Kapoor Khazana: Dance Like a Kapoor Playlist! *Shashi Kapoor*

The sweet-smiling youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor is known for being one of the greatest romantic heroes of Hindi cinema from the 60s all the way through to the 80s! Balbir Raj Kapoor, aka Shashi Kapoor, started out as a child actor, best known for playing the young version of Raj Kapoor in films like Aag and Awara. But starting in 1961, he became a hero in his own right, stealing the hearts of millions with his signature grin. He also has the distinction of being the one Kapoor to truly straddle both commercial and art house cinema successfully.

I hate to admit it, but Shashi-centric films were never really ones that I sought out. I liked him well-enough, particularly as one half of my favorite filmi bromance duo - Shashitabh (Shashi Kapoor + Amitabh Bachchan) - in films like Shaan, Do Aur Do Paanch and Namak Halal. But I never quite considered myself a part of his die-hard fanbase. Which means that I am woefully ignorant of many of his best films and songs.

But I did try to come up with as many fun, spirited, dance-y numbers featuring Shashi as I could off the top of my head - so here's Dance Like a Kapoor Part III - SHASHI KAPOOR ... now I originally thought that I'd mostly be thinking of numbers where Shashi jogs around trees and acts charming -- but there are some really good ones that allow him to showcase what he's got! And what he's got ... we just adore, don't we?

Le Jayenge Le Jayenge - Chor Machaye Shor (1974)
I feel like this is such a quintessential Shashi song, and it's such a great song to dance to. I mean you can't hear it and NOT dance! And though we are mostly treated to large arm flourishes, Shashi gets to do a teeny bit of bhangra and shows that he has excellent rhythm and energy. Honestly speaking, he reminds me of Shah Rukh Khan in this, or should I say vice-versa? I mean to say, I don't think SRK is the dancer that let's say Hrithik Roshan or Shahid Kapoor are, but he is so full of energy and dedication that you just don't care. I think Shashi has that quality here.





Kehne Ki Nahin Baat - Pyar Kiye Jaa (1966)
I always loved this video, because I felt like it was one time when Shashi channeled his inner Shammi. But after another re-watch, I feel like Shashi really took this one and ran! I mean, the energy, the jumping, the choreography, the TWIST! This is such a fun video, and Shashi rocks it. I'll even go so far as to say that sometimes I feel like the heroes of the 60s had it much harder than the ones of today. I mean, their choreography, though not perhaps as complicated as the hip-hop based stuff of today, really required a ton of energy! The stuff of today is pretty good, but the editing style has advanced to the stage that there's rarely a few seconds of dance before we're cutting to something else. These guys had to do set choreography and jump like crazy without breaks. I know it's difficult to really compare, but when you think of how many takes Shashi probably had to jump like that ... well, I get exhausted just thinking about it. And this video gets the Beth Loves Bollywood stamp of approval.





Yamma Yamma - Shaan (1980)
Shashitabh! A Bad Guy's Lair! Tambourines and Hand Scarves! Helen! What's not to love about this song? This is one of my favorite dance songs of all-time. My eldest sister choreographed this for a large group of my mom's students back in 1981 and they made their costumes out of black garbage bags to imitate the leather vests that Shashitabh are wearing in this. I was always SO jealous. I wanted to be in this dance SO VERY BADLY (of course, I was four so it really would have been hazardous to have me underfoot). I totally wanted to re-create it in the early 90s when we finally had boyfriends that 1) could dance and 2) were uber-Amitabh fans and would have totally done it. Unfortunately we never got around to it. Oh well, I can always put my husband in a black garbage bag vest and dance around the living room.





Raat Baaki - Namak Halal (1982)
This may be a weird choice because he mostly stands around and watches Parveen Babi shimmy around in it, but I really do think this is a GREAT disco song. Our band used to play it at parties and it always got people on the dance floor! And towards the end when Shashi does his verse, he does do some disco-ey grooving. He's super cute doing it.





Hey Mujhe Dil De Nahin Toh - Mr. Romeo (1974)
Yes!!! Shashi can BOOGIE! The strobe lighting is a little annoying, but he is totally working it in this - it's not just jogging and arm flourishing! And while juggling multiple women no less!





O Meri Sharmilee - Sharmilee (1971)
Ok so this is more of the jogging and arm flourishing variety, but it's such a fantastic song and he's so wonderfully vibrant in it, so I had to include it. I also remember a few remixes of it floating around about 6-7 years ago, so it's totally danceable.





Tum Jo Ho So Ho Lekin Khuda To Nahin - Biradari (1966)
This song was on one of those old song compilations VHS tapes my mom had back in the day, and I always remembered it because 1) Shashi was SO YOUNG, 2) Shashi + Mehmood! WOW! and 3) Shashi does some rocking thumkas. But he really gets a chance to DANCE in this one, and he's quite good. Mehmood is awesome too, of course.





