Vyjayanthimala on Mera Dil Yeh Pukare going viral

Nagin which was released in 1953 was a smash hit running in many theatres for more than a year. It catapulted the gorgeous Vyjayanthimala to overnight stardom.

“I was launched in Hindi in Bahar in 1951. But it was Nagin in 1953 which got me stardom. The songs composed by Hemant Kumar and sung for me by Lata Mangeshkar played a very big hand in the success of Nagin.

Audiences threw coins on the screen when the songs came on especially Mann Dole Mera Tann Dole . What a craze that song was!”

The legendary danseuse-actress is delighted by the sudden popularity of the Nagin song Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaja after a Pakistani girl (Ayesha Mano) was seen dancing to it.

“I think it is very important for the young generation to rediscover our classics or they will be forgotten. So many people are now searching for the film Nagin and listening to the songs,” says Vyjayanthimala whose films like Sangam, Sadhana, Saathi and Sangharsh were landmark achievements of Indian cinema.

Says the iconic actress fondly, “Lataji sang so many of my most popular dance numbers like Mann Dole in (Nagin), Abb Aage Teri Marzi (Devdas), Hothon Pe Aisi Baat (Jewel Thief), Neel Gagan Ki Chaon Mein (Amrapali), Muqabla Humse Na Karo (a dance competition on screen between Vyjayanthimala and Helen, Lataji sang for the former and Asha Bhosle for latter), Buddha Mil Gaya (Sangam) and Dhundo Dhundo Re Sajana (Ganga Jumna).”