Chhaayaageet #185 - "I have done my job, now rest is on you how you perform on film."
On the day of a song recording, the studio is abuzz. The playback singers, cadre of musicians with their instruments, the composer and their arranger, the lyricist, director, producer are all hands on deck. The stars also make their presence felt. They are there mainly to listen to the song and understand how certain words and phrases are sung. It helps them to start visualizing the song.
The singer is really looking forward to recording this song. Ever since he has heard the tune from the composers, he has been excited. He had also complimented them profusely on the composition.
But no one is aware of what is to come. The singer takes his place behind the mic in the recording booth behind the glass. The music starts. The singer starts on a high note. It is a foot tapping, high energy, pacy number. The song situation in the film is that the hero has just learnt that his love interest, the heroine, also is in love with him and that is making him go bonkers!
As the song progresses, everyone outside the recording booth is just transfixed on the singer. What has come over him? He is totally out of character. He is completely consumed by the song. He is even dancing inside the recording booth while singing. They have never seen him display so much emotion for similar high energy songs he has sung in the past. And dancing? That would be completely out of question. But not today! They have actually seen him move, shake and groove. Has he forgotten where he is? Has it slipped it mind that he is in the recording booth being watched by scores of people?! But he seems to not care. The saying - dance like no one's watching - being personified!
Once the song is over, the hero rushes to the recording booth and greets the singer as he is coming out of it. The hero cannot restrain himself. He gives the singer a big hug. They have wide grins on their faces.
The singer says to the hero, "Maine apna kaam kar diya. Ab aap ke upar hai aap ise film mein kaise karenge." I have done my job, not it is on you how you perform on film.
The hero responds, "Aap ne itna jam ke gaya hai to mein poori koshish karunga." Now that you have sung it with so much gusto, I will give it my best shot.
The film crew is now on location for the shoot of the song. The choreographer has taken great pains to come up with some high energy steps for the hero to perform to the song. But no matter how much they try, the hero just cannot do them.
She stands behind the camera as she watches the hero mimic the steps. He is not getting it. How can someone be so uncoordinated, she wonders. After the umpteenth attempt, she just stands there, hands on her hips, shaking her head sideways. She signals her frustration to the director, "Isse nahin hoga." He can't seem to do this.
She walks up to the actor and just puts it straight, "Dekho ye tumse nahin ho raha hai. Tumhe jo karna hai karo. Jaise karna hai karo." See, you are not able to do this. You do whatever you want. Do it however you want.
Mohammad Rafi sang the song Main jat yamla pagla deewana for the film Pratigya (1978), music by Laxmikant Pyarelal, lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The song is filmed on Dharmendra, celebrating the reciprocation of his love by the heroine played by Hema Malini.
Hema Malini, an expert dancer herself, was also on set watching the futile attempts of choreographer and dance master, Saroj Khan, getting Dharmendra to dance her steps. When Saroj Khan told Dharmendra to dance however he wanted, Hema Malini saw what Dharmendra was doing and said, "What is this you are doing?", to which he replied, "This is my dance!"
Dharmendra's dance steps, however, went on to become his inimitable signature style. In one show he was asked if he had patented the steps, and he said, "Even I cannot do them again. How will anyone else be able to do them?"
Hema Malini has shared that it was during the filming of this song that she fell in love with Dharmendra in real life, who she knew was wooing her. Pratigya was another hit film in 1975 for both of them after Sholay in the same year, and Seeta Aur Geeta in 1972, cementing their status as a successful on-screen pair.
Watch Rafi Saab sing this song live in a concert in Wembley in 1977. Don't miss what he does at the 1:57 mark! He's having a good time!
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
*ing: Dharmendra
Choreography: Dharmendra, Saroj Khan
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Film: Pratigya (1978)