Man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko

Ho o o
Hmm hmm hmm hmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm
Man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ho
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko
Ho man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko
Kisne bansi bajaayi aadhi raat ko
Ho kisne bansi bajaayi aadhi raat ko
Jisne palken ho
Jisne palken churaayi aadhi raat ko
Ho man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko

Jhaanjhar jhamke sun jhamke
O jhaanjhar jhamke sun jhamke
Jhaanjhar jhamke sun jhamke aadhi raat ko o o o
Usko toko na roko, roko na toko, toko na roko aadhi raat ko
O o o
Laaj laage ri laage aadhi raat ko
Laaj laage ri laage aadhi raat ko
Bina sindoor ke souun aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko
O man kyon behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko

Baat kehte bane kya aadhi raat ko
Aankh kholegi baat aadhi raat ko
Baat kehte bane kya aadhi raat ko
Aankh kholegi baat aadhi raat ko
Humne pi chandni aadhi raat ko
Ho ho humne pi chandni aadhi raat ko
Chand aankhon mein aaya aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko
O man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko

Raat gunti rahegi aadhi baat ko
Aadhi baaton ki peed aadhi raat ko
Raat gunti rahegi aadhi baat ko
Aadhi baaton ki peed aadhi raat ko
Baat poori ho kaise aadhi raat ko
Raat hoti ho
Raat hoti shuroo hai aadhi raat ko
Man kyun behka ri behka aadhi raat ko
Bela mehka ri mehka aadhi raat ko
Ho man kyun behka ri behka
Bela mehka ri mehka
Man kyun behka
Bela mehka
Man kyun behka
Bela mehka

Movie: Utsav (1984)
Director: Girish Karnad
Singers: Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Vasant Dev
Music Composers: Laxmikant-Pyarelal

I was 11 when Utsav was released. I remember skimming through reviews of it in Femina/Women's Era, both of which my mother subscribed to. I was struck by the pictures.

I didn't know anything about anyone except Shashi Kapoor and Rekha. I never even realized that it was directed by Girish Karnad or that it was produced by Shashi Kapoor.

However, over the years, courtesy of AIR and Doordarshan, I heard and saw this song many times and was fascinated by it. The different singing styles of Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar are quite evident in the song. Rekha and Anuradha Patel are bewitching.

Great lyrics, great music, great rendition, great picturization, and wonderful actors! Enjoy! ~ S