Ecstatic Gumnaam!
Back in the 1980's when WFMU had its public access TV show that Mark Rudolph put together, one of my favorite bits was the dance number clip from the 1966 Indian film Gumnaam. Masked dancers bug out and go completely apeshit to a totally high-energy, mutated surf number "Jan Pehechan-Ho" performed by Bollywood music legend Mohammed Rafi (though, as Michael Cudahy once pointed out to me, the band's drumkit in the film wields the name "Ted Lyons and His Cubs"). Eventually Terry Zwigoff used this song in his film Ghost World, where his counter-culture-immersed heroine Enid kicks off the flick by mirroring the film's dancers while watching the clip on TV. The song appeared in whole on the soundtrack, and as if that wasn't enough, WFMU's Rob Weisberg sang "Jan Pehechan-ho" (Real Audio) a few years back with the Hoof N' Mouth Sinfonia (WFMU's fundraiser finale in-house covers band comprised of staffers!) My wife still doesn't let me play "Jan Pehechan-ho" in the house because she had to listen to me practice the guitar line along with the stereo nonstop for three weeks (I blew it anyway when we actually performed it). Besides the grainy, nth-generation clip I have from WFMU-TV, I have yet to see a clear complete video version of this great number, but thanks to Turbanhead and WFMU friend (and fellow FMU blogger) James Allenspach, we have it in its full glory right here (mpg file, 55 MB).
I first saw it on a music video show that had The Cramps as co-hosts.
They brought that clip from their personal collection and insisted that they be allowed to play it.
I think it was in the mid-nineties. That might have been where lots of folks saw it for the first time.
Mohammed Rafi supplied the singing voice for most of Bollywood men for decades, an Indian friend once told me.
Posted by: Chardman | January 23, 2006 at 05:11 PM
Two things about this:
The DVD is widely available on mail order sites in a cheap print.
There are at least three other great songs.
1. A Beach Blanket Bingo-esque romp in the sand and waves with two beach balls held fetchingly by "Miss Kitty"
2. A beautiful duet by Miss Kitty and another character where they are "drunk" and singing, complete with hiccup duets.
3. A dream sequence where a cook in a hitler mustache, beatle wig and some kind of skirt humps statues, raps, and so much more. Flashing tiki eyes and smoke machines.
Aaargh, I love that film.
Posted by: Blind Uncle Gaspard | January 23, 2006 at 05:42 PM
I'm pretty sure that the full song is an extra on the Ghost World DVD, unless I'm making that up, which I might be.
Posted by: Chuck Jones | January 23, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Chuck's right. The full song is on the Ghost World DVD.
Posted by: Jon B | January 23, 2006 at 09:12 PM
Incredible. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Mike | January 24, 2006 at 12:06 AM
You can also rent "Gumnaam" at NetFlix,
the DVD I received had great color...a perfect dupe!
HERE -
http://tinyurl.com/dvojk
One should also be able to find "Gumnaam" at better Indian film emporiums
Other than the famous masked dancer scene, the rest of the film is kind of dull
in that "4-hour Indian film kind of way" - the other musical scenes definitely
don't hold a candle to that first blast of masked weirdness.
We should never forget that Lata Mangeshkar (who does the girl/women voices in "Gumnaam")
is easily the most recorded pop female vocalist in history...she's sung in 'em all
thanks!
Alexa
Posted by: Alexa | January 24, 2006 at 01:59 AM
Wayyyy back in the 90's in San Francisco, my girlfriend was in a band called the Heavenly Ten Stems (off-shoot of Job's Daughters/Thinking Fellers) and they performed this song (among other Western-influenced asian pop hits). Needless to say (although absolutely AMAZING!), the band did not last that long --but that's a whole 'nother story............
I do think some singles exist though.
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 24, 2006 at 08:31 AM
What a cool clip. I was geting dizzy just watching. It's fun to recognize this tune from somebody's show(s) on fmu. I'd like to believe that every song played on fmu has as cool a video.
Posted by: Brian C. | January 24, 2006 at 10:44 AM
Ditto on the heavenly ten stems--their version was jaw-droppingly good.
Posted by: squinchy | January 24, 2006 at 11:33 AM
a classic
Posted by: protogenes | January 24, 2006 at 11:50 AM
WFMU had a public access show? Do any copies of that still exist?
Posted by: brock | January 25, 2006 at 08:11 AM
A few years ago WFMU was offering (through the catalog of curiosities) two VHS cassettes of programming from the public access show. I believe the titles were "That's Irritainment" and "WFMU-TV." I bought both and enjoyed them mightily. You should ask someone at the station if copies are still available.
(I can't remember for the life of me if the "Jan Pehechan-ho" clip was included on either. I remember seeing the whole thing, but I could be remember seeing it on the Ghost World DVD, which I also own).
Posted by: James | January 25, 2006 at 03:53 PM
It's on Ebay as a BUY IT NOW for 10 bucks. They have 98 copies. YAY.
Posted by: Batfatty | January 25, 2006 at 06:22 PM
Breathtaking. Years ago, beset by insomnia, I staggered out to the living room to channel-surf. I had on one of the public-access channels, and suddenly, there was WFMU TV. Prior to that moment, I had been unaware of its very existence, and I still have never seen it again. I remember only two things clearly: a Subgenius spot and this landmark clip. I have always held it in my mind as "that Bollywood rock & roll number", though of course it was to be years more before I became acquainted with the term "Bollywood". Truth be told, until this week, I had occasionally wondered if I hadn't dreamed the whole experience. Watching it now, I find that it completely defies description. Thanks from a humble pop culture junkie for digging this gem up.
Posted by: Parq | January 25, 2006 at 11:27 PM
The original movie Gumnaam is well worth the money despite it being way too long. They could have edited out about one hour of movie without ruining anything. In any case, most of the other musical numbers in the movie are equally great, especially one of the dance numbers on the beach, plus the completely out-of-control dance number that features tikki-island statues, a set that looks like it's Greek, and one of the main actresses dressed in a red devil costume. Oh, and not to forget, the main actor in that scene (as in the whole movie) spots a Hitler moustache. Now THAT is not to be missed.
Posted by: JM Colberg | January 30, 2006 at 11:51 AM
My heads still shakin' after watching this crazy great clip. Brilliant. Thanks!
Posted by: X Offender | June 29, 2006 at 01:09 PM
I got some of the other songs from Gumnaam
wicked stuff!
esp the rain songs - a duet on the main 2 actors
Posted by: Sharad | July 01, 2006 at 02:07 AM
I've been looking for a better quality to download and found this. Its better quality but also cropped. :( Email me if somone has a better one.
http://web.mit.edu/download/yelya/www/music/Mohammed%20Rafi%20-%20Jaan%20Pehechaan%20Ho.mpg
Posted by: Humanfly | July 16, 2006 at 01:02 AM
The entire video is on the Ghost World DVD - just rented it...beautiful!
Posted by: Pinkus | July 25, 2006 at 08:30 PM
another nice one by rafi http://youtube.com/watch?v=YtL8qbYhVMo
Posted by: sv | February 03, 2007 at 01:00 AM
I first heard "Jan Pehechan Ho" covered by Heavenly Ten Stems and played by our own Douglas Wolk right here.
My excellent girlfriend and I put the video on after coming home from the bar the other night and tried to dance along with those groovy kids all the ay through. I'm not sure we succeeded, but it sure is fun. Give it a try.
Posted by: PFB[nj] | February 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM