Songs & Melodies : Ghazals

Hi,
Well, Jagjit Singh is considered by some as the best ghazal singer India has produced. I am no authority to judge upon the veracity of this claim, but I would like to say that some of the best ghazals have been sung by other singers.

Mohd Rafi
Have you heard….
Koi Sagar Dil ko Behelata Nahi
Bekhudi mein dilko karaar aata nahi
....Excellent lyrics, Excellent composition and so beautifully sung by Mohd Rafi. Sigh !

Muddat Huyi Hai Yaar Ko Mehemaan Kiye Huye…Ji dhoonDta hai fir wohi fursat ke raat din..
Or
Dard Minnat Kasme…….Kucch to paDhiye ke log kehte hain...
Or
Ghazab Kiya Tere Wade pe Aitbaar Kiya
Unfortunately I am unable to make out the meaning of some high-funda Urdu words in these, but none-the-less, the overall mood can be easily picked up.

Kitni raahat hai dil toot jaane ke baad
zindagi se mile maut aane ke baad....
This looks so senti, but it does give a positive perspective abt lost past.

Then there is one from the film Ghazal itself…
Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat Kisse Pesh Karu
Ye muraadon hasin raat kisse pesh karu
It becomes a bit high-pitched for my taste. I prefer the one in Lata's ethereal voice...
Nagma-o-sher ki saugat kisse pesh karun
Ye chhalakte huye jazbaat kisse Pesh karun

Talat Mehmood
I discovered this singer very recently and have only a dozen or so of his songs.
Sham-e-gam ki kasam
or mera karaar le ja
or tasveer banaata hu
or ae dil muze aisi jagah le chal
or main teri nazar ka suroor hu...
they are so supperb, I could listen to them forever. Talat had a wobble to his voice, which made his voice as unique as the nasal baritone of Mukesh, and especially suitable for ghazal.

Asha
In aakhon ki masti ke... from Umraao Jaan is an universal favourite.But have you heard...
Ye kya jagah hai doston
Ye kaun sa dayaar hai...from the same movie?

I especially love the lines...
tamaam umra ka hisaab maangti hai zindagi
ye mera dil kahe to kya ye khudpe sharmsaar hai...
bula raha kaun muze chilmano ke us taraf
kya mere liye bhi koi udaas beqraar hai ...

Here are some more of my favourites....
Lata
Ae Dil-E-Nadan : Razia Sultana
Hai Isi Mein Pyaar Ki Aabaru : Adalat
Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Hi Dukhane ke liye aa

Asha
Jaane kya haal ho is kadar tu aaye
Muddatein Beet Gayi Tum Nahi Aaye Ab Tak

Jagjit
Kal Chaudavin Ki Raat Thi
Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho : Arth
Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya : Sarfarosh
Tumko Dekha To Yeh Khyal Aaya: Saath Saath

Misc
Karoge Yaad To : Bhupinder
Too Is Tarah Se : Hemlata
Aaina Muzse Meri Pehli Se Soorat Maange : Daddy
Huzur Is Kadar Bhi Na : Masoom - Suresh Wadkar

Can anyone explain to me what exactly are the benchmarks for a song to be classified as a ghazal? How does it differ from an ordinary film song?
Yours,
Gautam.