Humko Tumpe Pyar Aaya - Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)
More of the jogging variety, but he does do some pretty cool moves dancing through the wheat fields as well. And again, such amazing energy! Affoo Khuda!




Na Na Karte Pyar - Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)
I dare you to listen to this song and not shake your shoulders or hips. Seriously. It's impossible. And Shashi shows some excellent versatility in this one -- from bhangra to the twist. Love it!



Kahiye Kahan Se - Heeralal Pannalal (1978)
Admittedly in this song most of the dancing is left up to the fabulous girls (Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh), but it's still fun to see Shashi and his nephew Randhir dancing together (and dare I say, Shashi looks way younger than his nephew despite being nine years older)!




Wada Karo - Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)
Here we have 'Skate like a Kapoor' vs. 'Dance like a Kapoor' - but I had to add it because it's one of my favorite Shashi Kapoor songs and because of the fun costumes and HELLO? Roller skates!

At this point I couldn't think of any more off the top of my head, so I had to call in for reinforcements because I couldn't shake the sense that I was forgetting some ESSENTIAL Shashi songs. So of course, I hit up the Shashi-love-encyclopedia-extraordinaire, Beth Loves Bollywood. And she came through with some spectacular suggestions!

Nain Mile Kar Chain Churana - Aamne Samne (1967)



Pada Tumhare Kabhi Bijliyon Ki - Ganga Aur Suraj (1980)


Suno Suno - Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968)



Dilbar Dilbar - Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968)

LOVE IT!!! Thanks Beth!

The next installment of 'Dance like a Kapoor' is going to be extremely difficult for me because it's my favorite Kapoor and I think he has an extensive list of amazing dance songs! But I'll do my best to give the wonderful, adorable Rishi Kapoor his due justice.

Keep yourself updated on all the fun Kapoor Khazana posts by visiting Katherine of Totally Filmi's links!

Kapoor Khazana: Dance Like a Kapoor Playlist! *Raj and Randhir Kapoor*

It's JUNE and that means it's time to celebrate KAPOOR KHAZANA! The wonderful and gracious Katherine of Totally Filmi has organized a month-long celebration of the illustrious Kapoor Clan - the Hindi Film Fraternity's Royal Family, if you will. If by chance you aren't familiar with the Kapoors, then I'd definitely recommend checking out what Wikipedia has to say -- *NOTE, their post includes a Family Tree! Fabulous!

Now because I'm a dancer and think foremost about dance before anything else - I decided to start my celebration with a playlist of dance songs! However my list became so unmanageable for one post that I decided to split it off into a series of posts, beginning with the earlier generations and ending with Kareena and Ranbir.

Sadly, I am not too familiar with the works of our grand patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor. Besides the grand-scale Mughal-E-Azam, I don't know that I've seen any of his film work (which I really must rectify). And in thinking of Mughal-E-Azam songs, I had to conclude that none really featured him enough to be considered as part of this list (though I do love watching him look all apoplectic in "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya").

So I will begin my 'Dance Like a Kapoor' playlist with the fun and frolicking songs of Raj and Randhir Kapoor! Since their films rarely featured them dancing, nor were they the dancing sensations that Shammi and Rishi were, I have put this father-son team together in my list-making frenzy. I'm sure I have missed plenty of wonderful songs, so please do share ones that I have forgotten or may not be aware of!

Here we go! (in random order)

Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya - Shree 420 (1955)
Ok, admittedly Raj Kapoor doesn't dance in this - the dancing is mostly by the fabulous Sheila Vaz (also featured in the song "Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar" from CID). But this song is just so joyous and fun. There's been much speculation about the lyrics (the 1st line is apparently a Telugu folk song). I was particularly tickled by some online commenter's suggestion that the 2nd line ("Maine dil tujhko diya") also fits with the Telugu theme in that it discusses heart transplants and everyone knows that all Telugu people become cardiologists. Hahaha!



Nineteen Fifty Six - Anari (1959)
Before there was "Disco '84" and "Disco '82", there was "Nineteen Fifty-Six"! And seriously, if ANYONE can get Raj Kapoor to dance, it's gotta be HELEN!



Laga Chunari Mein Daag - Dil Hi To Hai (1963)
Again, not an active participant in the dancing, but Raj Kapoor certainly creates quite the character in this song! The dancer is apparently a featured performer from Telugu movies of the time, Padmini Priyadarshini. But definitely a CLASSIC song, particularly for dancers that enjoy classically-based filmi music (HOLLA!)




