Evergreen ghazals of Hindi cinema include Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar from Arth, Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat from Ghazal, Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera from Lal Quila, Chupke Chupke Raat Din from Nikaah and In Aankhon Ki Masti from Umrao Jaan. They are still sung at mehfils, played on radio and streamed by new listeners.
The list below covers nine ghazals, with the poet, singer and film behind each. We have not reproduced the lyrics, but each song is easy to find on licensed music apps and official label channels.
- What is a ghazal
- 1. Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar, Arth (1982)
- 2. Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, Arth (1982)
- 3. Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat, Ghazal (1964)
- 4. Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera, Lal Quila (1960)
- 5. Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon, Lal Quila (1960)
- 6. Chupke Chupke Raat Din, Nikaah (1982)
- 7. Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye, Nikaah (1982)
- 8. In Aankhon Ki Masti, Umrao Jaan (1981)
- 9. Dikhayi Diye Yun, Bazaar (1982)
- A note on Ranjish Hi Sahi
- Quick reference
- Frequently asked questions
What is a ghazal
A ghazal is a poem made of couplets, called sher, that share a rhyme and a repeated refrain. The form travelled from Arabic and Persian poetry into Urdu, where poets such as Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib made it central to the language’s literature.
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Hindi cinema brought the ghazal to a mass audience. Music directors like Madan Mohan, Khayyam and Ravi set these poems to music, and singers made them part of everyday listening. For more on music and films, visit our entertainment section.
1. Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar, Arth (1982)
Written by Kaifi Azmi and sung by Jagjit Singh, this ghazal appears in Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, starring Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Smita Patil. Its quiet tune matches a film about a broken marriage.
Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh composed the music for Arth, and the album helped make the ghazal popular with younger listeners in the 1980s.
2. Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, Arth (1982)
Also from Arth, this Kaifi Azmi ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh speaks of hidden sorrow behind a smile. It is one of the most requested songs at ghazal concerts and is often paired with Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar.
3. Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat, Ghazal (1964)
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote this ghazal, Madan Mohan composed it and Mohammed Rafi sang it for the film Ghazal, starring Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari. Madan Mohan is often called a master of the film ghazal, and this song is a good example of why.
4. Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera, Lal Quila (1960)
This ghazal is linked with Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, who was exiled to Rangoon after 1857. Mohammed Rafi sang it in Lal Quila, a film about Zafar’s last days. Some scholars question whether Zafar wrote it, but it remains tied to his name.
5. Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon, Lal Quila (1960)
Another Rafi song from Lal Quila, this ghazal was long credited to Bahadur Shah Zafar. Lyricist Javed Akhtar has said it was written by his grandfather, the poet Muztar Khairabadi. The song is about loneliness and loss.
6. Chupke Chupke Raat Din, Nikaah (1982)
Written by the poet and freedom fighter Hasrat Mohani, this ghazal was sung by Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali in B.R. Chopra’s Nikaah. Ravi was the film’s music director. Ghulam Ali’s version became a hit in India and is still his best-known song here.
7. Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye, Nikaah (1982)
Salma Agha, who also played the lead in Nikaah, sang this ghazal written by Hasan Kamal. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for it. The song is about love lost to circumstance.
8. In Aankhon Ki Masti, Umrao Jaan (1981)
Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan, starring Rekha as a courtesan poet in 19th-century Lucknow, has one of the finest ghazal soundtracks in Hindi cinema. Shahryar wrote the lyrics, Khayyam composed the music and Asha Bhosle sang. Khayyam and Asha Bhosle both won National Film Awards for the film’s music.
9. Dikhayi Diye Yun, Bazaar (1982)
This ghazal uses the words of the 18th-century poet Mir Taqi Mir. Lata Mangeshkar sang it for Sagar Sarhadi’s Bazaar, with music by Khayyam. It shows how Hindi films carried classical Urdu poetry to listeners who might never have read it.
A note on Ranjish Hi Sahi
Ahmad Faraz’s Ranjish Hi Sahi, sung by Mehdi Hassan, is one of the most loved ghazals in India and Pakistan, and it was included in the original version of this list. It became famous as a non-film ghazal rather than a Hindi film song, but no list of evergreen ghazals feels complete without it.
Quick reference
| Ghazal | Film | Poet | Singer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar | Arth (1982) | Kaifi Azmi | Jagjit Singh |
| Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat | Ghazal (1964) | Sahir Ludhianvi | Mohammed Rafi |
| Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera | Lal Quila (1960) | Credited to Bahadur Shah Zafar | Mohammed Rafi |
| Chupke Chupke Raat Din | Nikaah (1982) | Hasrat Mohani | Ghulam Ali |
| Dil Ke Armaan | Nikaah (1982) | Hasan Kamal | Salma Agha |
| In Aankhon Ki Masti | Umrao Jaan (1981) | Shahryar | Asha Bhosle |
| Dikhayi Diye Yun | Bazaar (1982) | Mir Taqi Mir | Lata Mangeshkar |
Interested in Urdu poetry and its history? Our infotainment section has more.
Further reading: here, Telegram.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a ghazal and a geet?
A ghazal is built from independent couplets with a shared rhyme and refrain. A geet is a song with a continuous theme, usually with verses and a chorus.
Who is called the king of ghazals in India?
Jagjit Singh is often called the king of ghazals for making the form popular with a wide audience in India.
Which film has the best ghazals?
Umrao Jaan (1981), Arth (1982) and Bazaar (1982) are often named for their ghazal soundtracks.
Who wrote Chupke Chupke Raat Din?
The poet Hasrat Mohani wrote it. Ghulam Ali sang it, and it was used in the 1982 film Nikaah.
Sources: Nikaah, Wikipedia, Umrao Jaan, Wikipedia, Bazaar, Wikipedia.
