Bollywood Has Always Had Songs About Alcohol, Stopping Diljit Dosanjh Is Plainly Irrational

Amid the ongoing debate curbing actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh from singing songs about alcohol on his Dil-Luminati Tour, we take a look at the long history of Bollywood music and inebriation. Singers like Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and even Lata Mangeshkar have all had hit songs about alcohol in their careers.

Is Diljit Dosanjh being hounded for being a crowd puller? Our greatest singers have crooned about the joys of inebriation in song after song: Ghulam Ali’s Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa Thodi Si Jo Pee Hai, Mukesh’s Mujhe Yaaron Maaf Karna Main Nashe Main Hoon, Manna Dey’s Madhushala (based on the great poetry of Harivansh Rai Bachchan), Kishore Kumar’s Peena Walon Ko Peena Ka Bahana Chahiye, Asha Bhosle’s Aao Huzoor Tumko Sitaron Pe Le Chaloon, Geeta Dutt’s Na Jao Saiyyan Chuda Ke Baiyyan, and so many majestic tipsy tunes by the greatest of them all Lataji, from Sharaabi Sharaabi Mera Naam Ho Gaya Chandan Ka Palna To Do Ghoont Mujhe Bhi Pila De Sharaabi in Jheel Ke Uss Paar. In fact, one of Lataji’s career’s best songs was a song in celebration of alcohol. The song written by Varma Malik was for Manoj Kumar’s magnum opus Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.

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In that song, Lataji sang, “Na dharam bura, na karam bura, na Ganga buri, na jal bura, na dharam bura, na karam bura, na Ganga buri, na jal bura, par peene waalon ko, Pandit ji na karna kabhi naseehat, peene waala marte-marte, bas karta yahi wasiyat, Oh, Pandit ji, mere marne ke baad, bas itna kasht utha lena, mere munh mein Ganga-jal ki jagah thodi madira tapka dena.” Manoj Kumar recalls this outstandingly rendered, beautifully written song with much affection. “Oh ho! Lataji ne iss gaane ko char chand laga diya.

Although her song Hai Hai Yeh Majboori in Roti Kapada Aur Makaan was much more popular. That was because Zeenat Aman danced to it on screen. Panditji Mere Marne Ke Baad was enacted on screen by Aroona Irani.

During those days, the songs lip-synced by the hero and heroine were more successful than the others. What a pity! Panditji Mere Marne Ke Baad is a revolutionary song. When we, music composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal and I, approached Lataji, we were apprehensive, she might refuse considering the audacious lyrics in praise of alcohol.

She not only said yes, she brought such nuances into the lyricism and left us spellbound.” Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Bollywood, Entertainment News and around the world..