As a gori mem who enjoys her gigantic icy-cold Kingfishers every day while in India (and “several” glasses of wine every other evening), I do love a good song about the devil’s potion! Inspired by Dusted Off’s post on the same subject, I have changed one of her rules: I’m including fake-pretend drinking because it’s a fascinating (to me anyway) artifact of Hindi movies. If you need to chase someone off, or get them to hate you—pretend to have a drink! (I would be lonely and unwanted indeed!) Of course some would point out that *most* movie drinking is “pretend” unless you are Dharmendra. I am only including songs from movies I’ve seen, where I loved the song and the performance and picturization of it. Liking the film is a plus too, but not strictly necessary.
So without further ado, here they are!
10. “De De Pyar De” from Sharaabi (1984) (sung by Asha, music by Bappi Lahiri). Poor Bappida! I bash him a lot here, but he did write good songs for this film. A drunken Amitabh co-opts a wedding band late at night to help him find his beloved Jaya Prada, who lives somewhere in the neighborhood. Angry neighbors call the police, but when Jaya finally comes out he is so very happy to see her that all is forgiven. Awwww!!!
9. “Maine To Paani Piya Tha” from Keemat (1973) (sung by Asha, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal). Hindi film heroines are not usually allowed to get drunk unless it’s by mistake or at the hands of the villain. Here Rekha accidentally drinks a tumbler full of gin instead of the water she thinks it is, resulting in multiple Rajendranaths and a very cute song. I’m including here since I can’t find it elsewhere.
Rekha is so young and so cute!
8. “Samjho Ho Hi Gaya” from Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) (sung by Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi and Vinod Rathod, music by Shantanu Moitra). Our favorite pair of criminals get drunk together and Munna tells Circuit how he has wooed Jhanvi that day—with a Kissing Car and some circus lions! I just love the chemistry of these two, and the picturization is so much fun.
7. “Abhi To Haath Mein Jaam Hai” and “Haan Ji Haan Main Ne Sharab Pi Hai” from Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) (sung by Manna Dey and Lata, respectively, music by RD Burman). Okay yes! I’m cheating a bit. I’ve covered “Abhi To Haath Mein” before in my favorite Dharmendra songs post so it doesn’t really count (but it deserves a mention here too), and I adore Hema’s fake-pretend drunk song. She performs this beautifully, looking like she hasn’t a care in the world in her black and white-lace maxi dress and white go-go boots! But at times you can see the pain of her heart breaking written across her face. And Sanjeev Kumar looks just as disapproving as she knew he would!
6. “Sheeshe Se Piya” from Phool Aur Patthar (1966) (sung by Asha, music by Ravi). This is my favorite Shashikala song. I’m not sure that she’s necessarily drunk (although she looks it) but she extols the virtues and blessings of a stiff drink to her former (though she doesn’t know it yet) lover Dharmendra, who has fallen in love with weepy widow Meena Kumari (he’s going to need it).
5. “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” from Caravan (1972) (sung by Asha and RD Burman, music by RD Burman). Perhaps the most famous drinking song in Hindi cinema, courtesy of the one and only Helen. She’s imbibing heavily at the bar as she waits for her lover to show up. When he does, her alcohol intake doesn’t seem to have inhibited her coordination at all!
You go, girl!
4. “Yeh Meri Zindagi” from Ziddi (1964) (sung by Lata, music by SD Burman). Asha pretends to be drunk in order to leave the path clear for her sister and to save Joy Mukherjee from *gasp* marrying a criminal’s daughter. A wonderful song from a movie that’s filled with them!
3. “Sachaai Chhup Nahin Sakti” from Dushman (1971) (sung by Kishore, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal). Although the song is not about drinking, Rajesh is drunk as he sings it. He’s been drinking steadily as he drove (!) his truck along, and he decides to stop and visit his favorite nautch girl Bindu—whom he then proceeds to taunt about her unfaithfulness. What does he expect? A girl has to make a living! Rajesh has a lot of good drunk songs, but this one is my favorite—he is utterly charming, even in his cups.
2. “Pee Ke Hum Jo Chale” from Gumnaam (1965) (sung by Asha and Usha Mangeshkar, music by Shankar Jaikishan). I can’t believe I can’t find this on the interwebs anywhere! Fabulous song pictured on Nanda and Helen as they get drunk to forget that all their compadres on the island are being murdered one by one, and they might be next! Really really cute song, and the two actresses look like they’re having a blast.
I want to get drunk with Helen!
1. “Jaane Kya Peelaya Tune” from Jugnu (1973) (sung by Lata, music by SD Burman). How I love this song! Hema has mistakenly (of course) had a glass of doctored (by Prem Chopra) Coke meant for Dharmendra and she is completely and cheerfully drunk. He is alternately amused, irritated, and completely enraptured—and who wouldn’t be. He carries her to his car and drives her home, as she climbs all over him and his car. This is the Dream Girl at her dreamiest—and cutest—best, in a movie I love, and with a hero I adore.
MemsaabStory 