Disco Dancer
Encyclopedia
Disco Dancer is a 1982
Hindi-language Indian
feature film
directed
by Babbar Subhash
starring Mithun Chakraborty
in lead role and Rajesh Khanna
in a special appearance. The film tells the rags-to-riches story of a young street performer
. It is especially known for its filmi
disco
songs composed by Bappi Lahari, particularly "I am a Disco Dancer" and "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja".
The film was a worldwide success, with its popularity extending across Southern Asia
, China
, Turkey
, and the Soviet Union
. It was one of the most successful Indian films
in the Soviet Union, drawing an audience of 40 to 63 million viewers there. The film established Mithun as a household name in Southern Asia as well as the Soviet Union. In China, the film's soundtrack
was a success and received a Gold Award
there.
), a street performer and wedding singer, is scarred by the memory of the rich P.N. Oberoi (Om Shivpuri
) beating his mother (Gita Siddharth) in an incident during his childhood. When David Brown, the manager (Om Puri
) of current Indian disco
champion Sam (Karan Razdan) is fed up and looks for some new talent, he happens across Anil who is dance-walking
down a street. Rebranded as "Jimmy", the rising disco star must take the throne from Sam and win the heart of Rita (Kim), P.N. Oberoi's daughter. All seems to be going well until Oberoi hires men to connect Jimmy's electric guitar
to 5,000 volts of electricity
, causing Jimmy's mother to die in a tragic accident. With his legs broken by Oberoi's goons and guitar phobia from the incident with his mother, Jimmy must claim first place for Team India at the International Disco Dancing Competition amidst strong competition from Team Africa and Team Paris.
.
musician Devo
produced a song called "Disco Dancer
" inspired by the "I am a Disco Dancer" song from this film.
The British Sri Lankan alternative musician M.I.A.
re-recorded "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" as "Jimmy
" in 2007 for her album Kala
. The music of this song was also used in the 2008 Adam Sandler
movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan
. There have also been cover version
s of "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja" from other international musicians, including the Russian techno
group Ruki Vverh's 1998 hit "Jimmy" as well as the Tibetan artist
Kelsang Metok.
In 2010, the songs "I am a disco dancer" and "Yaad aa raha hai" were used in the 2010 Bollywood comedy film, Golmaal 3
, directed by Rohit Shetty. The songs were relevant to the performance of Mithun Chakraborty
's character Pritam, who reflected on his past as a young mega hit disco dancer.
'Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja' and 'I am a Disco Dancer' are extremely popular in countries such as Mongolia and Uzbekistan.
1982 in film
-Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T...
Hindi-language Indian
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Babbar Subhash
Babbar Subhash
Babbar Subhash better known as B. Subhash, is a well known Indian film director and producer. Some of his most successful films are Disco Dancer, Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki, Dance Dance, Love Love Love, Adventures of Tarzan and Commando...
starring Mithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty is an Indian film actor, social activist, and entrepreneur, who has won three National Film Awards. He made his acting debut with the arthouse drama Mrigaya , for which he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor....
in lead role and Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
in a special appearance. The film tells the rags-to-riches story of a young street performer
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
. It is especially known for its filmi
Filmi
Filmi is Indian popular music as written and performed for Indian cinema. Music directors make up the main body of composers; the songs are performed by playback singers and it makes up 72% of the music sales in India....
disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
songs composed by Bappi Lahari, particularly "I am a Disco Dancer" and "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja".
The film was a worldwide success, with its popularity extending across Southern Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It was one of the most successful Indian films
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
in the Soviet Union, drawing an audience of 40 to 63 million viewers there. The film established Mithun as a household name in Southern Asia as well as the Soviet Union. In China, the film's soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
was a success and received a Gold Award
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
there.
Plot
Anil (Mithun ChakrabortyMithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty is an Indian film actor, social activist, and entrepreneur, who has won three National Film Awards. He made his acting debut with the arthouse drama Mrigaya , for which he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor....
), a street performer and wedding singer, is scarred by the memory of the rich P.N. Oberoi (Om Shivpuri
Om Shivpuri
Om Shivpuri was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films.A National School of Drama, New Delhi alumni, Om Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama Repertory Company and one of its actors; he later founded an important theatre group of its era, in...
) beating his mother (Gita Siddharth) in an incident during his childhood. When David Brown, the manager (Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
) of current Indian disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
champion Sam (Karan Razdan) is fed up and looks for some new talent, he happens across Anil who is dance-walking
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
down a street. Rebranded as "Jimmy", the rising disco star must take the throne from Sam and win the heart of Rita (Kim), P.N. Oberoi's daughter. All seems to be going well until Oberoi hires men to connect Jimmy's electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
to 5,000 volts of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, causing Jimmy's mother to die in a tragic accident. With his legs broken by Oberoi's goons and guitar phobia from the incident with his mother, Jimmy must claim first place for Team India at the International Disco Dancing Competition amidst strong competition from Team Africa and Team Paris.
