Dhan-ta-nann

After 20 runs of "Dhan-ta-nann" in office and at home,the sheer intensity of the song still captivates.The team of Gulzarsaab, Vishal Bharadwaj and Sukhwinder Singh score again. The movie in question is "Kaminey"- a sobriquet that would fit me so well.

In terms of pure energy this song for me,comes second to Misirlou by Dick Dale...the superb guitar signature piece in Pulp Fiction to which Uma Thurman and John Travolta groove. It also features in the Black Eyed Peas' song "Pump It".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misirlou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8 (the video)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale (the rockstar)

Coming back to "Dhan-ta-nann", it shares similarities with Dick Dale's piece, which a repeated careful hearing brings forth, atleast in the opening sequence, the lapsed guitar rhythm and the tempo. A more musically learned and discerning ear might be able to compare the nuances too. So will there be a controversy just before the film's release? I dont think so. Vishal-Shekhar were more blatantly "inspired" in their song 'Cash meri aankhon mein' from the flop movie Cash.

Since the movie "Kaminey" features the hero in a double role, and we already have a chartbuster of a song, it remains to be seen whether the song actually plays a crucial role in the movie. For example it could be the setting where the heroine/villain/hero's mother happen to see one of the two Shahid Kapurs in this song. (OK, the hero's mother seeing him in a pub seems slightly far fetched since it is not a David Dhawan movie).

The last song that I recall having created such a wave of popularity was "Ek pal ka jeena/ Ae mere dil tu gaaye jaa" from Kaho Na Pyaar Hai (1995), the debut movie of Hritik Roshan- another fabulous dancer. The song played a vital role in the form of a "Oh! he- looks- like- him- and- I- don't- believe- it!!" sequence where the heroine spots the second Hritik, after the first Hritik is shown to have died in an accident.

Though it is not a particularly brilliant piece of screenplay, the well choreographed song still remains a kind of benchmark in modern day Hindi cinema for a blockbuster entry of the hero in role no 2. Comparing this with other hero-in- a- dual role movie of recent times makes Kaho na Pyaar hai seem like a Classic. Try "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan", "Judwaa", "Ankhiyon se Goli maare" and their ilk and you will know what I am talking about.

Since we are talking about tune rip offs and Hritik Roshan, the catchy number "Krazzy 4" from the eponymous movie comes to mind. Talk about strange correlations.

Also, come to think of it, there aren't many songs in Hindi Cinema which have played a crucial role as identity transfer/ identity giver. Therefore "Hoton pe aisi baat" from Guide perhaps remains the highwater mark in this respect. The song became the starting point in the identification of the true "Jewel Thief" in the climax. But then again, unmasking a villain is not the same as bringing on a identical looking hero.

So are there any songs about an identical looking hero/ dead protagonist coming back to life or being recognized through a song? "Yeh Duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai" from the iconic Gurudutt movie-Pyaasa!!!

Anyways...for the time being I am happy going "til til tara tara mera teli ka tel/ kaudi kaudi paisa paisa paise ka khel/ chal chal sadkon pe hogi tdhen! tdhen!/ Dhan-ta-nann!"