Dum Maro Dum (Hindi: दम मारो दम, "Puff, take a puff!") is an Indian Hindi song from the 1971 Bollywood film Hare Rama Hare Krishna. It was sung by Asha Bhosle and chorus.[1] The song was picturized on Zeenat Aman. It was written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Rahul Dev Burman. It has been remixed and sampled by many other artists.

"Dum Maro Dum"
Song by Asha Bhosle & Chorus
Released1971
RecordedMumbai, 1971
GenreFilm score, Filmi, Indian rock, Psychedelic rock, Raga rock
Length1:50
LabelSaregama India Ltd.
Composer(s)Rahul Dev Burman
Lyricist(s)Anand Bakshi

The song was a hit in the 1970s, and gained cult status in India.[2]

Personnel edit

The song was originally intended to be a duet, with Lata Mangeshkar singing for the "good girl", and Usha Iyer (later Usha Uthup) singing for the "bad girl".[3] However, due to some changes, the song ended up being a solo sung by Asha Bhosle. The sound aa..aa..aa.. at the end of each stanza is that of Usha Iyer, who also chants Hare Krishna Hare Rama with the chorus.

The song presented the lyricist Anand Bakshi as a versatile lyricist and shaped his career. It also boosted the composer Rahul Dev Burman's career. Bhupinder played the guitar for the song.[4] Charanjit Singh played the distinctive drone of the transichord that opens the song.[5]

Charts and reviews edit

The song topped the Binaca Geetmala annual list 1972. In Binaca Geetmala, a song could appear for a maximum of 18 weeks, after which it was called a Sartaj Geet. On 15 March 1972, Dum Maro Dum became a Sartaj Geet while it was at #1 payddan (position). It had remained at #1 position for 12 weeks.

Daniel Shiman, a reviewer wrote about the song, "It's a montage of creaking synthesizers, psychedelic guitars, and, of course, vocals nailed by Asha Bhosle in an ear-piercing exposition of sound."[2][6] Kishore Kumar once said that the song is powerful enough to bring a dead person to life.[7]

Cultural Influence edit

The song was featured in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005).[8]

Picturization edit

The song was picturized in Kathmandu. It shows Janice (Zeenat Aman) in her hippie attire, smoking cannabis or hashish and swaying under the effect of the herbs while hypnotically crooning the "Dum Maro Dum", encouraging one to 'take another toke'. She dances with a look of ecstasy on her face.

Later in the movie, Dev Anand replies to the song by singing Ram Ka Naam Badnaam Na Karo ("Do not desecrate the name of Rama"), sung by Kishore Kumar.

Other versions edit

The song has been remixed and sampled by a number of artists. It has also been included in many compilations. Dev Anand did not include the complete version of Dum Maro Dum in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, as he was worried the song would overshadow the film.[9]

Usha Uthup (who sang the song "I Love You" with Asha Bhosle in Hare Rama Hare Krishna) has performed the song many times. British DJ, San-j Sanj has used the infectious guitar hook and created a dance track featuring Natty A called "So Real So Right". DJ Ritu and Bally Sagoo compiled the song for their collection The Rough Guide to Bollywood in 2002. In 2004, the hip-hop artist Method Man sampled the song in his third album Tical 0: The Prequel, for the track "What's Happenin'" featuring Busta Rhymes.[10]

It was featured in the 2003 Bollywood movie Boom, where Zeenat Aman once again sings and dances to Dum Maro Dum. The song was re-recorded for the album You've Stolen My Heart (August 2005) by Kronos Quartet and Asha Bhosle. The album was a tribute to Rahul Dev Burman. The song was also featured in the soundtrack to the 2005 video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.[citation needed]

Dum Maro Dum has been covered by Soul Funk Band Botown on the album 'The Soul of Bollywood'. Like the original, Botown's version was recorded completely live. It builds on the original's psychedelic soul leanings with a hypnotic laid-back groove.[citation needed]

The song has recently been covered by Indian film enthusiasts "The Knockouts", from Luton, England, on their 4-track EP, The Remarkable Sounds of India. The Knockouts, who usually record lo-fi garage punk/surf instrumentals, have, for this release only, engaged the services of fellow Asha fan, Mick Sheridan, who has lived for several years in India.[citation needed]

The song has also been remixed as an item song and picturized on Deepika Padukone in the Hindi film Dum Maaro Dum.[citation needed]

The song has also been played in KGF (Chapter 1) Movie for Heroine introduction

In 2021, a version of the song was used as background score for the launch video of Apple iPhone 13.[11][12][13]

It was sampled in a Rap song entitled "Work All Day" by Footsie, which was used in the iPhone 13 launch video

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hare Rama Hare Krishna (soundtrack album, back cover). R.D. Burman. Dum Dum, India: Navketan Films. 1971. MOCE 4102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b "Dum Maro Dum - Hare Rama Hare Krishna". The Times Of India. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  3. ^ "It was Lata versus Asha over Dum Maro Dum!". rediff.com. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Bhupinder - Hauntingly 'Hummable'". Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  5. ^ Mohta, Ekta (9 January 2014). "The Accidental Pioneer Of Acid House". Man's World. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Soul Sides + "Office Naps = Soul Naps?". 1 October 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  7. ^ "Asha: 70 years, 70 landmarks". 8 September 2003. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  8. ^ (Firm), Rockstar Games (2006). Grand theft auto : Liberty city stories. Rockstar Games. OCLC 70787667.
  9. ^ Mini Anthikad-Chhibber (1 July 2003). "Beat poet". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Method Man sample of Dum Maro Dum". WhoSampled. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  11. ^ "'Dum Maaro Dum' at Apple Event! New iPhone 13 Ad Has The Tune of The RD Burman Song And Indian Twitterati Can't Keep Calm; Watch Video | 👍 LatestLY". LatestLY. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  12. ^ "'Dum Maaro Dum'-inspired iPhone launch video creates social media frenzy". Hindustan Times. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  13. ^ Introducing iPhone 13 | Apple, retrieved 15 September 2021
  14. ^ "Versatility, thy name is Asha Bhonsle". 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  15. ^ "Awards for Haré Raama Haré Krishna (1971)". IMDb. Retrieved 26 November 2006.

External links edit