20 Greatest Hindi songs
This review is different. There are songs in films, musical numbers which are soulful, melodious, timeless classics.
Songs composed by music directors like SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Shanker Jaikishen, Viswanathan Ramamoorthy, Gulzar and Bhupen Hazarika.
But the following review does not contain a single song by those Geniuses. In fact, I’ve tried to make it a point to avoid songs from such Masters.
’Sacrilege!’, you might say.
’Guilty as I charged’, I accept.
Over the last few months, I’ve read some real great reviews on some of the best musical numbers in Indian film.
Hence to avoid this repetition this review on The Best Tapori numbers.
Anatomy of a Tapori Song
Songs which provide fleeting titillation and fun. Often penned by lyricists with little talent, with the common man in mind using common slang and words(spoiler ahead) like’Akhiyon se goli mare’. Generally these songs are made for situations in films where the street-smart hero and chalu heroine, run around the city or park often accompanied by a bunch of wide-eyed extras.
The average person or the hoi polloi, has no great musical knowledge. But he/she can appreciate a good Tapori number, a fun filled song, with no pretensions towards musical history.
When I mentioned this idea to a friend, she said, ’Bhidu, definitely go ahead, bindaas’.
20 Greatest Tapori Numbers
So here goes, in no specific order:
1. Khaike paan banaras waala - Don
This is by the AB THE Superstar of Indian cinema. With Kishor Kumar providing the smooth vocals, AB turns a simple paan song, into a smashing performance. You can hear the remixes even today. He is the Alpha and the Omega when it comes to Tapori roles. With Zeenat Aman and few bumpkins at the local paan shop, Amitabh chews on juicy banarasi paan and belts out this number.
’.bandh akal ka taala’
2. Aankh maare- Tere Mere Sapne -1997
Yeah I remember watching this film in Bangalore. The number had been on the charts for a few weeks, but the toppers was Arshad warsi and Simran’s dance act in an average flick.
’Seete bhajaye!’
3. Yaaro Sun Lo Zara- Rangeela
One of the best Tapori acts in recent times was Aamir Khan in Rangeela as the lovable loser Munna, with an author backed role, witty dialogues, Urmila Matondkaras a sidekick and RGV at the helm. Aamir displays the layers of his role in this terrific number by AR Rahman.
4. One 2 ka 4, Four 2 ka One- Ram Lakhan
Subhash Ghai is the master of making a 2 line story into a 3 hour melodrama, revenge, family issues filled movie. Anil Kapoor following another Tapori role in Tezaab steals the show in the grey, but fun filled role as Lakhan. In this song, he is at his Tapori best, cheating Anupam Kher and romancing his daughter Madhuri.
’duniya chakori, paisa hai chanda. sabke gale me, maya ka phanda’
’tum apni khali jaabe bharo ji, karta hoon main jo tum bhi karo ji’
5. Kallu maama- Satya
Kallu Mama, Satya, RGV. enuf said. Funny song about the underworld, very ironic in the sense that the gangsters are leading a very short life of crime.
’Bhege Maar goli me. dishkum’
6. Aati Kya Khandala - Ghulam
A remake of’On the Waterfront’, once again Aamir Khan as the retired boxer plus Galli ka romeo, tries to romance high society biker girl Rani Mukherjee. AK provides his own voice. Thank god, the music director was sane enough to prevent Rani from using hers:)
7. Akhiyon Se Goli Maare
A Tapori list without the Virar ka Ladla? I’m sorry the Honorable MP from Bombay, Mr.Govinda.
While other actors take on Tapori roles like bitter medicine, Govinda jumps into those like hungry man in a buffet.
The only living actor with more Tapori numbers than sad songs, Govinda is a Tapori fan’s delight. He is like the road side bhel puri shop serving fast food. Simply Paisa Vasool.
With Raveena Tandon at her head nodding best, Sonu Nigam voices the fun filled Govinda number.
8. Mammayya Khero Khero mama - Arjun
This one’s not a Tapori number to be exact, but falls into the genre, with Sunny Deol and unemployed friends having fun in roaming around the city. From the thrilling initial start to the song to the fast beats, a nice change of genre for RD Burman.
’duniya mare bura tho goli maaro’
9. Ek Chatur naar- Padosan
A remake of Sridar’s smash hit in Tamil, Padosan’s antic filled number by the great Kishor Kumar and Sunil Dutt matching musical tunes in a shootout with Mehmood is one of the funniest numbers.
Especially an exasperated Mehmood saying’Aaye abhi sur badla’
10.Denewala jab bhi deta - Hera pheri
Celebrating their success after setting up their con job, Paresh Rawal, Akshay and Suniel Shetty roam around
having fun, spending the money that they dont have. yet. Yup they were laughing all the way to the Box office success, Chappad phad ke.
11. Bade miyan. chotte miyan.
When Big B and Govinda join together in a double role. Its jhakaas time! With Satish Kaushik at his rotund best joining the duo, in conning unsuspecting people, this song is a blast.
’Hum jo kaam karen, wo kule aam karen, humko log yahan yuhin badnaam karen’
12. Maya Machindra. Hindustani
Okay, this one’s not a tapori, per se. Kamal Hassan is one of my favorite actors and this was the closest I could come up with a tapori number for him. Can anyone help out with a better number for Kamal?
13. Oonchi hain building . Judwaa
Clown Prince Salman Khan is always at the top of his game when it comes to tapori numbers. SK jumps into this dual role remake of a Jackie Chan film. Jumping around with Rambha and Salman, the duo’s jhatkas rocks, with the with this Anu Malik song. One of Anu Malik’s better sung songs.
14. Oh mama mama. Rehna Hain tere dil me
Harris Jayaraj composes the music for this Madhavan and Dia Mirza flick, though the flick fared badly at the BO, this number by Sonu Nigam the multitalented one, is got some real nice hip-hop base and peppy tones coupled with some meaningless https://lyrics.
15. Ek kunwara phir gaya mara.- Masti
In this tale about infidelities and associated comedic situations, Aftab, Vivek Oberoi and Ritesh celebrate the last days of bachelorhood of one of their friends. With music by Anand Raj Anand, this is a new generation fun filled tapori number.
16. Dol Dol- Yuva
Can there be a tapori song without the actors singing? Yes. this is the one. with splendid beats by AR Rahman this hip hop based tapori number has Abhishek Bachchan in his frivolous best as a goonda enjoying the good times, enjoys the high times with Rani Mukherjee.’Salaam Namaste!’
17. Suniye To- Yes Boss
Last but not least, Shah Rukh Khan in his hilarious best with Juhi Chawla, in one of his funniest roles. With SRK’s regular singer Abhijeet voicing, Jatin Lalit’s peppy number. SRK has a blast in this number romancing the equally funny Juhi.
’Aisi kya jaldi jane ki’