/> Ae mere watan ke logon: When C. Ramachandra composed this song to mourn the death of Indian soldiers during the 1962 Indo-China war, little did he know that in 2007 it would still rank as the most popular patriotic song ever.

On NDTV's survey of the best of 60 years of independence Ae mere watan topped as the best Hindi song ever. Says Lataji, "When I sang it I never knew it would become a huge hit. Would you believe I was very reluctant to sing it since I wasn't well. But the poet Pradeepji laid down the condition that only Lata must sing it. C. Ramachandraji also insisted.

I suggested that both Asha and I sing it together. But he insisted I do it alone. Later he relented and Asha was in. But two days before we were supposed to sing the song live in Delhi Asha said she no longer wanted to sing Ae watan ke logon.

I had to overnight rehearse her portions and sing them as well. C. Ramachandra sent Asha's portions to me on a tape and left for Delhi. I went to Delhi sang the song and returned the same evening to Mumbai to attend my sister Meena's wedding.

The next morning the papers were filled with the song and how it made Pandit Nehru cry. Mujhe to pataa hi nahin tha!"

Mera joota hai japani: Considered by many the ultimate pop anthem, Mukesh put Raj Kapoor's in Shri 420 image of the nationalistic nomad into a poignant but comic perspective. Shailendra words were a great boost.

Kar chale hum phida jaan-on-tan saathiyon: Mohd Rafi poured his soul into this paean to patriotism written by Kaifi Azmi for Chetan Anand's war film Haqeeqat. The long song is still so strong on sentiments, it moves listeners to tears every time.

Madan Mohan loved composing desh bhakti songs. His other Rafi salaam to the nation was Meri awaaz suno in the film Naunihal composed when Pandit Jawharlal Nehru passed away.

Vande mataram: The Nightingale Lata Mangeshakar's rendering of the immortal lines for composer Hemant Kumar in 1952 in the film Anand Math, remains a class act.

Recalls Lataji, "We recorded the song all day long. Then we recorded the whole song again at the HMV studio. " In this era of MP3 and I-pods aisa passion kahan. I love my India, watan mera India.... ha!

Jahan daal-dal par sone ki chidiya karti hai basera: Giddy-headed utopian view of Independent India from the film Sikandar-e-Azam brought to heartfelt life by by Mohd Rafi' s singing this song represents the Nehruvian ideal of free ecstativ India that als, seems to mock at reality.

Mere Desh ki dharti: Manoj Kumar loved using Mahendra Kapoor's voice to propagate the star's pulpit patriotism. Remember Kapoor belting out Mora rang de basanti chola for Manoj's Shahid Bhagat Singh in Shaheed?

Mere desh ki dharti in Manoj K's directorial debut ranks as one of the most celebrated patriotic songs. Kalyanji-Anandji went on to compose another Manoj K-Mahendra K special Dulhan chali ho behan chali teen rang ki choli about the Indian tri-colour in Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim and the actor-director's Kranti had Laxmikant-Pyarelal at their rousing best in the composition Ab ke baras tujhe dharti rani kar denege.

Ae mere pyare watan: Manna Dey infused such tremendous feeling into Gulzar's lyrics about missing home in this Salil Chowdhary composition. The song in Kabuliwala is actually about an Afghani Pathan (Balraj Sahni) in Kolkata missing home. But it can be perceived as any paean to patriotism. .

Ae watan tere liye: Subhash Ghai's Karma dared to do the unthinkable.... It got Laxmikant-Pyarelal to compose a patriotic song without any of the singing greats Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd Rafi, Mukesh, or Asha Bhosle. Ae watan was sung by Mohd Aziz and Kavita Krishnamurthy and elevated to greatness by the onscreen sincerity of Dilip Kumar and Nutan.

Mere dushman mere bhai: J. P. Dutta's post-glasnost song of Indo-Pak unity sung with immense affection and anguish by Hariharan had Anu Malik pulling out all stops to create the perfect tune for Javed Akhtar's outstanding poetry on across-the-border brotherhood.

Says JP, "It wasn't easy writing a song in Border that pleaded for sanity and amity between the two countries at a time when politicians were baying for blood. But I believe we needed a voice of sanity. "

Suno jaane wale laut ke aana: In J. P. Dutta's LOC Alka Yagnik's voice rose to great heights of poignancy as she pleaded for soldiers at the war front to come home. Again, Javed Akhtar's words and Anu's tune carried the message to majestic heights.

Says JP, "Only Lataji earlier and now Alka could've sung this song. We always look at soldiers from the male point of view. What about the wives, mothers and sisters who get left behind ?"

Maa tujhe salaam: A. R Rahman's passionate fervour cuts across the border-lines to create the most poignant tribute to the mother-land since Ae mere watan ke logon.