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
September 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
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!!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
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.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
It is a cute song :) But my all time fave for the feelgood factor and catchiness is still Ek Do Thin from Tezaab.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:53 am
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!!
September 29th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
The female version of this song did end on a note that left me feeling rather concerned.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
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 ).
September 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
You’re the best girl in the world.