The ’60s was an era when cabaret songs were the life of the movies. In fact these songs pulled crowds to the theatres. They are not faded from the memories of people, even today they are the hits. Helen is known as the Goddess of cabaret, no one will ever be able to radiate the oomph factor as much as she could. The petite, cute, and charming Helen gave some breathtaking performances, she is unmatched even today! Some of the olden cabaret numbers are played in today’s movies as item numbers to which today’s heroines swoon.
In the late 60s and early part of the 1970s actresses Fariyal, Aruna Irani, Bindu, Jayshree T and Padma Khanna entered into what was Helen’s monopoly.
I list few more of my favourites:
Naach Meri Jaan fatafat…
Main Sunder Hoon (1971) Singers: Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosale Music Director: Shakar Jaikishan
Reshmi Ujala hai…
Sharmilee (1971), Singer: Asha Bhosale, Music Director: S.D.Burman
Sajana hey muze, sajana ke liye….
Saudagar (1973), Singer: Asha Bhosale Music Director: Ravindra Jain. It is a cabaret style song which is picturised differently. Padma Khanna is bathing in river. This was the debut movie for Ravindra Jain as a music director. He wrote the lyrics too.
Aa raat jati hai, chupkase….
Movie: Benam (1974) Singers: Mohmed Rafi, Asha Bhosale Music Director: R.D.Burman
Leena O Leena…….
Film Swarg Narak (1978) Singer Kishore Kumar, Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Kaisi Paheli hai ye………
Film: Parineeta (2005), Singer: Sunidhi Chauhan Music Director: Shantanu Moitra. In my opinion this is one of the most memorable cabaret songs in recent times.
