“Umeed Ke Rangeen Jhoole Mein” is a gem from the landmark year of 1949, featured in the film Lahore. This track is a masterclass in the “sorrowful melody” genre that dominated early post-independence Indian cinema. While the title suggests a “colorful swing of hope,” the song is actually a profound meditation on the fickleness of fate (Taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain).
The music was composed by Shyam Sundar, who is often hailed as the man who truly discovered the depth of Lata Mangeshkar’s voice. His compositions for Lahore played a massive role in establishing her as the premier playback singer of the nation. The lyrics, penned by Rajendra Krishna, use evocative metaphors—like flowers being plucked before they can bloom—to describe the heartbreak of lost love and shattered expectations.
Picturized on the legendary Nargis, the song perfectly captures the transition of Hindi film music from the theatrical, heavy-voiced style of the 1930s to the refined, “crystalline” soprano of the Lata Mangeshkar era. Even at this early stage of her eight-decade career, her ability to convey “thahrav” (steadiness) and deep emotional pathos was unmatched.
Umeed ke rangeen jhoole men lyrics | Lata Mangeshkar | Rajendra Krishna| Lahore 1949
Umeed ke rangeen jhoole men lyrics :
ik aas bandhaye jaati hain
ik aas mitaye jaati hain
ummeed ke rangeen jhoole mein
taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain
taqdeer jhoolye jaati hain
abaad kiya tha jis dil ko
kar daala phir barbaad usse
Iss tarah kiya ke ghum ke siva
kuchh aur raha na yaad usse
jis dil mein pyar basaya tha
ik dard basaye jaati hain
ik dard basaye jaati hain
ummeed ke rangeen jhoole mein
taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain
taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain
asha ki sachhi kalion ko
asha ki sachhi kalion ko
khilne se pahele peen liya
ik geet jagakar hothon par
ik geet jagakar hothon par
gaane se pahele chhin liya
do roz jhoolakar phoolon mein
kaanton mein rulaye jaati hain
kaanton mein rulaye jaati hain
ummeed ke rangeen jhoole mein
taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain
taqdeer jhoolaye jaati hain