C-A-T cat, cat maane billi

C-A-T cat, cat maane billi, R-A-T rat, rat maane choohaa,
Arey dil hain tere panje mein to kya hua
M-A-D mad, mad maane paagal, B-O-Y boy, boy maane ladka
Arey matlab iska tum kaho to kya hua

C-A-T cat, cat maane billi, R-A-T rat, rat maane choohaa,
Arey dil hain tere panje mein to kya hua
M-A-D mad, mad maane paagal, B-O-Y boy, boy maane ladka
Arey matlab iska tum kaho to kya hua

Arri baanvri tu ban jaa meri, zara sun main kya kehta hoon
Zara dekh idhar tujhe hain khabar, tu hai kaun aur main kya hoon
Arri baanvri tu ban jaa meri, zara sun main kya kehta hoon
Zara dekh idhar tujhe hain khabar, tu hai kaun aur main kya hoon

G-O-A-T goat, goat maane bakri, L-I-O-N lion, lion maane sher
Arey dil hain tere panje mein to kya hua
M-A-D mad, mad maane paagal, B-O-Y boy, boy maane ladka
Arey matlab iska tum kaho to kya hua

Lagey taakne kabhi aapne, sheesha leke moonh dekha bhi
Tum hi ek nahin jahaan mein haseen, na hoga koi hum sa bhi
Lagey taakne kabhi aapne, sheesha leke moonh dekha bhi
Tum hi ek nahin jahaan mein haseen, na hoga koi hum sa bhi

N-O-S-E nose, nose maane naak, C-R-O-W crow, crow maane kauva
Arey matlab iska tum kaho to kya hua
C-A-T cat, cat maane billi, R-A-T rat, rat maane choohaa,
Arey dil hain tere panje mein to kya hua

Mila le nazar o jaan-e-jigar, tera kya karegi duniya
Jahaan se daro, yeh socha karo, humein kya kahegi duniya
Arey mila le nazar o jaan-e-jigar, tera kya karegi duniya
Jahaan se daro, yeh socha karo, humein kya kahegi duniya

B-A-D bad, bad maane bura, B-U-T but, but maane lekin
Arey dil hain tere panje mein to kya hua
M-A-D mad, mad maane paagal, B-O-Y boy, boy maane ladka
Arey matlab iska tum kaho to kya hua

Movie: Dilli Ka Thug (1958)
Director: S D Narang
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music Composer: Ravi

What a strange year 2020 was. Let’s laugh a little, S said, and I was very happy to get on board. Accordingly, our theme for the first four months of the year is comedy. Of course, you will see that both S and I interpret this in our own ways. But hopefully, even if you are not belting out guffaws, our selections will bring a smile to your face.

When I think of comedy in old Hindi songs, the first name that comes to my mind is Kishore Kumar. The problem then is which song of Kishore Kumar’s to feature, because he has so many hilarious numbers. This one came to mind because it doesn’t only feature his vocal gymnastics but also his theatrics on screen. An added appeal is seeing Nutan on screen. To see both of them being goofy on screen is delightful. There is also the joy of some silly lyrics from Majrooh Sultanpuri and perfect music from Ravi. ~ R