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western dance, and her talent was noticed for Helen in 1977.
by the famous dance diva Cuckoo, who later After Helen’s success, others joined the
mentored her. cabaret race. Syria-born Faryal did dances
Cuckoo was herself known for some in Jewel Thief, Man Ki Ankhen and Nafrat.
amazing dances in the films Anokhi Ada, Padma Khanna danced to ‘Husn Ke Lakhon
Awara and Aan. She and Helen danced Rang’ (Johnny Mera Naam) and ‘Saanwala
together in the Yahudi song ‘Bechain Rang Hai Mera’ (Rampur Ka Lakshman).
Dil Khoyi Si Nazar’ and the mujra ‘Hum Bindu had ‘Mera Naam Shabnam’ in Kati
Tumhare Hain’ in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. In Patang, ‘Dil Jalon Ka’ in Zanjeer and ‘Yeh
fact, Helen did some interesting dance duets Hawas Kya Hai’ in Hawas, all sung by Asha
in the 1950s, one of them being ‘Aji Chale Bhosle. Aruna Irani did ‘Dilbar Dil Se Pyare’
Aao’ with Minoo Mumtaz in Halaku. in Caravan, ‘Yeh Mera Jadoo’ in Fakira and
‘Thoda Resham Lagta Hai’ in Jyoti.
Other well-known dancers in this area
were Jayshree T and Meena T, known for
both Indian and western styles, and Prema
Narayan. In the early 1980s, Kalpana Iyer
had great dances in ‘Hari Om Hari’ (Pyaara
Dushman), ‘Koi Yahaan Nache Nache’
(Disco Dancer) and ‘Ramba Ho’ (Armaan).
All were sung by Usha Uthup.
While the above names specialised in
cabaret and western dances, some leading
heroines like Zeenat Aman, Mumtaz and
Parveen Babi also had such songs. Zeenat,
for instance, had ‘Rakssa Mera Naam’ in The
Great Gambler and ‘Laila O Laila’ and ‘Aap
Jaisa Koi’ in Qurbani. Parveen had ‘Jawani
Janeman’ in Namak Halal. It’s a long list.
Think cabaret.Think Helen! Mujras
In 1958, Helen has a huge hit with ‘Mera
Naam Chin Choo’, sung by Geeta Dutt in
Howrah Bridge. A string of hits followed
and her appearance with Shammi Kapoor in
‘O Hasina Zufonwali’ (Teesri Manzil, 1966)
was a rage. Asha Bhosle sang for her, and
the two of them combined on many songs.
Interestingly, Lata Mangeshkar sang ‘Aa
Jaane Jaa’ in the 1969 film Intaqam. Though
it wasn’t a cabaret, the folk dance-based
‘O Mungada Mungada’, sung by Usha Mujra blends Kathak with Hindustani light
Mangeshkar in Inkaar, was a huge success classical music forms
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #39 | SEPTEMBER 2022 33
