we should not give up in life and  enjoy and  accept what ever  comes.

The  next  TEN songs  will be  from TEN  different  Lyricists, one  from  each one of  them, their best  in the period  we have choosen

16)Let use  Begin with Ku Ra SE ( Ku Ra  Seethram Shastry) , a  director, screen play writer and  poet,  the song I choosen  is  from 1960s, film Veera Kesari  Mellusire Savi  Gana, sung by Great  Ghantasaala and Susheela, composed  by  him and  picturised  on RajKumar  and  Leelavathi  . Another great  song , was  Swabhimanda  Nalle , from same  film,  written  By KuRaSe

17)Next  is  Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry, again a  writer, poet, Screen Play writer, the  Song I have choosen is  Tittle  song of  Sakshatkara, Olave  Jeevana  Sakasthkara,  two verions  are there, one a  Little  sadder  duet by PBS and  Susheela  and another  a  Happy solo by Susheela. Picturised on Dr  Raj and  Beautiful Jamuna,  and  composed by  M Ranga  Rao.

18)Hunsur  KrishnaMurthy, ace  director  of  many Mythological and historical  films  used to write  his  own songs  also , one I have  choosen is , from Film Bhakta Kumbara  picturised  on Dr  Raj and sung by PBS  and  composed  by  GK Venkatesh,  Manava  Moole  Mamsada Tadike.  

19)Geeta Priya  , a  director  of many hit films and  Song writer also for  his  own  films and  otherwise , Song I have choosen,  My  favorite , Neera Biitu Nelada Mele , from Hombisilu ,picturised  on Vishnu and  Aarti, Sung by SPB , again this  song  conveys, how  husband and wife are inseperable  and  have  to go hand in hand in journey  called  life.

20)Sorath Ashwath, a  very old  Song writer, for many Old  Rajkumar films, but I have  choosen a  song  from  Puttana  Film, Paduvarahalli Pandavaru, sung by  PBS,  pictursised  on Jai Jagadish , composed  by Vijay  Bhaskar,  Thukadsi Thukadsi Biddaru Nan Ajja  Nin Ajja

21)MN Vyasa Rao,  a  Poet and  more famous for his  Bhave Geethe, introduced  to films  by Puttana thro  his  Film Shubamangala,  I have  choosen a  song  from this film only, Suryangu Chandrangu.. sung by  Ravi  and  pictursied  on Shivram, Ambarish and  lead  Pair, Srinath  and  Aarti.  

22)Shyam Sundar  Kulkarni,  not many  songs  he  wrote, but I am mentioned today is  a  Beautiful  number  from  the  Film, BESUGE, Yaava  Hoovu  Yaara  Mudigo,  sung by  SPB, Composed by Vijay Bhaskar   and  picturised  on Srinath,  

23)Dodda Range Gowda,  anaother  poet  known for  his Non Film songs  also, but has  written some  real gems  in films, the one  I have  Choosen is  from  Film Alemane, Nammura  Mandara Hoove, picturised  on Suresh Hebbalikar , and  composed  by  L Vaidyanathan. His  other  notable songs include Notadaage  Nageya  Meeti, .

24) P Lankesh, Director , Writer, journalist , made few  films  and  wrote very  few  songs, from his  Film Ellalinodolu  Bandavaru,  two wonderful  songs  by SPB composed by Vijay Bhaskar, picturised on Lokesh , I have  choosen Kempadavo Yella  Tampadavo .. so  well  written  and  sung . the  other one was  Ellide Illi  Thanaka

25)Final  one, I  had  to end  with this  writer, who made a  Big Change, to Kannada  cinema, Composer , writer  par  excellence, Hamsa Lekha. While some  critics  rip him apart  for  some  his double  meaning lyrics, no body  can take  away  the credit from him  for  some  of most meaningful songs  he has given us, no better  than one I have chosen today, from Movie  Maha Kashitrya, sung by SPB and picturised on Vishnu, Ee  Bhoomi Bannada Buguri , Aa Shivane  Chaati Kano.  Point to remember here, many years  back  Hamsalekha  had  started  his  writing carrer with another  wonderful  song, Neena  Bhagavanta  from  film  Triveni .

Hope you like this  selection, even  though it became  a bit long, but had  to include 25  Songs , next Gen writers post 1990 were good, not taking any credit from them, but some  how  old charm was was Missing.  Some  writers  of note , to mention, V Manohar, K Kalyan, Nagendra Prasad, Jayant Kaikini, Kaviraj, and  Yogaraj Bhat . Please  feedback and  leave  your name, when u comment.
Will be back soon with yet  another  writing on our Retro Music.