Asha Bhosle sings the same song this time as a duet with Mahendra Kapoor, that clarion call of a voice we remember from our childhood Mahabharat days when every Sunday all streets would be totally empty and traffic would come to a standstill as Mahendra Kapoor bellowed, " MAAAHAAAABHAAAAARAT" and woke us up. His voice is definitely the voice of a farmer from Punjab or a soldier making merry with peers on some frontier with a drink in his white enamel ware mug!
But Asha balances his rustic timbre with her infectious charm. The mood is somewhat sombre here. This time there is another pretty, mysterious damsel who graces the scene-of course there has to be. The club crooner is sporting enough to not even ask the hunk as to who is she, where is she, what the plot is at the other end. She is expected to give explanations for every alliance-fake or real- of hers but she gracefully accepts that the hero might after all have a love of his life too, a love that nurtures him or one that bothers him. The club crooner selflessly lends him a shoulder to cry on, sympathising, counselling, offering succour and advice as to how to make it work. Even if it breaks her own heart completely to know that he belongs to someone else, she smiles through the evening, spreading sunshine and cheer. The tears of course would be for a private moment alone, far from the limelight of glitzy events and sparkling champagne moments.....
The club crooner was a fun girl. She was the life
of the party and knew how to raise a storm on the floor. She could double up as
a stunning bar-tender without worrying about the Manu Sharmas of the world. She
had two gorgeous hunks for company, chivalrous and chic. She cavorted and
cajoled, oozing oomph and schmoozing big time. One of Asha Bhonsle's most
memorable songs, her voice is almost lightening sharp in places and full of mirth and mischief. After all
these were the siren songs, not the staid, sedate Pacific Ocean charm of a
Lata, but a river in spate, a waterfall unbound and unleashed. Music by Ravi
and lyrics by Sahir, a luscious Mumtaz, in a timeless LBD(Little Black Dress) that one would love
wearing even today and two of the most handsome hunks to
ever grace Hindi film screen- the most suave and dashing Khan ever, Feroz and the
devastatingly delicious Desi Dharmendra. I am sure Mumu had a tough
call there. Yet I would grant it to the Khan, for not only was he a stylish and
naturally charming actor, but also the producer of some memorable movies and therefore a more complete entertainer and showman. The song I would say was pretty ahead of it's times. These avant garde touches by Yash and B R Chopra make this club crooner song a classic!
At other times she could enthrall dancing gazelle like, mesmerising with that pixie like grin and crinkly eyes. She was exotica served in a sarong, a ditty from faraway places that had miraculously fallen in your kitty, a thrill to take the chill pill with, a steamy dream boat with delicious mysterious dimsums to discover. Geeta Dutt's rendition of this song triggered the imagination like never before, exposing Indian audiences to pleasures beyond the seven seas, of dangerous silk routes and the delectable treasures beyond. The name "Chin Chin Chu" is probably taken from Chu Chin Chow, a popular British musical comedy from 1916. This song by O P Nayyar and Qamar Jalalabadi became a raging hit, paving way for many songs with phoren flavours. Helen who was a such an incredible talent, one of Burma’s best imports into India took Indian movies by a veritable storm with her stunning dance performances. She morphed into many seductive avatars later, bringing costumes right from Lido to Moulin Rouge into Indian movies. Here though she is simply a boost of forbidden flavours, fresh, youthful and lively. The effect, to say the least was addictive!:-))
So even if her own face could launch
a thousand ships, it was a mere glance of his face that made the club crooner
go into raptures. It was in his presence that her song developed a heart and
mind and a character of its own. She danced the night away with an ensemble
team but one look from him made her heart dance to his tunes. She had a captive
audience but she was captivated by his silent charms. This lesser known song
from Howrah Bridge by Asha is yet again composed by O P Nayyar- turns out this
is becoming an O P Nayyar tribute more than anything else, but yes this was the
man who gave us such lively tunes much before R D had even surfaced anywhere.
And who else but Madhubala to perform, a heroine O P Nayyar confessed did the
maximum justice to his songs!:-)
Song 5: 10 Mar 2013
They even gave sound
business advice, these curvy crooners.They made the hero aware of his inner
strengths and goaded him on to make the right moves. Their own life had made
them street smart and they used that know-how to let the hero know when was the
time to be a bull or a bear. They wished them luck with their ensuing deals and ventures.
