Tag Archives: music

“Boys v/s Girls” – 90s Songs

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Hero v/s heroine or boy v/s girl is one of the common situations in Hindi movies. This normally happens when the lead pair meet for the first time and their initial interaction is not very promising. And we have them expressing their emotions through a song.

Today’s post covers the boy v/s girl theme through 10 songs, all from the 1990s and beyond. It is interesting that most of these songs can be termed as “college songs.” It seems that the whole college is ready to participate in the song by supporting the hero and heroine respectively. There are other situations including a marriage song which features this theme. I hope you enjoy and which songs do you remember?

1) Song: Aaj No Chhodunga Tujhe
Film: Dil (1990)
Credits: Sameer | Anand-Milind | Udit Narayan, Anuradha Paudwal and Chorus

Raja (Aamir Khan) and Madhu (Madhuri Dixit) are college mates and can’t stand each other. They keep looking for an opportunity to insult each other without caring for the consequences. They go to great lengths to achieve this. In this song they voice out those bitter feelings. This was one of the super hit songs from the movie. Interestingly, it was not in the original release and was shot and added after the film became a hit.

2) Song: Khudko Kya Samajhti Hai
Film: Khiladi (1992)
Credits: Sameer | Jatin-Lalit | Abhijeet, Udit Narayan, Sapna Mukherjee, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Chorus

This is a typical college song involving the boys against the girls. Its Rose Day. Ayesha Jhulka insults Akshay Kumar who attempts to gift her a red rose as a mark of their love. He teams up with the boys (including Deepak Tijori) and she with the girls (including Sabeeha). He describes the heroine’s rudeness and other qualities in detail, and she responds in kind. By the end of the song, they reconcile and fall in love.

3) Song: Shehar Ki Pariyon Ke Peeche
Film: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
Credits: Majrooh Sultanpuri | Jatin-Lalit | Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam and Chorus

JJWS was based on college life, its highs and lows and the competition associated with it. This is a situational song. It is Diwali night and the young girls and boys have gathered in the neighbourhood. The girls are of the opinion that the boys are easily influenced by westernized girls from big cities and not the seedhi saadhi types from small towns. Ayesha Jhulka starts the song with this complaint and Aamir Khan responds in his style on behalf of the boys. A lesser known song but melodious and effective.

4) Song: Mat Kar Itna Guroor
Film: Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993)
Credits: Sameer | Nadeem-Shravan | Pankaj Udhas and Alka Yagnik

This is a college function song based on the theme “Old Meets New”. Its Govinda (a senior) against Meenakshi Sheshadri (a new student). He has fallen in love at first sight but she doesn’t care and insults him outright. The song is an opportunity for them to convey their opinions about each other.

5) Song: Shava Ye Nakhra Ladki Ka
Film: Suhaag (1994)
Credits: Sameer | Anand-Milind | Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik and Chorus

Another typical song where all the college students seem to be a part of the song. (Wonder when they study!). Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan are college mates. The girls (Karisma Kapoor and Nagma) are angry at them and fed up with the boys’ attitude. The boys tease them through the song and the girls return their sentiment.

6) Song: Joote Do Paise Lo
Film: Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994)
Credits: Dev Kohli | Raam Laxman | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus

HAHK was a film choc-a-bloc with songs, many related to the wedding and other traditional customs. This particular song depicts the “joota chhupai or chori” i.e. “hiding the groom’s shoes” custom. A unique song but fitting today’s theme!

Its marriage time and the girls (led by Madhuri Dixit) have hidden the groom’s shoes. The boys (led by Salman Khan) have to locate them else end up paying a ransom. Its a fun song as each party tries to outwit each other.

7) Song: Neela Dupatta Peela Suit
Film: Hameshaa (1997)
Credits: Dev Kohli | Anu Malik | Abhijeet, Sadhana Sargam and Chorus

Raja (Saif Ali Khan) is dreaming about his Rani and he coincidentally meets a new student named Rani (Kajol). Rani has entered the college as a new student seeking admission. A scene later, we have this song where he is flirting with her and she shows him his rightful place.

