Shammi Kapoor – the name is enough! He is the star, the performer who created his own style and became a bankable hero in the late 50s and 60s. Of course, this was not easy. After initial failures, he tasted success with Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957) and followed up with more.
This was the era of Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and (his own brother) Raj Kapoor. While it may have been difficult to match the fame of the trio, he managed to carve a special place for himself. His fans would vouch for that. His screen presence was entertainment guaranteed. Typical of his on screen persona, he would stalk the heroine, trouble her, revel in comedy and dance. His natural sense of rhythm was adequately reflected in the song picturization. And with Mohammed Rafi providing playback, the songs were bound to be a winner.
Shammi Kapoor passed away on 14th August 2011 and today’s post is dedicated to his memory. One noticeable thing about him was that it was difficult to see him sitting down and staying calm. He would always be on the move. In this context, today’s theme covers 10 songs where Shammi Kapoor is in transport mode. Land, water, air – he avails it all. Enjoy the post and which similar songs do you remember?
1) Song: Tumsa Nahi Dekha
Film: Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957)
Credits: Majrooh Sultanpuri | O. P. Nayyar | Mohammed Rafi
Tumsa Nahi Dekha was the turning point in Shammi Kapoor’s career. After a string of flops, he tasted success that led to emergence of the “Shammi Kapoor” phenomenon. He developed his own style. In this song, he “hijacks”a tonga before the heroine (Ameeta) can engage it. As both are travelling to the same destination, she reluctantly boards the tonga. After that, the hero is in his full element. He teases and flirts with her. She is of course, not impressed. He would go on to do many such songs throughout this career. While the song is picturised in a tonga, there are hardly any outdoor shots. Seems it was all shot in a studio!
2) Song: Dekho Ji Ek Bala Jogi Matwala
Film: Chinatown (1962)
Credits: Majrooh Sultanpuri | Ravi | Mohammed Rafi and Meenu Purushottam
A train journey, a disguised Shammi Kapoor. And you know the rest. The heroine Shakila’s father is taking her back to Calcutta. He doesn’t approve of his daughter meeting the “good for nothing” hero. But Shammi Kapoor is not one to back off easily. He disguises himself as a sadhu and boards the train. What follows is a devotional song where he makes attempts to impress her father. She recognizes him and joins him in the singing. Shammi Kapoor played a double role in this film convincingly.
3) Song: Yahaan Ke Hum Hain Rajkumar
Film: Rajkumar (1964)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi
Shammi Kapoor plays the prince who is returning home after spending time abroad. This is his “welcome” home song involving a long procession. He is in truly transport mode here! The song starts in a car, then he rides an elephant, a horse and finally starts walking. He is making people aware that the prince is back. And he enjoys drawing attention to himself.
4) Song: Ye Chand Sa Roshan Chehra
Film: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
Credits: S.H. Bihari | O.P. Nayyar | Mohammed Rafi
It’s time to get in a water mode. Shammi Kapoor woos Sharmila Tagore in a shikara, a wooden boat used in Kashmir. The water and shaking of the boat has no effect on our hero. He is in full form – bending, dancing, jumping all over, and finally, falling in to the water!
5) Song: Subhan Allah Haseen Chehra
Film: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
Credits: S.H. Bihari | O.P. Nayyar | Mohammed Rafi
Another song from the same movie. Sharmila Tagore is travelling on a truck with her friends and the villain (Pran, who else!). Shammi Kapoor joins disguised as a pathan’s wife and performs this delightful song. The singing, the catchy rhythm and performance make it memorable.
6) Song: Jaane Mera Dil Kise
Film: Latt Saheb (1967)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi
This is one of those “searching for love” songs. This is also an introduction of the hero song. The movie was forgettable but the songs were good. Shammi Kapoor enters the frame riding a horse. He sings, wondering when and where he will meet his beloved.
7) Song: Asmaan Se Aaya Farishta
Film: An Evening In Paris (1967)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi, Sharmila Tagore(?) and Chorus
This is truly one of the unique songs in Hindi cinema and probably first of its kind. Shammi Kapoor dangles from a helicopter as he sings to Sharmila Tagore (who is water skiing). Later he hops on a boat. The song stands out for its picturization because shooting in foreign locations was not so common then. Water skiing, as a sport was also probably new for the audience.
8) Song: Hoga Tumse Kal Bhi Saamna
Film: An Evening In Paris (1967)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi
Back on land on a two wheeler in a picnic situation. Shammi Kapoor disguises himself as an Arab called Hukku Pasha and follows Sharmila Tagore on a scooter (a Vespa?). The song may not be well known as other gems from the movie. But it does show Shammi Kapoor utilizing the scooter to perform his antics and get closer to the heroine. And she doesn’t seem to mind the attention.
9) Song: Chakke Mein Chakka
Film: Brahmachari (1968)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi and Chorus
Shammi Kapoor with a bunch of kids in Brahmachari. In the song it’s the kids’ day out. They all get in the vintage car and visit an amusement park which is filled with thrilling rides. Later they visit a garden and take a ride in the toy train. Shammi Kapoor was nominated and won the Filmfare award for Best Actor Filmfare award for this performance.
10) Song: Re Mamma Re Mamma
Film: Andaz (1971)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi
And finally a song from Andaz, probably his last film as a leading man. Shammi Kapoor plays a widowed father. His daughter (played by Baby Gauree) is miffed at him. He follows her in a jeep and sings this song to calm her down and take her home.
Cine Gaurav 