EssieYates77210 at 14:57, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T14:57:58Z

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{{Short description|Indian movie song}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{for|the 2010 film|Kajraare}}
{{Infobox song|
|
| name = Kajra Re
| cover = Aishwarya With Abhishek.jpg
| alt =
| caption = [[Aishwarya Rai]] along with [[Abhishek Bachchan]] and [[Amitabh Bachchan]] (not pictured) appeared in ''Kajra Re'' song
| type = song
| artist = [[Alisha Chinai]], [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Javed Ali]]
| album = [[Bunty Aur Babli]] soundtrack
| released = 2005
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Ghazal]], [[Qawwali]], [[filmi]]
| length = 8:04 (soundtrack album)<br> 7:50 (music video)
| label = <div style="white-space: nowrap;">[[Yash Raj Films|Yash Raj Music]]</div>
| language = [[Hindustani language|Hindi-Urdu]]
| composer = [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]]
| lyricist = [[Gulzar (lyricist)|Gulzar]]
| producer = [[Aditya Chopra]]<br>[[Yash Chopra]]
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = song
| file = Kajra Re.ogg
| description = Kajra Re
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|4dsFQFCvVGU&vl|Kajra Re}}|type=song}}
}}

'''Kajra Re''' ({{translation|[[Kohl (cosmetics)|Kohl]]-like dark (eyes)}})<ref>[http://www.bollywhat.com/lyrics/bunt_lyr.html#4 Lyrics to "Kajrare"] from bollywhat.com</ref> is a song composed by [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]], written by [[Gulzar (lyricist)|Gulzar]] and sung by the [[playback singer]]s [[Alisha Chinai]], [[Shankar Mahadevan]] and [[Javed Ali]]. It is from the 2005 film ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]'', starring [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Abhishek Bachchan]] and [[Rani Mukerji]]. [[Aishwarya Rai]] plays a courtesan trying to express her desires to attract the male, or her client.<ref name="Oxford University Press">{{cite book|last1=Beaster-Jones|first1=Jayson|title=Bollywood Sounds: The Cosmopolitan Mediations of Hindi Film Songs|date=9 October 2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199993482|pages=2–4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=238ZBQAAQBAJ|accessdate=21 September 2017}}</ref> It features Amitabh and Abhishek at a nightclub and Aishwarya Rai, making a special appearance in the film, sings for Amitabh while ignoring Abhishek's approaches. Amitabh eventually joins Abhishek and Aishwarya in the singing and dancing.

==Production and development==
''Kajra Re'' is inspired from a folk song from the [[Braj]] region, in which the celebrated dark eyes are [[Krishna]]'s. The song originated in [[Vrindavan]] and is traditionally attributed to the ''Rasik Saint'' '''Shri Haridas Baba'''. Over time, it was transmitted through informal performances and adaptations, eventually gaining recognition beyond its original religious and regional context.

The words "''Tujhse milna Purani Dilli mein...''" ("''...meet you in [[Old Delhi]]''") have been rendered by Amitabh Bachchan. It was a very famous "[[item number]]" from the movie ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]''. Uncommon to other "item numbers", the music was influenced by the genre of [[kajari]].<ref name="Oxford University Press" /> The trio have used [[sitar]] to make it sound more Indian. Amitabh Bachchan, after initially hearing the song, demanded a few changes, but the director, [[Shaad Ali]], and producer, [[Aditya Chopra]], convinced him against them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2006/03/24/1104/index.html |title="I have to compliment Himesh. If we have 2 hits a year, he has 20" - Ehsaan |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=2006-03-24 |accessdate=2011-06-28 }}{{dead link|date=July 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The song was composed in half a day. Alisha was chosen for the female vocals since her anglicized accent was meant to provide an essentially different intonation.<ref name="redifftop">{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/10songs1.htm |title=rediff.com: 2005's Top 5 |publisher=Specials.rediff.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-28}}</ref>

