I HAVE come to realise that Bollywood films have played an important role in the lives of most Guyanese people, especially those of us who grew up watching movies. I am sure if you ask any avid movie-watcher in Guyana, they will tell you that, yes, Bollywood did have a presence in our lives when we were growing up, even though we all gave up on the Indian film industry in the end. The beauty and the eternal sense of joy that radiates from Bollywood end up feeling superficial against the stark contrast of our lives. Maybe we stop believing in the fantasy that these movies present. Maybe with growing up comes an awareness of what is true and what is not, and maybe we decide to come to terms with our reality by removing the fantasy of Bollywood. Maybe the fantasy is replaced – and the song and dance clichés give way to new mechanisms (alcohol, sex, etc.) that help to tide over the gloom in our lives as we enter adulthood.

Whatever the case is, there are memories of Bollywood films that we inevitably end up recalling as we go through the many motions of our daily lives, and then there are days when the reverse happens – when a song or scene from a film reminds you of a moment spent with friends or loved ones. For example, whenever I hear the name ‘Anjali’ I automatically think of Karan Johar’s seminal ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ and every Phagwah I just need to hear the melodies of ‘Rang Barse’ or ‘Balam Pichkari’ or ‘Holi Aayi Re Kanhai’ or any of the other popular Holi songs on the streets when I head out. Even movies and songs that were not so well-received, or not so famous can make an impact. When I was in second form, for example, ‘Neal ‘n’ Nikki’ was beloved by all of the students in my class, and as a child, I was convinced that I would only find true love if my soulmate and I ended up as castaways on a lost and beautiful island like Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel did in ‘Kaho Naa Pyar Hai.’

There are times, also, when Bollywood movies and, more often, specific songs from the movies, manage to carve out particular niches within the Guyanese consciousness where they are seemingly meant to exist forevermore. For example, ‘Suhaani Raat’ from the 1949 film, ‘Dulari,’ holds a special place in the hearts of many of the older folks, but the song is specifically important to the early students of Queen’s College (QC). I have met alumni from the school who speak of the music as being timeless and so relevant to the spirit of the school in their time that it transcended all social barriers, including race.

Another song that holds a unique niche in Guyana, though one that is far removed from ‘Suhaani Raat’ and its relationship to QC, is ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ from the 1980 film, ‘Qurbani,’ which starred Feroz Khan, Vinod Khanna, and Zeenat Aman. ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is most often played at parties (weddings, birthdays, nine days, etc.), bars, and rum-shops. Those elements, rich with the atmosphere of joy, unfettered freedom, dancing bodies, and the laughter and chatter of friends, family, and relatives are exactly the avenues that have kept this particular song playing throughout the many years since 1980 and they are also the ones that will keep the song going for a very long time.

Now, what is interesting about ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is the many contradictions, that most people remain unaware of, that come with it. It is mostly played along with imbibing and dancing, but there are many people who enjoy the song, myself included, on its own, as an excellent piece of disco/pop even when removed from the party setting. To add to the somewhat racy reputation of the song, we also have the music video that was coupled with it in the film. Whenever ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is played, undoubtedly the first image that comes to mind is the legendary actress, Zeenat Aman (in her late twenties at the time), wearing a flower in her hair and the now-iconic red dress with the cut-outs at the sides, lip-syncing to the song on stage in the film. This clip, featuring a glamorous, brave, and sexy actress who was far ahead of her time, crooning sultrily might have even been considered bold or risqué by the more close-minded back in the day, and I assure you, if there is one Bollywood actress that the older gentlemen can immediately identify, it would be Zeenat Aman in that red dress, with the red lipstick on, and the red flower in her hair.

Here’s the thing that makes all of this interesting, though, ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is a song to dance to and it is a very sensual song, and many a couple have used it as an excuse to get close to each other on the dancefloor over the years. The great irony involved here, however, is the fact that ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ originated from beginnings that were neither sultry nor provocative. Although Zeenat Aman lip-synced to the song (as most Bollywood actors do), ‘Aap Jaisa Koi,’ was sung actually by a 15-year-old schoolgirl, from Pakistan. I wonder how many Guyanese people would be shocked if presented with this information. How much work would be needed to strip the sultriness and the beauty of Zeenat Aman from the song to reveal its innocent beginnings?

Nazia Hassan, now regarded as one of the most successful pop stars from Pakistan and often referred to as the “Queen of Pop,” was only 15 years old when she lent her voice to the song. Her vocals – mellow, rich, and velvety – would become known all across the world with ‘Aap Jaisa Koi,’ her first recorded song.

I find this irony involved in a song sung by a child from such a conservative country becoming such a classic rum-shop/party song in Guyana to be fascinating. Perhaps there is a lesson here regarding what gets lost in a lip-sync, or maybe the lesson is about the talent that was Nazia Hassan, that she managed to sing so well at such a young age that she captured and maintained the attention of generations of people from all across the world with her very first song. She became the youngest ever winner of a Filmfare Award when she won for Best Female Playback singer for ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ at age 15. In an interesting Guyanese/Caribbean/Indian connection, for that same award, she was up against the famous Kanchan, who began as a singer in India and was also nominated at the same Filmfare Awards ceremony for performing another iconic song, ‘Laila O Laila’ (also pictured on Zeenat Aman and from the same film, ‘Qurbani’).

Nazia Hassan died at the young age of 35. After ‘Aap Jaisa Koi,’ she became one of the biggest pop stars in South Asia. At the height of her career, she gained degrees in Economics and Law, at universities in London, got married and had a child, and apart from her music was also known for also being very philanthropic. Her beauty, her long black hair, her scarf, and her unique voice made her an icon. I like to think that, as an adult, she would have enjoyed the idea of people wining and dancing and holding on to each other in tight hugs, smiling, singing along, laughing, or sometimes even crying, as they moved with their loved ones in time to a song that she sang when she was just a young girl who had been given her first shot at stardom.