Raag Bhairavi – My Top 10

At the very outset, I am acutely aware that my attempt at naming my top 10 may not find many takers, particularly because many of the 180 odd songs that have been listed are so melodious that no two people could possibly come up with the same list. This exercise is probably no different from naming the all time best World Test Cricket Team.

On going through my top 10 list, it may probably appear that I have played safe by naming songs which have an inherent classical base to it. However, the only criteria that I have adopted is songs that bring out the inherent beauty of Bhairavi in a manner that any person who is cursorily familiar with Raag Bhairavi should easily be able to recognize the song as being based on the Raag. That the songs selected have a classical base to them is purely incidental.

As such, many hit songs that we have loved and admired over the years do not find a place in the top ten, only for the reason that they do not bring out essence and the flavour of Bhairavi as much as these 10 do. 

Sr. No.	Song	Film	Singer	Music Director
1	Babul Mora Naihar	Street Singer	Kundan Lal Saigal	R.C. Boral
2	Laaga Chunari Mein	Dil Hi To Hai	Manna Dey	Roshan
3	Ajahun Aaye Balama	Saanj aur Savera	Rafi & Lata	Shankar Jaikishan
4	Saware Saware	Anuradha	Lata	Ravi Shankar
5	Tu Ganga ki Mauj	Baiju Bawra	Rafi	Naushad
6	Insaf Ka Mandir Hai	Amar	Rafi	Naushad
7	Albeli Naar Pritam Dwar	Main Shaadi Karne Chala	Manna Dey	Chitragupt
8	Jo Tum Todo Piya	Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje	Lata	Vasant Desai
9	Nache man mora	Meri Soorat Teri Aankhen	Rafi	S.D. Burman
10	Phool Gendava Na Maro	Dooj Ka Chand	Manna Dey	Roshan