==Reception and impact==
The melody of this song was used as the main method to promote the film and the soundtrack.<ref name="Oxford University Press"/> The song became extremely popular among the masses<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/255081.aspx |title=HindustanTimes-Print |publisher=Hindustantimes.com |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2011-06-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022025859/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/255081.aspx |archivedate=2012-10-22 }}</ref> and was hugely successful on Indian music charts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/calcutta-times/Second-coming/articleshow/1154707.cms |title=Second coming - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2005-06-28 |accessdate=2011-06-28}}</ref> The [[Hindustan Times]] described it as "the reinvention of the qawwali by Shankar-Ehsaan-Roy and Gulzar" and called it "the [[Item song|item number]] of the decade."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/From-Melody-to-Dev-D/Article1-492354.aspx |title=From Melody to Dev D |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2009-12-31 |accessdate=2011-06-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204160308/http://www.hindustantimes.com/From-Melody-to-Dev-D/Article1-492354.aspx |archivedate=2010-12-04 }}</ref> ''Kajra Re'' featured on top in ''[[Rediff]]''{{'}}s 2005's list of top 5 songs.<ref name="redifftop"/>

It was voted as the song of the year by three radio stations, including [[Lotus FM]], a station popular among the [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian diaspora]] in [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/jan/05kajra.asp |title='Kajra Re' voted song of the year in South Africa - bollywood news |publisher=glamsham.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-28}}</ref> The song was also featured in ''[[Caminho das Indias]]'', a marathon telenovela that ran on [[Brazil]]'s popular [[Rede Globo]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/radio-and-tv/article518537.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=An Indian in Brazil | date=2010-07-17}}</ref> The track was featured in [[Hindustan Times]]' ''Songs of the Century'', which deemed it to be the "undisputed item song of the decade."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Music/Songs-of-the-Century/Article1-903152.aspx|accessdate=2012-08-20|title=Songs of the Century|work=Hindustan Times|date=2012-08-20|quote=undisputed item song of the decade.|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804001103/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Music/Songs-of-the-Century/Article1-903152.aspx|archivedate=2012-08-04}}</ref>

==Music video==
Before the song sequence, Amitabh Bachchan, playing a cop in the movie, relates his story of unrequited love in the city of [[Delhi]] to Abhishek Bachchan (his real-life son who plays a criminal pursued by the cop), which is later alluded to in the song. Aishwarya Rai's character, a bar girl, sympathizes with Amitabh's character and plays courtesan. The dance, choreographed by [[Vaibhavi Merchant]], features Aishwarya in a [[brocade]] ''[[choli]]'' and dipped ''[[Lehenga|ghagra]]'', [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]], and some [[lip gloss]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2005/09/06/691/index.html |title=An item number without makeup! |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=2005-09-06 |accessdate=2011-06-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116011458/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2005/09/06/691/index.html |archivedate=2009-01-16 }}</ref>

==Awards==
[[Alisha Chinai]] won the 2005 [[Filmfare Best Female Playback Award]], 2005 [[MTV Immies]] for the "Best Female Singer" and the 2005 [[Bollywood Movie Award - Best Playback Singer Female]] for the song, while [[Gulzar]] collected the best lyricist award in almost all major award functions including the [[IIFA Award for Best Lyricist|IIFA]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Filmfare]] Awards, for the song. [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan]] won the award for the "Best Performance In A Song - Female" at the 2005 [[MTV Immies]].

[[Vaibhavi Merchant]] won the following awards:
*[[IIFA Best Choreography Award]]
*Zee Best Choreography Award
*[[Star Screen Awards]] - Best Choreography
*Apsara Best Choreography Award

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Songs written for Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Songs with music by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]]
[[Category:2005 songs]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Gulzar]]
[[Category:Shankar Mahadevan songs]]
[[Category:Alisha Chinai songs]]
[[Category:Qawwali songs]]
[[Category:Songs in Urdu]]
[[Category:Songs about prostitutes]]
[[Category:Ghazal songs]]
[[Category:Songs about criminals]]
[[Category:Songs about police officers]]
[[Category:Delhi in fiction]]
[[Category:Filmi songs]]
[[Category:Caminho das Índias]]

Kajra Re - Revision history

EssieYates77210 at 14:57, 8 March 2026