8) Song: Ye Kaisa Ladka Hai
Film: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Credits: Sameer | Jatin-Lalit | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik and Chorus

This is not a typical boy v/s girl song but a song between 2 friends – Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Anjali (Kajol). They are the best of friends but are bound to keep bickering over small things almost daily. The news spread quickly whenever they fight (again?!). They mock each other through the song. However by the end of the day, they are back to being friends as never before.

9) Song: Boys Are Best
Film: Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003)
Credits: Jay Verma | Himesh Reshammiya | Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan

This was a forgettable film starring Zayed Khan and Esha Deol. The song is placed immediately after the hero and heroine meet in Goa. The hero proclaims that boys are best whereas the heroine is quick to counter him.

10) Song: Ladki Kyon Naa Jaane Kyon
Film: Hum Tum (2004)
Credits: Prasoon Joshi | Jatin-Lalit | Shaan and Alka Yagnik

Another song where the hero (Saif Ali Khan) and heroine (Rani Mukerji) meet for the first time. They are strangers who need to spend a few hours together in Amsterdam. However the hero is soon irritated by her typical “girly” thoughts and antics. He starts singing the song wondering why girls cannot be like boys. She is ready to confront him and highlight the irritating behaviour displayed by boys.

Mr. X in Bombay (1964)

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Mr X in Bombay can be termed as one of the first movies to depict the “invisible man” concept. And when its Kishore Kumar playing the lead character, you can be assured of silliness, comedy and some great songs.

The Plot

Our hero is Kavi Sudarshan (Kishore Kumar), who joins Nritya Kala Mandal as a poet cum singer. Here he meets the heroine Shobha Mathur (Kumkum),  an actress and dancer. Sudarshan falls for Shobha. Its not exactly love at first sight! Shobha meets him dressed as an old woman (a character from the play) and then dances on his poetic creation as a young woman. Sudarshan falls for the younger version!

While initially Shobha makes fun of his simple look (read dhoti kurta), she falls in love with him. Sudarshan undergoes a makeover in his dressing sense as well as his music. Sudarshan happily announces to his mother (Leela Mishra) that he has found the “bahu” for her.

Shobha’s father Professor Mathur (Randhir) is a scientist who is inventing interesting(?) products like energy tablets which make humans jump high up in the air and cars that fly.

Shobha tells her father about Sudarshan but he reminds her of the bitter truth and reality. Enter the villain Rajan (Madan Puri) and Neena (Jeevan Kala). Rajan knows a dark secret about Prof Mathur and is blackmailing him. He has sights on Prof Mathur’s promising invention that will make him rich and wants to marry Shobha too as part of the deal.  

Now comes the “invisible” plot point. Due to Rajan’s pressure, Shobha is compelled to reject Sudarshan’s marriage proposal and insults him in her house. Unable to face the reality, Sudarshan writes a suicide note. He sees a poison(?) bottle conveniently lying unattended and drinks it after singing a beautiful parting song – “Mere mehboob qayamat hogi.”

As expected, the so called poison liquid is one of Prof Mathur’s inventions which makes a person invisible. But why is it kept unattended in the house instead of the laboratory is anybody’s guess!

Sudarshan’s tranformation to invisibility leads to those typical Hindi movie funny situations. People cannot see but hear him and term him as a bhoot/atmaa.

The invisible Sudarshan meets Shobha, the professor and his mother and convinces them he is alive. It gives him a chance to teach Rajan a lesson leading to a car chase, kidnappings, a bit of suspense revealing followed by the villain’s bashing and reunion of the lead pair at the end.

The Music

This was one of Laxmikant Pyarelal’s initial movies in their long career. Mere mehboob qayamat hogi is a classic. Other catchy tunes are Khubsoorat haseena janeja janeman and Ye rang-e-mehfil, ye jashn-e-bahaara.

