Page 32 - Seniorstoday September 2022 Issue
P. 32
Music
Oomph appeal
In Bollywood, oomph, sex appeal and skill have always blended seamlessly
to create some unforgettable song and dance sequences, writes Narendra
Kusnur
When one thinks of cabaret songs in Hindi Examples are ‘Mohe Ang Lag Ja Balma’
films, one talks of Helen. Instantly, hits filmed on Padmini in Mera Naam Joker, and
like ‘Aa Jaane Ja’ from Intaqam, ‘Piya Tu ‘Kaate Nahin Katate’, picturised on Sridevi
Ab To Aaja’ from Caravan and ‘Mehbooba in Mr India. Some duets involved steamy
Mehbooba’ from Sholay come to mind. moments.
Besides the tunes, even the dances are The list of songs featuring such dances
remembered today. and songs is pretty long, and while some
The cabaret was one of the types of actresses specialised in such numbers,
songs involving dance, sex appeal and others did one-off tracks which became
raunchiness. In Hindi films, one has also extremely popular. Here, we shall take a
seen many classic mujras over the years, look of these different categories of ‘oomph
featuring Indian styles. By the late 1980s, songs’, citing some popular examples.
the trend of ‘Item numbers’ had become
popular, and women appeared in rabble- Cabaret songs
rousing songs which didn’t necessarily have In the late 1960s, Helen ruled the cabaret
to do with the storyline. world. Born Helen Ann Richardson in
While these songs involved skilled dancing Burma, she came to Mumbai with her
and elaborate sets, there were other songs mother and siblings at a tender age. She
which relied on oomph and sexuality. picked up her skills in both Kathak and
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