Budda Mil Gaya - Sangam (1964)
Again the trend of being an observer rather than active participant in the dancing, but still I love this song! It's so fun! It has costume changes! Vyjayanthimala dancing about and being silly! Raj Kapoor making his cute, irritated faces! And when my sisters and I had a band back in the day, ladies used to always request this song to dedicate to their husbands on their birthdays (meanies). And then they used to dance to it. Yep, rocking out on the dance floor to "Budda Mil Gaya". It was awesome.



Daag Na Lag Jaye - Mera Naam Joker (1970)
I MUCH prefer Raj Kapoor when he's having fun to him angsting. He just looks like he's having a blast in this qawaali with Padmini. And man, do these Kapoors know how to qawaali! Obvs, I love Rishi Kapoor's qawaalis the most, but it's clear where he gets his passion from.




Jaane Jaan Dhoondtha Phir Raha - Jawani Diwani (1972)
Finding dance songs for Randhir Kapoor is just as difficult as finding them for his dear old dad. And granted, this song isn't exactly a dance-dance song. But it IS one of Randhir's best songs, if not THE best song. And personally, I'D dance to this song. I loooove the smooth 70s beat and the addictive tune. I feel like wearing a sari and a bouffant hairdo and shimmying about. And there ARE some pretty good remixes of this song floating around out there. R.D. Burman music seriously rocks my world. Side note: that doll that Jaya Bhaduri is carrying scares me.




Koi Mane Ya Na Mane - Chacha Bhatija (1977)
Okay, it's VERY rare that Dharmendra doesn't outshine whoever he's on-screen with. But I really think that Randhir holds his own in this one. His expressions are fantastic! And for what it's worth, Dharam actually makes him look like a pretty good dancer (we all love Dharam but really, he's not a dancer. He's so adorable we don't care, but still). I never realized how much Randhir and Rishi Kapoor resemble each other! I never thought there WAS a resemblance, but wow, do I see it now!




Aap Yahan Aaye Kis Liye - Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)
This is a movie I HAVE TO SEE. I can't believe I haven't seen this. Come on, it stars three generations of Kapoors - Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor. It also stars Babita, Randhir's ex-wife and mother of Karishma and Kareena Kapoor. This song was also featured in the extremely long medley in the movie Mujhse Dosti Karoge (which starred Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee and Hrithik Roshan). The song also features the famous 'RK black umbrella' which Kay from Totally Filmi recently blogged about.




Mukh Pe Jo Chidka Paani - Dharam Karam (1975)
Finally some real dancing! Go Randhir Go! But I am very confused as to why his elders (including real-life Daddy Raj Kapoor) are looking on this display so indulgently ... it really sort of borders on overtly racy. Particularly with all the attempts to pull of Rekha's clothing.




Waqt Se Pehle - Biwi O Biwi (1981)
I can't think of a stranger pairing than Randhir Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon, but there it is. Something about the picturization of this song brings to mind the oddness of "Sochenge Tumhe Pyar" from Deewana. There's also some nice chandeliers that Shweta from Apni East India Company would appreciate.




Dhola Dhola - Kachcha Chor (1977)
Randhir is only an audience member in this one, but I HAD to include a dance-off between Rekha and Helen! I mean, come ON! And aren't the colors of those outfits so reminiscent of another song from that same year?





Bachke Rehna Re Baba - Pukar (1983)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song! It is so fun, so peppy, and just so dancey! Both Zeenat and Tina Munim look so fresh and pretty, and Randhir seems to be having a blast out there.

Stay tuned for the next set of Kapoor dance songs - SHAMMI KAPOOR!

What's in a Name?

Since I was walking around singing "My Name is Sheila" from Tees Maar Khan all week, I started thinking about songs that reference names and all of a sudden a list started developing in my mind (because I am insane and these are the things I think about). And so of course as the list in my head grew and grew, I realized a blog post was a-brewing.

So here's my list of Hindi movie songs that either state "My Name is ..." or "Naam Mera ..." or "Mera Naam ..." or the like:


1. My Name is Sheila - Tees Maar Khan (2010)
My obvious starting off point. This started my entire thought process because I was wondering why this girl can't freaking remember her own name. Katrina Kaif is not my favorite working actress, and this video is an example of why. She just is so ... awkward and lifeless. Not a natural dancer at all, and I can practically see her counting in her head. And her expression always drops in transitions. Still, she obviously worked really hard, so I'll give her credit for that. I hate the English parts of this song, but the rest is so damn catchy.


2. Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo - Howrah Bridge (1958)
One of my favorites! Helen is so fabulous, and the song is so super fun. We have a picture of my mom performing this onstage in 1950s Bombay -- before stage performances of Bollywood dances were a popular thing. Also when my sisters and I had a band in the early 90s, this was always one of our biggest hits on the dance floor! (I love the sudden, magical costume changes in the 2nd verse! And isn't Ashok Kumar so devastatingly handsome and brooding?)



