Subhash K Jha celebrates Poonam Dhillon's 63rd birthday on April 18 by listing her top chartbusters.
In her debut film Trishul, Poonam had the fun-filled Gapuchi Gapuchi Gam Gam sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
"Imagine, I had Lataji sing my very first song!" Poonam exulted.
Gapuchi Gapuchi was a rare fun outing for Composer Khayyam, known for his sombre ghazals.
In her 2nd film Noorie, it was the divine blend of Yash Chopra-Lataji-Khayyam.
Aaja Re O Mere Dilbar Aaja is now part of movie folklore, thanks to its melody, poetry (written by Jan Nissar Akhtar, Javed Akhtar's father) and Lataji's singing.
In her fourth release Nishana, Poonam had Lataji sing a melody that the singer considered among her best works in the 1980s.
Kitni Dard Bhari Yeh Baat Hai was a haunting composition by Laxmikant-Pyarelal but it got lost in a poor film.
Asha Bhosle sang Tu Tu Hai Wahi, an enchanting duet with Kishore Kumar, in the film, Yeh Vaada Raha.
Says Poonam, "Chintu and I were on the same wavelength on this one, and Kishoreda and Ashaji were at their best."
Kumar Gaurav's third film had better music than his chartbuster-filled debut Love Story.
R D Burman didn't think much of Yaad Aa Rahi Hai in Love Story , he felt Ayee Ayee Teri Yaad Ayee in Romance, sung by Lataji and Amit Kumar, was far superior.
R D Burman's wedding song Salma Ko Mil Gaya Balma in the flop, Paley Khan, was directed by the great Shakti Samanta's son Ashim.
The film came at a time when RD's career was at its lowest ebb. Even Lataji's voice and Poonam's beauty couldn't lift this wedding song.
In the Gulzar-RD Burman creation Sanware Sunao Basuri in Basera, Rekha and Raakhee had Lataji's Jahan Pe Savera Ho and Jaane Kaise Beetegi Yeh Barsaatein.
Poonam Dhillon had this enchanting Krishna bhajan, which automatically bequeathed her with the same status as the two screen queens.