2001 April Indiya Com. Music
| Of garam chai and shirtless
wonders |
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The media loves to hate him, but the girls love to love him. That explains the huge fan following that Salman Khan has. Girls line up outside his house almost every day to get a glimpse of their favourite star. Salman Khan is the quintessential cool dude. Good looks, rugged physique and an attitude to match. After a lukewarm debut in Biwi Ho To Aisi, Salman went on to create history with Sooraj Barjatya's Maine Pyar Kiya. He followed it up with seven hits in a row which included Patthar Ke Phool, Baaghi and Sanam Bewafa. |
| Over the years, Salman has earned himself the reputation of being a spoilt brat. But, the fact remains that he has been consistently delivering hits over the last decade. As an actor, Salman is grossly underrated though. Perhaps his good looks and netted shirts are responsible for the slip up. Taking a look at the top ten songs of the super smashing Salman Khan. |
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| Mere rang mein rangne waali (Maine Pyar Kiya: 1989) | |
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Dil is deewana, truly in this case. He, a phoren-returned guy. She, a tradition-bound Indian girl. It's her birthday and he wants her to wear a revealing outfit, only for him. She hesitates, but finally does. He realises her discomfort and tenderly wraps a sheet around to cover her. Salman Khan at his etenderfest best. Passions flow, love encompasses and the audience is enthralled. And, when Prem implored Suman with a Mere sawaalon ka jawaab do, hearts flipped left, right and centre. A star was born... to rule the hearts of the fairer sex! |
| Pehla pehla pyaar hai (Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!: 1994) | |
| Though it had shades of Mere rang mein, this one still remains a winner. After a round of chhed khaani, it is time for Prem to confess his love for Nisha. The atmosphere crackles with their chemistry. Nisha opens the fridge door yet the vibes are "Oooh so hot!" The song carries on to the pool table and then it is time for the mandatory shirt-shedding. But, with Sallu's charms working their way, there is no escape. |  |
| Jaana suno hum tumpe marte hain (Khamoshi The Musical: 1996) | |
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She loves me. She loves me knot! He yonders, hell bent on wooing her. Annie is not in an obliging mood though. From waiting in the church with flowers to buying a wedding dress on an impulse, Raj is any girl's dream come true. And, with Salman playing the dutiful lover, all the more so. Love has neverEerr, sounded so wonderfully musical! |
| Oh oh jaane jaana (Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya: 1997) | |
| Countless. That is the number of times Salman has taken his shirt off in front of the camera. Yet, this song remains among one of Salman's better picturised numbers. No one can do the shirtless wonder stunt better than Salman Khan. For that matter, not even the nation's latest heartthrob Hrithik Roshan. A stage set on an open ground and a bare-chested Salman grooving to the lively Oh oh jaane jaana. A million women's fantasies came true within the span of a few seconds, no less! |  |
| Oh jaana na jaana (Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai: 1998) | |
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"You don't remember my mother's face?"An embarrassed Salman looks away, wondering which of his past women his illegitimate son is talking about. Flashback reveals a playboy Salman wooing pretty Namrata (the kid's mother) in Oh jaana with his characteristic flirtatious exploits. Contrast that with the next Lata Mangeshkar version where a reformed Salman is keen to make amends. This one helps to establish the bond between father and son. The contrast is brought out well with Salman's commendable performance. |
| Saajanji ghar aaye (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: 1998) | |
| The whistles proved it once more. When Salman Khan made a surprise appearance in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the audience was more than delighted. Whether he flirted with Kajol's sahelis or wooed his to-be mother-in-law, the charms were in place. Otherwise, could anyone say Mujhpe to ae dilruba, teri sakhiyan bhi fida, yeh bolengi kya, poochho with such cocky confidence? But when Salman said it, he added a delightful touch to it. In the end, when Kajol chooses Salman over Shah Rukh, many from the audience wished it was the other way round. It truly remains a 'special' appearance. |  |
| Chandi ki daal (Hello Brother: 1999) | |
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This number is included largely because Salman Khan sang this number himself and because of the netted pink ganji that he wore in the song. The jhatkas in his voice were in synch with his gyrations on screen. The film did not do well, but the song still gathers coins. A tapori number has never sounded or looked as classy as this one did. The credit goes entirely to Salman Khan. |
| Jhonka hawa ka aaj bhi (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam: 1999) | |
| Your heart goes out to the lonely and lost Sameer. Will Nandini be able to reach him? Travelling in trains in a foreign country without his love, Salman made a picture of grief and sorrow in his broad-rimmed spectacles. For once, the audience wished that Nandini would find him as fast as possible and drive away the blues. Apart from Tadap tadap ke, when Sameer freezes Nandini on the terrace, Jhonka hawa ka brought out the pangs of separation with searing force. Salman underplayed as usual, but was a winner throughout the song and the film, even when he loses out to Vanraj in the end. |  |
| Ishq chandi hai (Biwi No 1: 1999) | |
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Any other hero would have refused outright. It is to Salman's credit that he carried off his short stature in front of tall and swelte Sushmita with self-assured humour. Sush and Sallu are an item in this song. Watch them happily groove in tandem to Sona sona, baba sona sona, baba sona sona sona sona and you will know what we mean! At the end of the song, apna Sallu truly stands tall, a cut above the rest. |
| Ek garam chai ki pyaali ho (Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega: 2000) | |
| For God's sake, he wears a sarong in this song. And, yet, looks absolutely fab. You have got to hand it to him. Choreographer Farah Khan makes the most of Salman's playboy image in this one. He lives it up with sleek models giving him company. Watch out for the perfectly co-ordinated steps in this number. The picturisation is truly over the top, bottom and side. But, with Salman Khan in the middle of it all, no one is complaining. |  |
Hamida Parkar
2001 May 3