Hum kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Khayaalon mein khayaalon mein
Khayaalon mein khayaalon mein

Jai hungama
Kahan bhaag rahi tumai

Ya allah kaale se dar gayi kya
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Yeh gore gaalan thandhana
Yeh reshmi baalan thandhana
Yeh solah saalan thandhana
Hai tere khayaalan thandhana
Yeh gore gaalan thandhana
Yeh reshmi baalan thandhana
Yeh solah saalan thandhana
Hai tere khayaalan thandhana
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Allah
Tumai kidher ko jaatey thandhana
Kyun paas na aatey thandhana
Kya maar yeh baatan thandhana
Dil tod yeh dhaatan thandhana
Tumai kidher ko jaatey thandhana
Kyun paas na aatey thandhana
Kya maar yeh baatan thandhana
Dil tod yeh dhaatan thandhana
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Taritaka dhimitaka...

Aankhan hain narangi ki phaka
Baatan jyun sarangi
Chaalan jaise mast sharabi
Haalat rang-birangi

Humai maana gareeb hain thandhana
Surat se ajeeb hain thandhana
Par phir bhi naseeb hain thandhana
Ke tere kareeb hain thandhana
Humai maana gareeb hain thandhana
Surat se ajeeb hain thandhana
Par phir bhi naseeb hain thandhana
Ke tere kareeb hain thandhana
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Hum tere tere tere chahnewale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain
Humai kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Kya ji taang hila rahi kya
Peechhe nahin hatoonga mein
Hila ko rakh daloonga
Allah allah allah allah allah allah
Allah meri madad kar allah
Main poti ko chhodoonga nahi main allah
Allah allah allah allah allah allah

Movie: Gumnaam (1965)
Director: Raja Nawathe
Singers: Mehmood Ali, Mohammed Rafi
Lyricist: Shailendra
Music Composer: Shankar Jaikishan

This song is an evergreen classic that made Hyderabadi Hindi quite popular. Mehmood’s mannerisms and Helen’s dance moves in it are unforgettable.

Although it may be thought of as a comedy song, it means so much more to me because of two reasons:

• One of my maternal uncles passed away last year. Not only did he sing well, but he also had a voice quite like Kishore Kumar. His was a love marriage. My uncle was dark-complexioned and my aunt breathtakingly fair. I used to tease him saying that he must have wooed my aunt by singing this song!
• I have heard many expressing the sentiment ‘Hum kaale hain toh kya hua dilwaale hain’, with sadness and bewilderment.

I know R and I are supposed to be posting comedy-themed songs, but I cannot forget that February is Black History Month. We discuss racism and colourism as problems faced by people elsewhere.

What about our bias towards light skin? Don’t we associate white with purity/light and black with impurities/darkness?

Whether gore or kaale, let’s all strive to be dilwaale because that is all that matters. ~ S