The Numbers that Matter!
Not mathematics. It's time to talk about those magical numbers that get most men and several women heat up for different reasons! Item numbers!! Even the
die-hard fans of off-beat cinema need a break and they too watch inane (yet
highly entertaining) commercial movies! And, what movie today in India is
complete without an item number? These numbers were once the monopoly of the
vamps - Helen, Bindu and Padma Khanna in Hindi and Jayamalini, Jyothilakshmi
and Silk Smitha in the South - the sirens who provided the
much-needed-oomph. A few heroines in the 70s (and early 80s) tried to
bridge this and performed some sizzling numbers - Zeenat in Qurbani for
example, rocked the entire country. So did Parveen Babi in Namak Halaal.
But these were exceptions and not the rule. Most heroines preferred
to be Adarsh Bharatiya Naris (at least) on screen and weren't willing to
experiment much.
Today they're
performed by the lead actors. Either acting as heroine in the movie or
appearing just for the song and vanishing soon after. And special budgets
are being created to mount such songs in absolute grandeur. Even those
who pooh-poohed this trend earlier came back only to shake their booties later.
Like Madhuri and Kareena! A lot of hype is also created around such
numbers in the media to attract audiences to the cinema. Sunny Leone's
number in Shootout at Wadala, anyone?
This post is inspired heavily by the one posted by Dame A (her humour and
chutzpah aren't my forte though). And, hence dedicated to her and to Shraddha, my new friend here in The Hague. I am randomly listing the top 10
numbers from Bollywood that have stayed fresh in memory.
P.S. I have consciously avoided numbers performed by the leading ladies themselves in their own movies.
P.S. I have consciously avoided numbers performed by the leading ladies themselves in their own movies.
1. Chamma
Chamma (China Gate)
This possibly
should be called the song that started the trend of item numbers by heroines in
movies. The movie by the usually decent RajKumar Santoshi was otherwise
absolutely forgettable was brought to life only because of the sensuous
Urmila's gyrations and the foot-tapping music! Wonder where Anu Mallik
copied this tune from!
2. Dekh Le
(Munnabhai MBBS)
This number by
the lissome and lithe Mumait Khan certainly heated up the proceedings - and not
just for Zaheer! Suneedhi Chauhan's vocals can't be forgotten either.
3. Saaki
Saaki (Musafir)
Koena Mitra
oozed all her sensuality in her song such that nothing much else could she do
later! Sukhvinder Singh adds further zest with his sultry voice!
4. Kajra
Re (Bunty Aur Bubbly)
The song that
made the nation sit up and take note that there was life (and warmth) in the
icy beauty Icewarya Rai. Never did she look this seductive before nor
after. Gulzar's playful lyrics and Alisha's (surprise surprise) honeyed
crooning raise the bar further!
5. UP-Bihar Lootne (Shool)
List of item songs and no Shilpa? I
guess that's not possible :) So, here's that sizzling one that continues
to be played in UP and Bihar to this day (wish I could find a better quality
video though)!
6. Maiya Maiya (Guru)
Mallika for once made news for all the
right steps - and it wasn't just hype like most times!
7. Chikni Chameli (Agneepath)
I couldn't believe when I saw the thanda
Katrina burning the screen with this scalding laavni-inspired number.
8. Baby Doll (Ragini MMS 2)
This is the exception in the list - where
the lead actress features in the item number. And, there's nothing subtle
about Sunny and everythings in your face - what you see is what you get!
9. Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo (Dum)
Yana's scene-stealing screen-scorching
turn was the only saving grace of this dud of a movie.
10. Munni Badnaam Hui (Dabangg)
Each time Malaika features in a song it's
certain to be smoking hot and ultra-foot-tapping. But, I tried not to
have more than one song for any actor. And, boy, was it difficult to
choose!!
Ideally the list should have featured
'Beedi Jalaile' of Bipasha and 'Aisa Jadoo Dala Re' of Lara Dutta.
And, Kareena's 'Mere Photo Ko'. Even Aamir Khan's 'Dole Dole' from Baazi should make it. Also, this list - sadly - has only
songs from Bollywood. There are umpteen - equally if not better - item
numbers from the South that I know of. May be I should make a compilation
sans languages and invite all my friends to some drinks. And, dance like
there's no tomorrow!
Labels: Actresses, Bollywood, Item songs, Movies
posted by Quintessential Critic (Sudhir Narayana) @ 12:59 AM
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