Memorable quotes
- "Don't you know the difference between green room and bedroom?" - David Brown, Sam's manager, later Jimmy's manager
- "He's got guitar phobia. A guitar killed his mother." - P.N. Oberoi
- "Thirty six managers like you would appear upon just one of Sam's dance movements, but a star like Sam is born only once every two or four centuries." - Sam Oberoi to manager David Brown
- "Sam is the heartbeat of millions of girls. Now get out!" - Sam Oberoi
- "Mr. Oberoi, this is the man. The bastard's killed seven people in London. And there was a very famous singer... I don't know his name, but he murdered him too. The bastard's a top class criminal." - Vasco, to P.N. Oberoi
- "These are the tears of a popular famous artist." - Jimmy
- "Come, sing, and conquer!" - David Brown
- "Mother, I have my music. I will sharpen this music like a sword and stab the city's heart with it." - Jimmy
- "Oh! It is the most wonderful birthday, any young girl can dream of!" - Nikki Brown
- "Agar Tu Aaj Nahi Gaayega To Teri Maa Hamesha Hamesha Ke Liye Mar Jayegi" - Rajesh Khanna
- "Kaal ke liye intezaar karna shikho, kaal parsu nahin aayega, kaal hi aayega." - Rita (Kim) to Anil (Mithun)
Songs
The music for the movie was directed by Bappi LahiriBappi Lahiri
Bappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri , born 27 November 1952, is a music director in the Hindi film industry. He pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s with films like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi among others.-Early...
.
- Goron ki na kaalon ki: Suresh WadkarSuresh WadkarSuresh Ishwar Wadkar is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films.He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films and in Konkani.- Early life :...
& Usha MangeshkarUsha MangeshkarUsha Mangeshkar is an Indian singer who has recorded many Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati songs soundtracks.She is daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar & Shevanti . She is the younger sister of singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle and elder to her music-director brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar... - Auva auva - koi yahaan nache: Usha UthupUsha UthupUsha Uthup is a popular Indian pop, jazz and playback singer. She is well known for popular hits in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.She started her Bollywood playback career, when she sang an English verse in hit song, "Dum maro dum"" in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and went on work with music...
& Bappi LahiriBappi LahiriBappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri , born 27 November 1952, is a music director in the Hindi film industry. He pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s with films like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi among others.-Early... - Ae oh aa zara mudke: Kishore KumarKishore KumarKishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
- Krishna dharti pe aaja tu: Nandu BhendeNandu Bhende--Nandu Bhende,Singer/ Voice over Artiste/ Voice trainer/ Director of InSync Studios Pvt. Ltd, is considered to be one of the pioneers of Rock Music in Mumbai...
- I am a disco dancer: Vijay BenedictVijay BenedictVijay Benedict is an Indian former Bollywood playback singer who sang many songs for Bollywood films in the 1980s. He made his debut as a singer for the hit 1982 film Disco Dancer singing the popular title song "I Am a Disco Dancer" for actor Mithun Chakraborty. After this he was frequently used as...
- Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy aaja: Parvati KhanParvati KhanParvati Khan is a pop singer who sang the song "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" in the Bollywood movie Disco Dancer, which won a Gold Disc award. Later she also sang "Khula Thala Chod Aayi" after having won a nationwide talent contest in Trinidad...
- Yaad aa raha hai: Bappi LahiriBappi LahiriBappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri , born 27 November 1952, is a music director in the Hindi film industry. He pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s with films like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi among others.-Early...
Popular culture
In 1988, the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
produced a song called "Disco Dancer
Total Devo
Total Devo was the seventh studio album by American New Wave band Devo. It was released in 1988 . It was the first Devo album that was recorded without drummer Alan Myers, who was replaced by former Sparks drummer David Kendrick...
" inspired by the "I am a Disco Dancer" song from this film.
The British Sri Lankan alternative musician M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
re-recorded "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" as "Jimmy
Jimmy (song)
"Jimmy" is the second single from experimental electronica rap artist M.I.A.'s second album Kala , and her first single from the album in Japan...
" in 2007 for her album Kala
Kala
Kala may refer to:In Hinduism:*Kāla , a Sanskrit word for "time"*Kalā: 64 arts*Kala Bo, a Hindu consort goddess*Kirtimukha: a fierce guardian faceIn culture*Kala , a character in the Tarzan novels*Kala , a 2007 Indonesian film...
. The music of this song was also used in the 2008 Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
You Don't Mess with the Zohan is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, written by Carlito Cabardo, and produced by and starring Adam Sandler. This is the fourth film which has starred Sandler and has been directed by Dugan...
. There have also been cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja" from other international musicians, including the Russian techno
Russian techno
Russian techno has emerged late after the fall of the Iron Curtain, with the inflow of modern synthesizers and sophisticated sound mixing equipment - an area where the USSR was trailing significantly behind the West. Import of the new hardware defined the transition from VIAs - the...
group Ruki Vverh's 1998 hit "Jimmy" as well as the Tibetan artist
Music of Tibet
The music of Tibet reflects the cultural heritage of the trans-Himalayan region, centered in Tibet but also known wherever ethnic Tibetan groups are found in India, Bhutan, Nepal and further abroad...
Kelsang Metok.
In 2010, the songs "I am a disco dancer" and "Yaad aa raha hai" were used in the 2010 Bollywood comedy film, Golmaal 3
Golmaal 3
Golmaal 3 is a 2010 Bollywood comedy film directed by Rohit Shetty. A sequel to the 2008 film Golmaal Returns, the project stars most of the actors from the previous film, including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade. New additions to the cast include...
, directed by Rohit Shetty. The songs were relevant to the performance of Mithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty is an Indian film actor, social activist, and entrepreneur, who has won three National Film Awards. He made his acting debut with the arthouse drama Mrigaya , for which he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor....
's character Pritam, who reflected on his past as a young mega hit disco dancer.
'Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja' and 'I am a Disco Dancer' are extremely popular in countries such as Mongolia and Uzbekistan.