A blast from the past

  What goes around comes around. And music is no different. Hits from the "good old days of Bollywood" have been reinvented with a new sound. Simply stated, they have been remixed. This post is dedicated to all the great mixes that have found favour with audiences the world over...

Chura Liya - Bally Sagoo: This track started off the trend called remixing that has since then earned a rather notorious reputation. Featuring a scantily-clad female model and a rather hunky male model, the immortal number (the original featured Zeenat Aman) paved the way for many to follow. This song also marked a rise in Sagoo's popularity all around the world.

Tu tu hai wohi - DJ Aqeel: A huge hit in Asia and the Middle East this song featured three models supposedly being part of an escort service! Needless to say, the video scandalised some and the models in the video faded into oblivion thereafter. The song however has become a cult classic.

Bin tere sanam - DJ Suketu: By the master himself, Bin tere sanam in its remixed version became a bigger hit than the original itself! Known for his instantly recognisable beats and his club sound, Suketu has been instrumental in creating many club hits for various films, including newer films that use remixed, club versions as a means of promotion and marketing.

Piya Tu - Leslie Lewis and Asha Bhonsle: Proving that she was in sync with the today's generation, Asha Bhonsle decided to create her own interpretations of old classics. After realising that most of the oldies that were being remixed belonged to her, she dove right in and created an album with Leslie "Lezz" Lewis dedicated to R D Burman. The video featuring a svelte Sonali Bendre who was a mannequin by day and real live beauty by night, was an interesting concept and created waves in the industry.

Raat baaki - DJ Akbar Sami: A hot video featuring top models added to this track's popularity at the clubs. Known for his thumping bass lines and smart disc work, Sami soon was called in to rework many film classics.

Flute Fantasy/Hero -DJ Nasha: This remix is one of the best instrumental remixes I've heard to date. An international icon, Nasha's remix found popularity as his signature track with the instantly recognisable flute strain.

Comments

[vik]

Good article. I have to disagree with you on an important point though.

I agree that with Chura Liya by Bally Sagoo gave him a following outside of the bhangra market. That being said he was by no means the person to start Hindi remixing.

There were dozens of people doing this and making it popular before he did (again in terms of Hindi remixes). In England, guys like Amit and Sanj, as well as various Canadian (DJ Jiten/ABC Productions/Sunshine etc.) & American DJ's had been producing very popular hindi remixes years before Bally moved from Punjabi remixes to Hindi.

I take nothing away from Bally as he was a true pioneer, however when it comes to Bally it was safe to say he was 'inspired' to do Hindi remixes after coming to North America and seeing what the guys here were doing first.

[Savia]

Hey Vik,

Point noted. Perhaps I phrased it incorrectly. What I intended to say was that remixes per se, became notorious after his single was released in India. And as far as the exposure in the South Asian sub continent was concerned, Sagoo was among the earlier ones to cash in on the trend. But you're absolutely right about the guys out West doing it earlier.

Thanks for your comments!