My Thoughts

While an interesting subject when the movie was made, it doesn’t translate into a very entertaining final product. The invisible sequences seem stretched out and the special effects don’t look that convincing. You are invariably reminded of other movies like Mr. India which seem so funny and memorable. It’s the songs that stay with you in this otherwise forgettable film. Kishore Kumar is up to his usual antics.  Madan Puri is good as the negative character.

Trivia shot: Kishore Kumar and Kumkum had starred in another film in the same year (Ganga Ki Lehren).

Singapore (1960)

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Singapore is a 1960 Hindi movie. It is an Indo Malaya production directed by Shakti Samanta. One of the first movies shot extensively outside India, the story is based totally in Singapore.

The Plot

Shyam (Shammi Kapoor) lives in India and is planning to sell his rubber estate in Singapore. His estate manager Ramesh (Gautam Mukherjee) is working on the details. Ramesh has found out that there is an old treasure hidden somewhere in the estate. He has written multiple times to Shyam but not received a response. He finally manages to speak to him and is about to share the information when he sees someone outside his cabin. The call is cut. Ramesh disappears and Shyam decides to visit Singapore to sort the matter himself.

We are introduced to Shobha (Shashikala) who was Ramesh’s friend and her cousin sister Lata (Padmini). Both are dancers in New India club owned by Lata’s uncle Shivdas (K.N. Singh). Shivdas seems to be a shady character and has an interest in Shyam’s rubber estate and the treasure. Cha Choo (Agha) who is working in Shyam’s Singapore office as secretary becomes his able(!) sidekick in the investigation.

Shyam also meets Maria, played by Malay actress Maria Menado who had sat beside him during the flight and later helps him in Singapore.

The first half is interesting. Shyam, along with Cha Choo hunt for the treasure map, cleverly hidden in a cigarette holder cum Vat 69 bottle by Ramesh. He befriends Lata and gets romantically involved with her. Shivdas arranges a picnic to the rubber estate hoping to find the treasure. But the story takes a twist here with Shivdas getting murdered and Shobha getting abducted by the gang who is after the treasure. It is revealed Ramesh is alive and held hostage by the same gang.

So, who is behind all this? The latter half of the movie gives the answers but not without Hindi movie staples including too many songs, disguises, car chases and a long-winded climax involving helicopters, a ship, boats, police jeeps and the unmasking of the villain.

The Music

Singapore had 8 songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan who were in their prime during this period with lyrics penned by Hasrat Jaipuri & Shailendra. But three of them are more memorable.

The title song by Mukesh is quite famous (Ye shehar bada albela) but somehow lacks the vibes of later songs like Love In Tokyo and An Evening in Paris. This seems a bit subdued in comparison.

Another song that stands out is Lata Mangeshkar singing for Maria Menado. The lyrics can be a catchline for Singapore tourism!!

 Dekho ji dekho sun lo ye baat, jeevan mein ek baar aana Singapore…

Its difficult to believe its Lata Mangeshkar singing, she sounds so different and the music is equally delightful.

And the third song is Rasa Sayang re picturised on Shammi Kapor and Helen, with both actors having lot of fun here. “Rasa Sayang He” is a well known traditional Malay song talking about the feeling of love.

My Thoughts

Shakti Samanta has given some all time great movies and this offering pales a bit in comparison. The film starts on a promising note but somehow falters. There are suspense elements like  the discovery of the map, Shivdas’s body’s disappearing and reappearing, entry of the masked villain. But somehow the plot points don’t add up seamlessly making the movie a tedious watch. The chemistry between Shammi Kapoor and Padmini is strikingly lacking and the romantic songs offer little help. Shammi Kapoor is most entertaining as he gets to be in various modes – romantic hero, investigator, disguised dancer and comedian. Wish the other characters too were used to their full potential.

Nevertheless, Singapore will be remembered for its outside India location and effort. Do watch if you need a glimpse of old, old Singapore!