ITEM SONGS IN B’WOOD: DETERIORATED LYRICS?

If we trace the footprints of item songs used in ‘Bollywood’ we will have to go back to the 70’s era. No doubt that the first name strikes in our mind is Helen. But here I am not pointing out the visuals but the use of obscene lyrics. If we listen to an old item song and try to figure out what it means we won’t find anything much obscene in it.

For instance, take ‘mehbooba-mehbooba’ from the film ‘Sholay’, there is nothing wrong about the lyrics. The words used are proper Hindi and also there is no obscenity. There are many such examples which could be taken from the retrospective Indian films.

Tracing the deterioration of “item songs”, we don’t have to go much time back. It all started with the demand of exposing more in the Indian cinema. After all, why in a perfect going track would we want a sudden entry of a woman, half dressed and dancing with others without any reason! For now let’s keep the dancing aside and get to the lyrics.

Starting with “munni badnaam hui”! The phrase says it all. Can you imagine a girl singing it openly or a little girl dancing to it? What message does it conveys to the society, a constructive one, definitely not! And the list just goes on, “jalebibai”, “anarkali disco chali”, “Sheila ki jawani ”or“ chikni chameli”. We listen and watch these songs with our young ones or elders and expect them not to understand the core meaning of it! How is it possible to even think like this.

No matter who you are, if you are an Indian you are bound to be conservative in nature, if not openly then somewhere in the back of your mind. The lyricist is giving what you want. Should we believe this to be true? Do we really want what we are provided with? If that, so then it means that the lyricist is saying that we are not that intellectual and we will listen to every nonsense he/she is writing.

We should not just “listen” but actually listen. Getting to know the meaning should also be one of our agendas. If we consider in context to politics, we discuss with our peers to the deepest of our thoughts and confusion. So if we can do it in the terms of politics then why not films and item numbers.

I heard this recent song from Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine, “Halkat Jawani”. Now to every Indian the word “Halkat” is very familiar and the meaning too is known to all. So, can on one hand we expect our young generation (kids especially) to see and grow with the world and also on the other hand expect them not to imitate that in their social lives?

It surely is up to us to decide what to listen and see and what not to.  We have the right to say no! So it is up to us whether we should go gaga over these lousy item song lyrics or praise it.