Bollywood + Indian rail, a love affair on wheels

Shah Rukh Khan is currently romancing Deepika Padukone on board the Chennai Express. But Bollywood has long been on track with their emotions, right from the black and white era in Indian cinema. We bring to you a list of our favourite rail songs down the decades.

Mere Sapnon Ki Rani, Aradhana (1969): Rajesh Khanna stole our hearts and the train-borne Sharmila Tagore's as he serenaded her all the way to her destination in his jeep in Darjeeling.

Jiya Ho, jiya ho jiya kuch bol to, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1961): The beautiful romantic song from the hit movie Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai effectively captured the rail romance between Dev Anand and Asha Parekh.

Chhaiyan Chhaiyan, Dil Se (1998): Who can forget Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika dancing atop a train speeding across picturesque locales. The chartopping number from Dil Se remains Bollywood's evergreen rail song.

Hoga Tumse Pyaara Kaun, Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981): Rishi Kapoor wore his heart on his sleeve and proclaimed his love for Padmini Kolhapure by dancing for her atop a moving train. Could anyone in Bollywood get more romantic than this?

Hum Dono Do Premi, Ajnabee (1974): The foottaping number was picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman proclaiming their love for each other on a moving train.

Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Mukaam, Aapki Kasam (1974): The song, picturised on Rajesh Khanna leaving his home for good in a train, effectively captured the emotions of a dejected man who abandons his wife to become an aimless wanderer after casting doubt on her fidelity.

Hai Apna Dil Toh Awaara, Solva Saal (1958): The peppy song, picturised on Dev Anand and Waheeda Rahman, effectively captured their adventurous journey en-route to Bombay in a train.

Cheel Cheel Chilla Ke Kajri Sunaaye, Half Ticket (1962): The classic song was picturised on Kishore Kumar, who played a man trying to pass off as a child, just so that he didn't have to pay the full ticket on a train journey.

Aao Bachchon Tumhen Dikhayen Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Jagriti (1954): The superhit patriotic song from the classical movie Jagriti was picturised on a schoolteacher (played by Abhi Bhattacharya) who inspires his students about his country's achievements through a journey on wheels.

Ghar Aaja Pardesi, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995): The song poignantly captured the emotions of an NRI (played by Amrish Puri) on his way to his ancestral home in Punjab with his family in a train.

Bombay Seh Baroda Tak, Rafoo Chakkar (1975): Rishi Kapoor and Paintal dressed up as women and singing on board a train brought tears of laughter to our eyes. Asha Bhosle singing for a lead actor (Rishi) was probably a first in Bollywood.

Gadi Bula Rahi Hai, Dost (1974): The opening song of the movie was picturised on Dharmendra, who returns to his home only to discover that his mentor is dead and makes a rail journey in order to relocate to another city.

Pal do Pal ka Saath, Burning train (1980): The beautiful qawaali featuring Jeetendra and Neetu Singh was one of the most popular rail songs of the eighties. The lyrics Pal do pal kaa saath hamaraa pal do pal ke yaaraane hain Is manzil par milnewaale us manzil par kho jaane hain were an apt description of the events that unfold in the life of the passengers who board an express train with no idea of the alarming situations that await them.

Teri Hai Zameen, The Burning Train (1980): The song effectively captured the plight of passengers trapped in an overspeeding train whose emergency brakes had failed.

Jai Ho, Slumdog Millionaire (2008): AR Rahman's Oscar winning song, featuring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto celebrating their 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' win on a platform, became an anthem that showed the world that India had arrived and was now a part of the global village.

Kasto Mazza He Relaima, Parineeta (2005): Saif Ali Khan has Vidya Balan on his mind all the way on his train sojourn to Darjeeling, much like the one his mother Sharmila made all those years ago in Aradhana.

Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi, Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966): Dharmendra wooed his fellow travellers during his rail journey in this song from old classic movie Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi.

Main Chali Main Chali, Professor (1962): The beautiful Kalpana charmed us as well as Shammi Kapoor as she walked impishly on the rail tracks singing the lines Main Chali Main Chali.

Toofan Mail, Jawaab (1942): The superhit rail song from the movie Jawaab, picturised on the famous yesteryear actress Kanan Devi, remains one of her most popular songs till date.

Aanewala Pal, Plan (2004): The song is picturised on four individuals Bobby (Dino Morea), Omi (Rohit Roy), Lucky (Sanjay Suri) and Jai (Bikram Saluja) who meet on a train and immediately become friends with dreams of making it big in the city.

Dekho Zara Kaise Balkhake Chali, Sirf Tum (1999): Popular singer Gurdas Mann wooed the sexy village belle Deepshikha, who boarded a train to sell some wares in this popular song from Sirf Tum.