Too bad that many Indian men did not like being advised by their lady love,
at least not on money or business matters. Or they did not like mixing business
with pleasure. However that did not deter the club crooners. They belted out
sound advice with solid guitar strumming and elegant eye rolling. The result,
they were both an enviable team both on and off the smoky casinos. I simply
adore Geeta Bali. Just see how she says 'daav lagale' everytime. A true
natural talent, just like Geeta Dutt's singing was, and S D Burman's music and Sahir's
lyrics. And Dev Anand, well he is simply being Dev Anand. There will be no other. No wonder this is one of my
all time favourite club crooner songs!!
Song 4: 8 Mar 2013
Yet another O P Nayyar number to showcase the seductive charm of Asha's voice and who better to compliment it on screen but Mumu herself. Now Mumtaz was a cutie and hottie rolled into one and yet seemed totally unaware of her own charisma. I also admire the way Asha had perfected the art of those champagne laughs and giggles in between which I am sure are not that easy to record impromptu. The lyrics written by Majrooh went with the norm those days where even a night club dancer used very formal and refined expressions such as aaiye, dikhlaiye, farmaiye. Too bad these so called bad girls never got the guy in the end but usually would get eliminated half way through so that he could go back to his sati savitri heroine. Infact I marvel at these guys too who had perfected the art of looking totally detached, no-nonsense and sullen through all the heave- hoing the poor club dancer was upto with a lot of effort and sincerity!!!;-))
Song 3: 7 Mar 2013
It was the dancing girl/club crooner after all who loved the hero rather selflessly, could be a buddy and a tease at the same time. She could stop him when he was going wayward and really miss him when he was gone. She could shake a leg like noone's business and could even pull his leg and smirk and taunt. She could strut her stuff and flaunt. She could disappear at times and haunt. But she was his need and want. So sizzling were some of these dancing girls that they often had to be censored and thought not fit for public consumption. This song with Arabic inspired interludes, for example was picturised on Waheeda Rehman but the rushes were too hot to handle and consequently it was deleted from the original movie. A pity that video or even stills are not available anywhere. Can just imagine Waheeda doing full justice to it. So listen to this song and visualise this song for yourself. Out of sight is not always out of mind!:-))
Song 3: 7 Mar 2013
Song 2 : 6 Mar 2013
If Geeta Dutt had that delicious Bengali lilt, Asha Bhosle had an inborn sizzle. These were the voices of the quintessential club crooner. Between the two of them, they belted out quite a few kick-ass club crooner numbers. So how about an Asha-Geeta face-off, what say? I will give you one dazzling song after the other alternately and you decide who was the hotter voice. It is indeed difficult to decide. To start with Asha Bhonsle club crooner/dancing diva songs, what better song to kick start the process than this whopper of a number. I am sure there isn't any person who hasn't been stirred by this one ever. Madhubala at her vivacious, sultry best. And Asha Bhonsle was just the voice for those sirens, those with the satiny sensuality, come hither smiles and darting glances. The music is by O P Nayyar who was responsible for giving Asha that individuality in terms of singing style, and lyrics are by Qamar Jalalabadi. We see a lot of pretty young girls vie for the numero uno position but must say rare to see this grace and charm anywhere today....
Song 2 : 6 Mar 2013
If Geeta Dutt had that delicious Bengali lilt, Asha Bhosle had an inborn sizzle. These were the voices of the quintessential club crooner. Between the two of them, they belted out quite a few kick-ass club crooner numbers. So how about an Asha-Geeta face-off, what say? I will give you one dazzling song after the other alternately and you decide who was the hotter voice. It is indeed difficult to decide. To start with Asha Bhonsle club crooner/dancing diva songs, what better song to kick start the process than this whopper of a number. I am sure there isn't any person who hasn't been stirred by this one ever. Madhubala at her vivacious, sultry best. And Asha Bhonsle was just the voice for those sirens, those with the satiny sensuality, come hither smiles and darting glances. The music is by O P Nayyar who was responsible for giving Asha that individuality in terms of singing style, and lyrics are by Qamar Jalalabadi. We see a lot of pretty young girls vie for the numero uno position but must say rare to see this grace and charm anywhere today....
