This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Sometimes the directors of Hindi films will put across really strange scenarios, that one does not really expect to see in the films, especially in the formula or near formula films that are a hallmark of the Indian film industry. Now, think of Helen, and the very first thing that will come to mind is a dance song. In a variety of dance forms, whether that be a folk dance (a handful), a classical (very very few indeed), a fun song (very many) or a cabaret dance (a huge number), when one sees Helen on the screen, she is singing a song, and dancing. Some time back on a particular post, we came across a Helen dance song in which she is not singing herself, someone else is. In response, others readers identified more such songs where Helen did not sing, while she was dancing on the screen.
But now how about this. A cabaret dance being performed in a party setting. And Helen, wearing a saree, is one of the audience. Well, she is the guest of honor, for apparently this party is celebrating an engagement or a wedding. The prominent players in this scene are Helen and Prem Chopra, seated as guests of honor. And the dance is being performed by Madhumati. So this is the first for me – a cabaret dance song, Helen is in the scenario, but she is not performing, just sitting and viewing. Interesting scenario, and I would request other readers to let us know whether they have encountered other such scenarios, in other films.
The film is a 1970 production from the banner of Mars and Movies, Bombay. The film title is ‘Paglaa Kahin Kaa’, and is directed by Shakti Samant. This is a well known Shammi Kapoor film, and the list of actors includes Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Prem Chopra, Helen, Manmohan Krishan, KN Singh, Murad, Brahm Bhardwaj, Madhumati, Madhavi, Sunder, Mohan Choti, Polson, Kumud Tripathi, Kundan, Kanu Roy, Viju Khote etc. The lyrics for this film are written by Hasrat Jaipuri and the music is composed by the duo team of Shankar-Jaikishan. The singing voice is one that gets on oh so well with songs of this type. Yes, it is Asha Bhosle.
The dance is performed by Madhumati and accompanied by two male dancers. From the mannerisms and actions, it is clear that the two men are competing for the lady’s attention. One of them is wearing a white jacket and the other one is wearing a black jacket. Apparently, the lady prefers the gentleman in white, but the other one, who dons a black jacket, manages to get rid of the former, and is successful in forcing his intentions on the lady. The visual narration of this dance mirrors the situation in the film somewhat. Prem Chopra (Shyam), Helen (Jenny) and Shammi Kapoor (Sujit) are a team of singers and dancer that together work in a club owned by KN Singh (Max). Sujit and Jenny are in love. It so happens one day that an argument happens between them, in which Max pulls out a gun, in the ensuing scuffle, Shyam ends up shooting and killing Max. Subsequently, Sujit takes the blame on himself. Feigning insanity, he is successful in being transferred from the prison to an asylum. After a year of asylum stay, he is discharged. He returns to the club, only find that he has joined a party to celebrate the engagement of Jenny and Shyam. In the video clip, at the end, Shammi Kapoor (Sujit) makes a ruffled entrance, frantically searching for Helen (Jenny), and is shocked to find that she is getting engaged to Shyam.
Another very foot tapping melody sung by Asha Bhosle. Enjoy.
suno zindagi gaati hai, la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa sabko naach nachaati hai
Hark and hear
The lilting song of life
Strumming the strings of love
Humming the melody of love
It brings the joy and verve
In everyone’s life
saans hai jab tak mere badan mein, gaati rahoongi us ki lagan mein
jis ko chunaa hai meri nazar ne, ek hai gumchaa saare chaman men
Till the breath is in my being
His thoughts will remain with me
I will forever sing for him
The one my eyes have chosen
Is a bloom that is matchless in the garden
pyaar na hotaa hum bhi na hotey, rotey hi aaye rotey hi jaate
pyaar ne hum ko jeena sikhaayaa, varnaa umar ko kaise bitaate
(Its love that makes this world)
If not for love
We wouldn’t have been
And the life would have started in tears
And also ended as such
It is love that teaches living
Else this life
Would have been difficult to live
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa
sabko naach nachaati hai
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa
sabko naach nachaati hai
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
saans hai jab tak
mere badan mein
gaati rahoongi
us ki lagan mein
jis ko chunaa hai
meri nazar ne
ek hai gumchaa
saare chaman mein
ek hai gumchaa
saare chaman mein
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa
sabko naach nachaati hai
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar na hotaa
hum bhi na hotey
rotey hi aaye
rotey hi jaate
pyaar ne hum ko
jeena sikhaayaa
varnaa umar ko
kaise bitaate
varnaa umar ko
kaise bitaate
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa
sabko naach nachaati hai
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
pyaar ki dhun par chhed ke nagmaa
sabko naach nachaati hai
suno zindagi gaati hai
la lala la lala laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la laaa
la la la la la
Helen had a good role in ‘Pagla Kahin Ka’. And she certainly didn’t disappoint! She was such a good actress too! Sadly, very few film makers were keen on exploiting her histrionic talents!
That’s true Atul-ji. Another movie that comes to my mind where Helen didn’t have to don her ‘uniform’ of high heel shoes, an itsy bitsy dress and gyrate was ‘Hum Hindustani’. She was paired with Joy Mukherji while Asha Parekh was paired with Sunil Dutt. I vaguely remember Helen having quite a lengthy, serious role in this movie.
Atul -ji, here’s a trivia about Helen. In “Door koyi gaaye, dhun ye sunaye…” from ‘Baiju Bawra’ a very young Helen can be seen as an extra among the chorus dancers!
Pagla Kahin Ka is a movie that is particularly close to my heart because it is a movie for which I provided subtitles for the non-Hindi speaking audience. 🙂 But even otherwise, I like this movie very much and feel it is one of Shammi Kapoor’s most under-rated movies. It did not do well at the box-office either. As Asha Parekh explained, maybe the audience did not want to see Shammi as a patient in an asylum.
I loved everything about this sweet film – except one thing. The way the character of Helen was treated. I loved the fact that she had a decent role opposite Shammi (more than just a dance) but the way her character goes downhill in the second half (literally at the end) is something that I’d have done differently if I’d written the script.
I’d forgotten this song but it’s nice to be reminded of it. Thanks, Sudhirji.
This blog discusses Bollywood songs of yesteryears. Every song has a brief description, followed by a video link, and complete lyrics of the song. This is a labour of love, where “new” songs are added every day, and that has been the case for over SEVENTEEN years. This blog has more than 19700 song posts by now. This blog is active and online for over 6000 days since its beginning on 19 July 2008.
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 28, 2012 at 10:04 am
Helen had a good role in ‘Pagla Kahin Ka’. And she certainly didn’t disappoint! She was such a good actress too! Sadly, very few film makers were keen on exploiting her histrionic talents!
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