Movie: This song appeared in 1994 Rajshri Productions’ super hit musical rom-com Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (Who am I to you?) directed by Sooraj Barjatiya. The movie starred Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Mohnish Bahl, Renuka Shahane, Alok Nath, Anupam Kher, late Reema Lagoo, Satish Shah, Himani Shivpuri, Sahila Chadha, etc.
Prem (Salman Khan) and Rajesh (Mohnish Bahl) live with their uncle Kailashnath (Alok Nath), post their parents’ death. Rajesh is in charge of the family business and his family is searching for a bride for him. Kailashnath finds out that Professor Siddharth Chaudhary (Anupam Kher) and his wife (Reema Lagoo) have an eligible daughter Pooja (Renuka Shahane). Pooja has a younger sister Nisha (Madhuri Dixit). Both the families arrange Rajesh and Pooja’s marriage. Rajesh and Pooja like each other from the first glance, one of the reasons is that both are painters. Since the beginning, Nisha and Prem keep bickering light-heartedly with each other.
Rajesh and Pooja’s engagement is announced and the wedding day dawns. There is a ritual in North Indian weddings of the bride’s sister hiding the shoes of the groom. Nisha and Prem fight for the shoes and eventually sing this song.
Song: The lyrics of this song were written by Ravindra Rawal and the music was scored by Raam-Lakshman. Lata Mangeshkar was not confident about the popularity of this song. But, she was convinced by the director and the music composer that it will be popular if she sang it and their prediction came true.
The man sings, “The sisters-in-law of the groom and the girls with green dupatta, give us the shoes and take the money.” The girl says, “Bride’s brother-in-law, don’t show us your attitude. Give us the money and take away the shoes.”
Video: Cinematography is by Rajan Kinagi. Dance has been choreographed by late Jay Borade.
The video opens with Salman Khan sitting on the shoulders of 2 men and throwing a green dupatta at someone. It falls on a shocked Madhuri Dixit. Some male dancers begin to dance as they flick their fingers. Salman Khan flicks his fingers in front of Madhuri Dixit as a challenge. The flicking of the fingers gives a momentum to the song.
Salman Khan begins to dance and Madhuri Dixit and others join him in the dance. Salman Khan sings loudly in Madhuri Dixit’s ear. Lakshmikant Berde dances on a chair. Salman Khan reminds him that the shoes are inside a wicker basket full of flowers. A girl picks up a garland from the basket and some part of the shoes are exposed.
Lakshmikant Berde sits on the basket to cover the shoes. Anupam Kher picks up some money from the pocket of Alok Nath, who catches him in the act. The Pomeranian drinks from a bottle of cold drink bottle of 2 little girls. The girls are shocked. It is clear that the dog has not consumed the drink, but someone human has, which is not-so-cleverly hidden by camera tricks.
Alok Nath is counting some money. Madhuri Dixit is tempted by the currency notes. This act of hers reminds me of Sridevi in Chaalbaaz! When Madhuri Dixit counts some money, Salman Khan pulls the currency notes out of her hands. Some girls are mock upset with this. Salman Khan returns to money to Alok Nath.
The guests are being served food by the family of the bride. Madhuri Dixit beckons all her seductive tactics to find the shoes. Salman Khan swallows a whole gulab jamun looking at her. Ajit Vachani tells Sahila Chadha to pick up a piece of white cloth from the floor. As she picks it up, the shoes are exposed.
Trying to get the shoes for themselves, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit play the game of dog and the bone! A little girl stumbles near Salman Khan and his attention is diverted. Madhuri Dixit takes this chance to catch hold of the shoes and run away. Salman Khan follows her bumping into people.
She runs all over the house especially the first floor jumping on beds and sitting near wash basins, etc. She throws a roller skate near him. They both fall on the bed, which breaks. Their proximity makes her aware of him. He gets up and helps her to get up too. He catches hold of her hand and tries to turn it behind her. He lets go of it immediately.
She smiles and runs to the main wedding rituals area. Among jubilations, Alok Nath gives her some money and she gives him the shoes immediately. But, she keeps turning to look at Salman Khan, who is still standing on the upper floor balcony. The music rises to a crescendo and the video ends there.
Artists: The playback of this song was sung by Kumar Sanu and Lata Mangeshkar and the onscreen performances are by Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Mohnish Bahl, Renuka Shahane, Alok Nath, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Bindu, Satish Shah, Himani Shivpuri, Ajit Vachani, Sahila Chadha and others.
Cultural Influence: This is a typically filmi song taking the traditional wedding rituals further. Though this is an acclaimed song supposedly depicting a wedding ritual, there is a covert inappropriateness in the lyrics. When the shoes are returned, it is the groom, who has to give the girls money and not the men belonging to the groom’s side. The artists are ok. The video is watchable for the same.
