IANS/Mumbai


A salesman displays CD’s of Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor at a store in Ahmedabad
Shammi Kapoor danced his way to success, with some of the best tracks under his belt.Going down memory lane, IANS picked up 10 best Shammi Kapoor songs that enthralled audiences over the years and made him one of the greatest stars ever.
Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par: The classic number from the 1961 movie Junglee is one of the best known romantic songs of Kapoor. Crooned by Mohamed Rafi, whose voice almost became synonymous with the actor during that time. The song was beautifully penned by Hasrat Jaipuri.
Yahoo - chahe mujhe koi junglee kahe: Another gem from the same film got attached to Kapoor’s image thereafter. Yahoo became a cult word and was then being considered as an extension of the actor’s rebel personality. Sung by Mohamed Rafi and written by Shailendra, this high octave, energetic, foot-tapping song is extremely popular even today.
Baar baar dekho: Sung by the actor’s favourite singer Rafi, this song from China Town (1962) is a light, jazz-oriented, pleasing song. Kapoor’s flirting with his onscreen lady, holding a guitar, is an image that will be remembered for years to come.
Yeh chand sa roshan chehra: A signature O P Nayyar composition, this song sung by Rafi in his inimitable style has lyrics by Shailendra. The song, which praises Kapoor’s leading lady Sharmila Tagore’s character, is melodious with easy musical arrangements and honey-tucked feel. It was from the 1964 film Kashmir Ki Kali.
Deewana hua badal: Another beautiful rendition from the same film by O P Nayyar. Romance flapped its wings, when Rafi went behind the mike to sing this song that is slow, free-flowing and pulls at one’s heartstrings even in this day and age.
Tumse achha: This song came out in the 1965 film Janwar. With music by Shankar-Jaikishan and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri, the song is still one of the favourite love songs among music buffs. The rhythmic song sung by Rafi is both fun and romantic owing to its lively composition.
O Haseena: Teesri Manzil, a phenomenal hit of 1966, presented this electrifying song which was a creation of R D Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Sung by Rafi again, this foot-tapping, cabaret, is one of the most popular retro hits of all times and is thoroughly entertaining. It exuded Kapoor’s style and his charm and was a chartbuster.
Aaja aaja main hoon: This song from Teesri Manzil was a runaway hit. It grabbed attention and interest owing to Rafi’s unique style of rendering the word ‘Aaja’. A peppy and catchy track, this song added another feather to Kapoor’s already established onscreen flamboyant image.
Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke: This evergreen song has fascinated generations. From 1968’s Brahmachari, this Shankar-Jaikishan composition is fast-paced and highly enjoyable. Sung by Rafi and penned by Shailendra, the track is again a testimony to Kapoor’s rebel attitude and his carefree nature. A fun song that stole hearts.
Badan pe sitare lapete huye: An almost seductive number, this song was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan for the film Prince in 1969. Although the film was not among the best-known works of Kapoor, the song sung by Rafi, was a sounding success and is still famous.