BOLLYWOOD'S LOVER BOY

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Kavita Gupta

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Posted: 18 years ago

BOLLYWOOD'S LOVER BOY

By Satyajit - Eye TV India Bureau

Magic Lantern

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This lover boy broke the decent sound barrier in Hindi films with thunderous impact. In the thoughtful and melodious 50s and 60s, Shammi screeched the loudest with "Yahoo" and then "Suku Suku" and lured his heroine with unique arrogance of charming looks coupled with loads of hyper wildness. His patent "Yahoo" made history as it is now one of the biggest search engines on website. It was between 1961 and 1964, when his films -- 'Professor', 'Kashmir Ki Kali', 'Janwar' and 'Rajkumar' consolidated his position at the box office and made him "king of romance". He brought a zing, a relish to the silver screen with his stylish dances despite his heavy built to immensely catchy numbers like "Suku Suku", "O Hasina Zulfon Waali", "Aaj Kal Tere Mere....

Shammi Kapoor was the Elvis Presley of Hindi cinema, the eternal lover who ruled to its zenith in his era. Shammi, the middle son of legendary actor Prithvi Raj Kapoor, born as Shamsherraj Kapoor in 1931, started off with 'Jeevan Jyoti', a disaster at the box office. Bad luck continued for another five years and he was labeled as "jinx" in the film industry. During this infamous period he surfaced 17 flops but good luck followed after his marriage with actress Geeta Bali. The magical combination of Mohd Rafi with Shanker Jaikishan and O P Nayyar spelled magical success for Shammi Kapoor and it showed its colorful fragrance in films like 'Janwar', 'Kashmir Ki Kali', 'Brahamchari' and 'An Evening in Paris'.

LAL CHADI MAIDAN KHADI - JANWAR

No other Hindi film hero made the art of boy chasing girl a more enjoyable and playful affair than Shammi Kapoor in an era where all other heroes exuded sophistication and gentlemanly in their romantic manner. The legendary trio - Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar - were better known for their discipline and conventional romantic attire. The "dark horse" Shammi Kapoor made new style statement as he wooed the girl with boisterous playfulness accompanied by mystical sensuality added with energetic eagerness to reprimand old styled convention. New vocabularies of "ched-chad" songs were developed to suit the situation and his caricature to the hilt.

KASHMIR KI KALI

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Who could have imagined that a star that had 17 flops to his credit will come out with such glorious musical hits? Shammi defined new form of expressing love and it came through his mischievous eyes and highly energized body movements. 'Kashmir Ki Kali's songs have the mystical touch where poetry and romanticism are blended with stylized wildness that no one can resist. Would you believe it that the credit for the film's success goes to OP Nayyar who composed 52 great tunes for the movie, of which Shakti Samantha chose nine and then wrote the script and made the movie. Later, his loyalty shifted to the first labeled "superstar" of the film industry -Rajesh Khanna in films like 'Aaradhna', a historical blockbuster of 70's.

ISHARON ISHARON MEIN

The lovable "shayari" and high quality of Urdu poetry gelled well with songs like "Deewana Hua Badal", "Isharon Isharon Mein" and "Deewana Hua Badal". Romance ruled the show in this beautiful narrated tale of romance against all odds. The film brought soft and subtle actress Sharmila Tagore to Hindi films with joyful actor Shammi in all colorful modes. This timeless love story became a landmark for the romance that blossomed in the mountains and lakes of Kashmir. O P Nayyar's folk style "Kashmiri" music mixed with refined Urdu "shayari" by S H Bihari made this film a musically nostalgic masterpiece!

DEEWANA HUA BADAL

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In 60's, Kashmir wasn't a national issue; the land was free from terrorism but a "jannat" (Paradise on Earth), mesmerized as ideal honeymoon location. 'Kashmir Ki Kali' brought new colorful adventures of romance to the silver screen packed with delightful music along with romance on "shikara" with fresh spray of the beautiful Kashmiri locale. Love rocked the "shikara" and long boat, and blossomed in every stanza. The last stanza shows the pinnacle of expression when their boats touch each other and move away slowly from the frame.

SUBHAN ALLAH

In 60's his "latkas" and "jhatkas" captured millions hearts and it was this time a young nubile nymphet Sharmila Tagore entered films. Mohd. Rafi's golden and vibrant voice helped Shammi Kapoor's romanticism to reach astronomical heights. Young Shammi ruled the hearts and captured stardom with films like 'Kashmir Ki Kali', 'Brahamchari', 'An Evening in Paris', 'Janwar', 'Junglee' and many more.Watch out for "junglee" Shammi dressed in female clothes and watch out his grimace while exuding love for Sharmila. Rafi sahib sings in admiration for innocent beauty and it gets adulated by life time music of OP Nayyar.

DIL KE JHAROKHE ME --- BRAHAMCHARI

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Critics have written off Shammi Kapoor as a clownish actor, who can only jump and dance to western tunes and songs. It was moment of challenge and glory when Shammi proved them wrong by displaying his sensitive image of children loving character in 'Brahmachari'. It was sadistic song that made even stone cry; it was tearful bid to eternal love in "Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein" that painted him a tragic lover. His estranged beloved was no other than dancing sensation Helen, and this number gave him the image of an emotional lover. 'Brahamchari' brought laurels to him with the prestigious Best Actor in the year 1968.

AAJ KAL TERE MERE PYAR --- BRAHMACHARI

The film became popular with "aam junta" with hip-shaking rock "n" roll number "Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar" with pretty Mumtaz. The song is still mesmerized as fine bonding between singing legend Mohd Rafi and Shammi Kapoor. It even brought laurels to not-so-famous Suman Kalyanpur and made him popular in the film world. Elvis Presley, the "badshah" of westernized music, influenced Shammi to a large extent. The way he danced and in the body language of his song-dance routines, in the curl and twist of his lip and the disguised invitation in his eyes, Shammi Kapoor reinvented American king of rock-n- roll to Indian cinema. Shammi developed very early an unmistaken instinct for the kind of music that suited him the most. He took a keen interest in the details of his film's music, selecting tunes and attended song recordings.

AN EVENING IN PARIS

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Shammi Kapoor was the first major star of Hindi Cinema who experimented with success with Westernized outfits to attract teenage audience. The dashing Shammi wore leather jackets and tee shirts at a time when tee shirts were not part of Bollywood's style statements. His preference for casual collar shirts and jackets instead of fuddy-duddy shirts all added up to the image of a rock star that captured many hearts. His charismatic caricature made him the first choice for 'An Evening in Paris' with her favorite Sharmila Tagore. Director Shakti Samantha presented the colorful beauty of Paris city through the song "Raat Ke Humsafar". It was a delightful spectacle when Shammi and Sharmila sang this lovely song with Shankar Jaikishan's music mesmerizing in the voices of Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhonsle on the gleaming beauty of Paris city.

Shammi's energetic body moves would stir up passions that no one could resist. The passionate icon of romance and love turns 75 this year but his screen presence of 60's stills makes everybody young at heart. Shammi's cheerful lady-killer looks emanating his sensuous exuberance through his bedroom eyes, the glitzy hero with fiery physical energy, and the matchless dancing superstar with a distinctive way with westernized music are the silhouetted images of this powerful star. Shammi's explosive energy and enthusiasm is still momentous for generations to follow. Mohd. Rafi developed a singing style to suit Shammi Kapoor's persona and it worked wonder for him in 60's. The credit for the musical success of his films goes to the actor himself. His music became tradition and later fashion statement for the next generation of teenage audiences.

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BOLLYWOOD'S LOVER BOY

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