Golden Era of Bollywood: Missing the Villain's Den and a Song there in the Climax

Monday 26 July 2021

Missing the Villain's Den and a Song there in the Climax

Among the many things that have vanished from Hindi films are the villain's Den, heroines, and sacrificing mothers tied to pillars waiting to be rescued by the hero. Filmmakers never missed an opportunity to keep a dance song in that situation. This trend started in the 50s and continued till the early 90s.

Among the early villain’s den songs is from Baazi (1951). Tadbeer Se Bigadi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le, The desperate, out-of-luck hero Dev Anand is about to leave the gambler’s den in Star Hotel until the seductive Geeta Bali appears with her guitar and sings, “Apne pe bharosa hai to dav laga le” Another popular song of this situation was Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana from the 1956 film C I D

In this blog I have selected a few such songs performed in a super villain's hideout when the leading hero or heroine is under captivity. Sometimes lead leading actors are also disguised while performing choreographed dances in the villain's presence to deceive him or extract important information.

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of C I D 1956

This is a very popular song 'Aaiye Meharbaan' picturized on Madhubala in Howrah Bridge(1958) Ashok Kumar tries to get cosy with the bad guys who may be involved in his brother’s death. The hotel’s biggest draw, the beautiful Edna (Madhubala), is fond of Kumar and charms him with Aaiye Meharbaan, while the villain Pyarelal (KN Singh) looks on.

Song of Howrah Bridge 1958

In another Dev Anand starrer, Jaali Note (1960), Anand is an undercover police inspector hobnobbing with criminals in their underground den beneath the Paris Hotel, where they are entertained by a then-unknown Helen dancing to Nigahon Ne Pheka Hain Panje Ka Chakka.