A number of Hindi Film songs are memorable because of the humming. When you listen to such songs, you realise that the humming is an integral part of the song. The humming part normally comes before the actual song, like an Alaap in classical music. However, there are also songs where the humming sequence comes in the middle of the song or at the very end.

Normally, people associate humming with a melody that is sung with mouth closed that sounds like ‘hmmm’. However, humming means any melody sung without the lyrics – this can include a melody sung with an open mouth like ‘aaa’ or ‘ooo’.

Humming generally makes a song charming. Sometimes, the humming adds an unforgettable haunting element to the song. Naina Barse Rim Jhim composed by Madan Mohan for Woh Kaun Thi, is one such song with an opening humming that is extremely haunting. Listen to the opening humming here.

<figure class="wp-block-audio"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Haunting opening humming sequence of Naina Barse Rim Jhim</figcaption></figure>

And the full song here.

<figure class="wp-block-audio"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Naina Barse Rim Jhim – full song with opening humming</figcaption></figure>

Another song with a very haunting opening sequence is Tum Mile composed by MM Kreem for the film Criminal. While the main singers were Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik, the humming sequences are sung by KS Chitra. Criminal is a remake of a Telugu film. Chitra had sung the humming sequences for the Telugu song and the same sequences were used in the Hindi version as well. Apparently, KS Chitra took many days to practice the humming before it was approved and recorded.

MM Kreem is known by different names in different languages. In Telugu film industry, where he spent most of his career, he is known as MM Keeravani. He composed the music for Blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR. Listen to the haunting opening of Tum Mile here.

<figure class="wp-block-audio"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Haunting opening humming sequence of Tum Mile</figcaption></figure>

And the full song here.

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While there are countless songs with humming, I shortlisted only 15 popular songs and created a playlist. These songs feature humming by the singer. I did not include songs where the humming sequence is sung by a chorus. Also, this post does not include songs with folksy hums or classical sargam.

Click the link below to listen to the playlist on Amazon Music. The songs in the playlist appear in the same order as in the post below.

Link to Playlist on Amazon Music

Charming Kishore – The beginning

The Alaap is a key element of classical songs. Normally, the Alaap is a hum that sets the mood for the song. In film music as well, the opening humming sets the mood like an Alaap.

Kishore Kumar was a well known singer from the early days of his career. However, Rafi was considered the leading singer and was normally the first choice for a song on a hero. Aaradhana was the film that changed this equation in film music.

Rajesh Khanna makes an appearance in a jeep and stole the hearts of everyone with the help of Kishore’s booming voice and the charming humming in Mere Sapnon Ki Raani. This film and Kishore Kumar’s songs in this movie rocked the film world and Kishore shot to the top, displacing Rafi. SD Burman (assisted by RD Burman) created these iconic songs in Aaradhana that changed the landscape. Aaradhana is a key milestone in the history of Hindi film music.

Another song from Aaraadhana, Kora Kaagaz thaa yeh man mera sung by Kishore and Lata, also had a memorable and charming opening humming sequence.

Kishore’s voice was ideally suited for humming (of course, he was one of the rare singers who could yodel) and composers like RD Burman added several charming opening humming sequences in songs like O mere dil ke chain (Mere Jeevan Saathi), Tum Bin (Pyar Ka Mausam), Aane waala pal (Golmaal).

Kalyanji-Anandji also used Kishore’s humming memorably in Samaa hai Suhaana (Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani) and O Saathi Re (Muqaddar Ka Sikandar).

Hemant – the Haunting Hummer

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