When I was growing up, collegiate heroes of Bollywood used to bamboozle
their heroines during the course of one great song before falling head over
heels in love with them. The corridors of HS College of Arts & Commerce reverberated with jhankaar beats and corny lyrics, garnished with the heroes' machismo. We never blamed them for promoting commodification of
women (Khambe jaisi khadi hai… Gasp!) because they were soon writing letters in
blood and fighting Mukesh Rishi to win the hand of their lady love. Nowadays of
course, all rapes are entirely the fault of Bollywood heroes who call their
heroines mast cheez or similar.
The next three songs form a tribute to the 1990s, a decade nobody acknowledges in Bollywood. But I had the dubious fortune of being in college when hunks wooed damsels over benches and bunsen burners.
Papa Kehte Hain – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
The situation of Pappu was similar to the Papa song but the magic was something else.
When my sister and I bought this cassette, we were quite alarmed as an instrumental piece played for nearly one minute (that seemed like five) and we wondered if we picked up the wrong album. Udit Narayan, Anand-Milind, Mansoor Khan all found their stardoms riding on Raj Singh's slender shoulders.
We all know Aamir's then-wife Reena was the giggling girl in the red dress. A Bollywood fan (Rohit Bajaj) recently told me that the girl next to her is Imran Khan's mother. Here is a recent picture of hers. You tell me if he is right or not.
But it was great while it lasted.
Bonus Song: This song shouldn't be in the list because it is not part of any film. But then, it is not the composers' fault that the universe is incapable of producing a film that can contain the magic of a well-paced rod. I am just glad that I spent two years of my life breathing the same air as these magicians. [NSFW]
So, what do you have to offer by way of class participation?
I thought of listing down some of my favourite 'college songs' - a mix of flirtatious, romantic, attitude-exuding pieces. The musical quality of some of them is questionable. Some other's lyrics are a little dodgy. But the energy is quite amazing.
Here goes...
Humne tumko dekha - Khel Khel Mein
At the "Teenth (sic) Annual Function", Rishi Kapoor put on a muffler taller than himself, strummed a guitar and RD Burman took over from there. Actually, Rishi provided able support in the form of energetic dance moves while his future wife shook a mean leg too. Before the cute Khans, this Kapoor scion had put the 'teen' in teenybopper romances and boy, did we lap it up?
The next three songs form a tribute to the 1990s, a decade nobody acknowledges in Bollywood. But I had the dubious fortune of being in college when hunks wooed damsels over benches and bunsen burners.
Ajay Devgan and Madhoo were the underdog pair, not-so-good looking in a decade where everyone was in love with chocolate box stars. Ajay entered the scene standing atop two zooming bikes and promptly dived in front of the heroine. As college students, we predicted the swift end of the hero's career and thought even Sunil Shetty was probably better. As I write this, Singham is playing on a music channel.
And I realise - to some horror and some happiness - that I remember most of the lyrics of this song.
This song, I remember ALL the lyrics. I even remember the controversy. I also know that the Censor Board wanted to replace the offending word with fancy. Mera pant bhi fancy, mera shirt bhi fancy... sigh, just doesn't cut ice.
ALL TOGETHER NOW, SING WITH ME... Ek hain anaar yahan, kitne bimar yahan...
Khud ko kya samajhti hain – Khiladi
And I realise - to some horror and some happiness - that I remember most of the lyrics of this song.
Mera pant bhi – Dulara
ALL TOGETHER NOW, SING WITH ME... Ek hain anaar yahan, kitne bimar yahan...
Khud ko kya samajhti hain – Khiladi
One more of those 'commodification/semi-molestation' songs, this was redeemed by Akshay Kumar's acrobatic presence.
If you had told me then that Akhay Kumar would act in 786 Khiladi films one day, I would have referred you to a good psychiatrist.
If you had told me then that Akhay Kumar would act in 786 Khiladi films one day, I would have referred you to a good psychiatrist.
Pappu Can’t Dance Saala – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
After the trio of mid-90s masala, let me take a generation-crossing leap and land in South Bombay where a bunch of college-leaving kids were making fun of people who can't dance. Basically, the film's producer was making fun of Salman Khan.
Just as we are done with Imran Khan, we have to get to this mamu-jaan, who has been a college-goer for as long as he has been in movies. Two songs from the beginning of his career and two songs closer to the present day underline Aamir Khan's durability as a college-goer.
Just as we are done with Imran Khan, we have to get to this mamu-jaan, who has been a college-goer for as long as he has been in movies. Two songs from the beginning of his career and two songs closer to the present day underline Aamir Khan's durability as a college-goer.
Papa Kehte Hain – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
The situation of Pappu was similar to the Papa song but the magic was something else.
When my sister and I bought this cassette, we were quite alarmed as an instrumental piece played for nearly one minute (that seemed like five) and we wondered if we picked up the wrong album. Udit Narayan, Anand-Milind, Mansoor Khan all found their stardoms riding on Raj Singh's slender shoulders.
We all know Aamir's then-wife Reena was the giggling girl in the red dress. A Bollywood fan (Rohit Bajaj) recently told me that the girl next to her is Imran Khan's mother. Here is a recent picture of hers. You tell me if he is right or not.
When you are in college, you own the world. Period. This one thought made for this song (which - strictly speaking - is based in a school but don't be pedantic, okay?)
Pathshaala – Rang De Basanti
Pathshaala – Rang De Basanti
Sulphuric acid never fails to take us back to those long corridors, dank laboratories, stolen cigarettes and the confidence to change the world. The very cool open-air disco, the psychedelic music and the crazy lyrics... what wouldn't you give to get those when you were back in college?
Aal izz well – 3 Idiots
Aal izz well – 3 Idiots
I watched the movie thrice in a theater and millions of times on DVD and YouTube but I don't tire of it. Probably because I can't get over the philosophy... bakra kya jaane uske jaan ka kya hoga, seekh ghusegi ya saala keema hoga? It was 100% accurate in college. The scary bit is that it is still that way!
And that brings us to what is my favourite college song.
And that brings us to what is my favourite college song.
Jagadi jagadi – Shiva
Creating a brilliant mix of Botany with matinee and history with mystery, Raj Zutshi, Amala and their cohorts pulled off an unchoreographed mayhem with style. They even pulled out a farra and reminded us Supplementary ka shahenshah hai tu... Basically, they created a superb pseudo-college we all wanted to be in. Till, of course, Nagarjuna bent down and pulled out a cycle chain.But it was great while it lasted.
Bonus Song: This song shouldn't be in the list because it is not part of any film. But then, it is not the composers' fault that the universe is incapable of producing a film that can contain the magic of a well-paced rod. I am just glad that I spent two years of my life breathing the same air as these magicians. [NSFW]
So, what do you have to offer by way of class participation?
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