Tere milne se pehle bhee jeete thhe hum
Posted on: February 9, 2026
This article is written by Satyajit Rajurkar, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in other sites without the knowledge and consent of the web administrator of atulsongaday.me, then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
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My tribute to the Greatest singer ever – Lata Mangeshkar
I’m delayed by a couple of days to give my shradhanjali to the great departed soul, Lata Mangeshkar. Voices like hers don’t belong to a single era; they belong to eternity. Her melodies will continue to echo in our hearts forever.
For over seven decades, her voice floated through radios, cinema halls, wedding stages, lonely train journeys, and quiet midnight moments. It was the sound of first love, of longing, of devotion, of patriotism, of heartbreak that was beautiful rather than bitter. When Lata ji sang, emotions didn’t feel performed — they felt remembered.
There was something almost otherworldly about her voice. Crystal-clear yet deeply human, delicate yet unwavering, it could carry the innocence of a young girl, the grace of a devoted lover, or the quiet strength of a woman who had endured life’s storms.
Composers trusted her with their most treasured melodies. Lyricists knew their words would find a soul. Actors on screen found their emotions magnified through her playback. She didn’t just sing songs — she gave them destiny.
From classical-based compositions to playful duets, from bhajans to patriotic anthems, her range was astonishing not only in technique but in emotion. “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon” could bring a nation to tears. A romantic ghazal could feel like a private confession. A lullaby could sound like it had been sung by every mother who ever lived.
Yet beyond the awards, records, and global recognition, what truly made Lata Mangeshkar timeless was the sincerity in her singing. There was no excess, no showmanship for its own sake — only devotion to the song. She treated music as something sacred, and in doing so, she made listeners feel that listening itself was a sacred act.
Generations grew up with her voice as a constant companion. Grandparents, parents, and children could all claim her as their singer— and all would be right. Even today, when one of her songs begins, time seems to soften. Memories rise. Hearts grow quiet.
Legends are often described as irreplaceable, but in Lata Mangeshkar’s case, the word feels literal. Voices will come and go, trends will change, technology will evolve — but that silken, luminous voice will remain woven into the emotional history of India and of cinema forever.
She may have left the world, but she never left our lives. Every time her song plays, she is still here — singing gently, eternally, to the human heart.
On her fourth death anniversary, I would like to present a very soulful melody created by Laxmikant Pyarelal for the words penned by Rajinder Krishna. This song is from the 1975 film, Ponga Pandit. The song is “Tere Milne Se Pehle”, a song and the movie both very close to my heart.
In the mid-70s, Laxmikant-Pyarelal were the kings of the “dholak-heavy” commercial sound, but for this track, they opted for a melancholic rhythmic flow.
This song uses a steady, driving beat that mimics the feeling of a journey or the ticking of time.
The Melody sits in a slightly higher register, allowing Lata Mangeshkar’s voice to pierce through the orchestration with that signature “crystal-clear” quality she was known for during this decade.
The lyrics, penned by Rajinder Krishan, dwell on the irony of longing. The antaras explore the restlessness of the heart before a union. It’s a “Viraha” song (a song of separation) that somehow feels optimistic and heartbroken at the same time.
Lata Ji’s rendition captures the vulnerability of the character (played by Neeta Mehta). While the film itself is often remembered as a lighthearted masala comedy involving a priest’s son (Randhir Kapoor) trying to fit into the city, this song provides the emotional anchor.
This song remains a favorite on retro radio stations and nostalgic playlists.
On screen, the song is lip synced and performed by an intoxicated Neeta Mehta. And we can see the hero Randhir Kapoor, too.
Video Link:
Audio Link:
Song-Tere milne se pehle bhee jeete thhe hum (Ponga Pandit)(1975) Singer-Lata, Lyricist-Rajinder Krishan, MD-Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyrics:
tere milne se pehle
hic
tere milne se pehle bhee jeete thhey hum
jeene waalee magar baat koi na thhee
tere milne se pehle bhee jeete thhey hum
jeene waalee magar baat koi na thhee
muskuratee hui subah koi na thhee
gungunatee hui raat koi na thhee
aaj har cheez se jaan pehchaan hai ae
aaj har cheez se jaan pehchaan hai
yeh tere pyaar ka
mujhpe ehsaan hai
aaj har cheez se jaan pehchaan hai
ye tere pyaar ka mujhpe ehsaan hai
dil se dil is tarah aaj milne lage
jaise pehle mulaakaat koi na thhee
tere milne se pehle bhee
jeete thhey hum
jeene waalee magar baat koi na thhee
laalalaalalalaalaa
isse pehle bhee chhaaye thhey baadal magar
isse pehle bhee chhaaye thhey baadal magar
shaakh-e-dil par to guncha na koi khila
isse pehle bhee chhaaye thhey baadal magar
shaakh-e-dil par to guncha na koi khila
isse pahle ghataayen ghataayen na thheen
ya ghataaon mein barsaat koi na thhee
tere milne se pehle bhee
jeete thhe hum
jeene waalee magar baat koi na thhee
muskuraatee hui subah koi na thhee
gungunaatee hui raat koi na thhee
laalalaa
laalalaalaa
laalalaala
laalaalaalaa
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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