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Be it the 1950s or 2011, item songs have always been the X-factor of Hindi films.
Sreya Basu BACK in the 1960s, Helen’s name on film posters used to be magnified and got more space than the heroine’s. And a dance number by Bindu or Aruna Irani was like an insurance policy for the film’s success. The scene remains unchanged even today where Salman Khan needs a "Munni Badnaam" to garnish his Dabangg. Or, "Sheila Ki Jawaani" saves Farah Khan from being doomed by an otherwise flop Tees Maar Khan. No matter how much film scholars scowl or criticise item numbers, Hindi films are unimaginable without the tadka of hip-swivelling chartbusters. Talking about item numbers, how can we forget the ‘hottie ready to go naughty’ attitude of item girls!
Remember Nadira looking into Raj Kapoor’s eyes and singing "Mudh Mudh Ke Na Dekh" in Shree 420, or Helen stripping off her red gown and running to her onscreen lover in "Piya Tu" (Caravan), or a Bindu, flaunting her yellow feathery attire before Ajit and Amitabh Bachchan and swaying to "Dil Jalon Ka" in Zanjeer? While Nadira was a seductress, Helen was effortless ... she was a born item girl. She had class, and hence even her skimpy costumes never looked vulgar on-screen ... but there was oodles of sex appeal for sure. And whoever said you need a Size Zero figure to enter a man’s fantasy should watch out for Bindu. Despite her typical Punjabi curvaceous figure, she ruled the 1960s and 1970s and how powerfully! Sridevi was nicknamed Hawa Hawaii`85thanks to her fruity item song in Mr India; Madhuri Dikshit, too, became the Dhak Dhak girl for her sensuous number from Beta. "Malaika Arora was more popular as the "Chaiyan Chaiyan" (Dil Se) girl for her item number on a moving train until Munni happened. Now even a kid knows her more as Munni than Malaika," says costume designer Ashley Rebello. Not to forget, Rakhi Sawant, who owes her stardom to item songs like "Dekhta Hai Tu Kya" and "Bichua" (other than her publicity stunts). While Rekha matured from "Pyaar Do Pyaar Lo" (Jaanbaaz) to "Kaisi Paheli" (Parineeta), Shabana Azmi, who is known for playing cerebral roles, reportedly danced away all night to "Munni Badnaam" on her 60th birthday party. No matter how much butter item girls add, it’s the music that is the hing of a particular number. "A film has a number of songs ... romantic, tragic, soft, loud. But the item song has to be a fun number. It must have the capacity to make people jump off their seats at theatres, blow whistles and do all sorts of mad things," says music composer Anu Malik. And by fun, we need not mean only comedy ... be it A. R Rahman’s "Mayya Mayya" (from Guru) or Vishal Bhardwaj’s raunchy "Beedi" (from Omkara) ... the main criteria is to make sure that a saint turns Mithun Chakraborty (oops`85read, disco dancer). But then, fun songs need lyrics of equal stature. The lyrics for an item number have to be wicked ... something like "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" or "Pyaar Tera Dilli Ki Sardi" or "Main Zandu Balm Huyi Darling Tere Liye". "I prefer lyrics that are subtly cheap as opposed to downright cheap. For item songs, it’s imperative to get words that one has never heard of. Like I hit on "Chamma Chamma" for China Gate," says Anu Malik. However, it’s singers who make the songs come alive. While Asha Bhosle was brilliant with the "Ahh...ahh...ahh" background in "Piya Tu", Sunidhi Chauhan’s high pitches are essential for songs like "Sheila Ki Jawaani" or "Chaalia" (from Tashan). Or we need Rekha Bharadwaj’s earthy flavours to spice up "Namak Ishq Ka". "I am known for soulful numbers. But in "Namak Ishq Ka", I brought out a little naughtiness ... a little flirtatious quality is needed for item songs," says Bharadwaj. And if singers give life to a song, dance moves make audiences go gob-smacked. Who thought Miss Prim and Proper, Aishwarya Rai ,will turn on the heat with her "Kajra Re"! Be it "Yeh Mera Dil" (Don), or "Mehbooba" (Sholey) or "Ek Do Teen" (Tezaab) or "Mayya Mayya" (Guru) ... the hip movements, suggestive gestures, seducing looks, turns and twists of waist drive the masses wild. And then, of course, costumes add zing to item numbers. "Costumes should be sensuous and sexy, rather than out and out cheesy," says Ashley Rebello. "I went for a complete "gaonti" look for "Munni"`85flower-printed skirts, tights and jewel-studded blouse. Since Malaika’s entire torso needed to be exposed, I came up with chains that were attached beneath her blouse to the waistband of her skirt," says Rebello. Last, but not the least, an item song is incomplete without a complimentary backdrop. The "Babuji zara dheere chalo" number won’t have been a whip-crack hit unless Yana Gupta made and entry riding on a buffalo. The effect of "Jumma Chumma" song would have been halved if Kimi Katkar won’t have been surrounded by mill-workers banging their enamel mugs in chorus. Having said that, as Anu
Malik once commented on the sets of Indian Idol, "Romantic
is nice, but item numbers are and will continue to be the spice of
Hindi films". — TWF
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