BTC: Eena Meena Deeka

Popularized by singer/actor Kishore Kumar, “Eena Meena Deeka” is a highly addictive, nonsensical tune written for the 1957 film Aasha. It is noteworthy for being one of Hindi cinema’s very first rock n’ roll numbers. If something about the lyrics reminds you of the childhood limerick “Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe”, it’s with good reason: the words of the song were inspired by kids playing outside composer C. Ramchandra’s music room. Via Wiki:

Ramchandra and his assistant John Gomes were inspired to create first line of the song, “Eena Meena Deeka, De Dai Damanika”. Gomes, a Goan, added the words “Maka naka” (Konkani for “I don’t want”), and they kept on adding more nonsense rhymes till they ended with “Rum pum po!”

I’d never heard this alternate, feminine version until the lovely Mme Darla Teagarden posted it on her Facebook. It’s just as faboo as the Kumar version:

Phonetic lyrics after the jump.

Eena meena deeka, de dai damenika

maka naka naka, chika pika rika

Eena meena dika dika, de dai damo nika

Maka naka maka naka, chika pika rola rika

Rum pum po, rum pum po!

Dil de doo, hai koi lene wala

Aise vaise koh nahee dene wala

Suratiya hasin ho, umariya jawan ho

Koi bhee use dekhe toh bas yeh guman ho

Ya hee hey, ya hee hey, yahee toh hai woh

Yeh sharte toh badee hai jaruree

Jo koi karega inhe puree

Mai khushee khushee use yeh dil de dunga

Kasam kha raha hu, kee dam bhee naa lunga

Magar yeh kahunga, magar yeh kahunga, kya

Yahee hai yahee hai yahee toh hai woh

Mat socho kee sasta hai sauda, phal paye lagayega jo paudha

Dil kee yeh kyaree banegee phulvaree

Yeh duneeya jalegee, jalan kee hai maree

Hansegee hansegee hansegee meree pyaree

8 Responses to “BTC: Eena Meena Deeka”

  1. Nadya Says:

    I LOVE THIS SONG! It puts me in a good mood every time I hear it. It was one of my favorite songs on the mix CD you made me! I never knew that there was a version with female vocals, either. Definitely better than coffee!!

  2. Tequila Says:

    Never heard this song until today. I was clearly living in a dark lifeless world.

    I would totally clean to this. Dressed JUST LIKE THAT. I need to find a job that would let me get away with that.

  3. Stagger Leah Says:

    Am I the only one asking WHAT THE FUCK happened at the end of the female version?! Fire!!
    Besides that, totally awesome. I am now convinced you can’t listen to this song and not feel happy once it’s done.

  4. Leanne Says:

    It is a cute song :) But my all time fave for the feelgood factor and catchiness is still Ek Do Thin from Tezaab.

  5. Rex Says:

    Btw- that’s Kishore Kumar himself in the second version- wearing a burkha.

    @Leanne: Oh yeah- ‘Ek do teen’ (Hindi for ‘one two three’) was one of the biggest hits of the early 90s!!

  6. Nadya Says:

    The female version of this song did end on a note that left me feeling rather concerned.

  7. Mwezzi Says:

    I love this song! I went on a search for it as soon as I heard the female version in the background of a T.V. advert that currently plays here in the UK ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnKhlymHcu0 ).

  8. Slackety Pants Says:

    You’re the best girl in the world.