3. Naam hai mera Fonseca - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
Augghh! I used to HATE this song from JJWS - especially cause I thought Pooja Bedi was so annoying (and tranny looking, honestly)! But then her "Sorry old dear" verse used to get stuck in my head too. Deepak Tijori is awesome though. I'm bummed that I didn't go to a college like Model that had these kinds of competitions. The CLOTHES are reason enough to watch this video (which I couldn't find on YouTube, but here it is in some language I don't recognize!).



4. My Name is Anthony Gonsalves - Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
All I have to say is "The coefficient of the linear ... is juxtapositioned ... by the hemoglobin in the atmospheric pressure of the country!!!!"


5. Naam Kya Hai Pyar Ka Mara - Yeh Dillagi (1994)
I was obsessed with this mid-90s Bollywoodized version of Sabrina starring Kajol and the very mullety pair of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. I could still watch this movie a million times. And it's one of the few movies where I could actually tolerate Akki. But anyway, Kajol's frilly sleeves and poofy skirt are wonderful. This was back when Saif was seriously a TERRIBLE actor too. He has crazy improved!


6. My Name is Lakhan - Ram Lakhan (1989)
What can I say about this song? It's so much more than a song. It's an ANTHEM. Songs like this make me want to be a guy so I can THROW DOWN and do this kind of robust, joyful dancing without trying to be pretty and graceful. Anil Kapoor is ADORABLE as Lakhan, and check out the super young Madhuri too!


7. Mera Naam Hai Jamila - Night in London (1967)
This is one of my more recent discoveries. Helen is fabulous, as always, doing her cabaret thing. Biswajeet and Johnny Walker sure seem to appreciate Jamila! I'm trying to figure out if her shirtless backup dancers are in blackbrownface or not. Anyway, Jamila is everything Sheila WISHES she could be. Helen is so expressive!


8. Naam Mera Premkali - Chaalbaaz (1989)
I always kind of hated this song although I loved the movie. Sridevi is practically dressed as Michael Jackson. I mean really, they went a little crazy on the Soul Glo here. And then she turns into Linda Ronstadt or something. I don't even think they were trying to make the picturization suit the song. Because nothing suits the disco-light-up-dance-floor like a giant tulle ballet skirt! Still with all the craziness, Sri is so uber-cute! And she always works it, no matter what they throw at her!


9. Naam Mera Mango Dolly - Quick Gun Murugan (2009)
I have no idea what is going on here, but clearly I need to see this mess. And Rambha honey? Blonde is not your color.


10. I am Krishnan Iyer MA - Agneepath (1990)
I still can't believe they are going to try and remake this movie. What the heck. Can you remake awesomeness like this??? It's not possible! Mithun is too amazing, and I love Neelam! Also, this is what people used to sing to me when I told them I was South Indian. I also miss SPB's voice.


11. Main Hoon Jhumroo - Jhumroo (1961)
I love this song soooo much. We used to perform it with our band and there was a guy who sang EXACTLY like Kishore Kumar. It was uncanny. And he was a great yodeler too.



12. Main Hoon Khushrang Henna - Henna (1991)
Such a lovely song sung by Lata. I haven't seen this movie since 1991, because it was so sad and traumatic for me at 14 years old, but this song has always stuck in my head, along with many others from this soundtrack. Gorgeous. Whatever happened to Zeba Bhaktiar and Ashwini Bhave anyway?



13. Ya Ali Ya Ali Mera Naam Hai Ali - Ajooba (1991)
Oh, Shashi Kapoor's directorial venture ... poor dear. But I liked the Rishitabh bromance in this movie!


14. Naam Abdul Hai Mera - Shaan (1980)
I love this song. Mazhar Khan is just so joyful rolling around town with his back projection. And the subtitles on our VHS copy of Shaan was awesome: "My name is Abdul What? Oh, my name is Abdul, I keep news on everything!"


15. Mera Naam Hai Chameli - Raja aur Runk (1968)
This adorable number by Kumkum is definitely memorable, but always reminds me of the medley from Mr. India ("Mera Naam Hai Calendar ...")


16. Romeo Naam Mera - Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)
Ah another expensive flop! It had some great moments that are totally not PC in retrospect ("Chini Mini Ching Chong") but that we loved at the time. This song was Anil Kapoor's chance to show off. Sridevi also had a solo item "Mein Hoon Roop Ki Rani" ...

So I'm going to stop here because that's all I could think of off of the top of my head! And these endless song lists have got to be annoying. I just LIVE for making song lists. Seriously. It's a weird obsession to have, I know. But really, my themed mix tapes were famous.

Did I miss any fabulous iconic ones? Or just one of your favorites? Let me know!!!