Item songs or special songs became an added attraction to commercial films post 1965 in Indian Cinema. Before that special songs or performances used to target political movements or festive atmosphere in general.
Songs like Eruvaka Sagalroyi (Rojulu Marayi, 1951) could be mentioned as examples for such special songs in films. Comedians Relangi, Ramana Reddy, Rajababu, Allu Ramalingayya, Padmanabham, Chalam used to shine in them with young & upcoming actresses like Sharada, Rajasulochana or established comedian like Girija.
From 1965, these special songs became pure dance numbers that will add glamour to the proceedings when story slows down. Jyothi Lakshmi, Halam became top most dancers to shine in these songs.
In 1970's Jayamalini became such a sensation that without her song big commercial films used to look incomplete. She used to be a must have person in the casting in NTR films from 1974 - 1979.
Silk Smitha, Anuradha filled her place in 1980's and Silk Smitha took the craze for special songs or item numbers to such a range that just her hit song in any film could guarantee an opening and even better long run at some C centres.
Disco Shanthi also became famous due to the item numbers. Slowly directors started thinking about adding variety and they started asking lead actresses to dance in these numbers.
Soundarya did a song with Babu Mohan - "Chinuku Chinuku Andela" tho and did same with Ali too, in different films. Ramba, Indraja, Aamani danced with Nagarjuna in "Kanne pittaro Kannu Kottaro". Ramya Krishnan did "Chinnadi Amme Chikulu kabala" song in Simhadri.
When the trend seemed to vanish almost, Mumaith Khan became popular with "Ippati kinka Naa vayasu" song from Pokiri. Rajamouli again did a special song with three dancers in Yamadonga - "Young Yama" and in Baahubali The Beginning - "Manohari" songs.
The songs mentioned above have specialised dancers or actresses who couldn't really become popular as heroines in them. With their popularity demand for special songs grew and Hamsa Nandini, Laxmi Rai became popular even though their lead actress ambition did not get positive start.
Shriya Saran did special number in Tulasi and again lead actresses started getting many offers to star in such songs. Tamanna Bhatia, Kajal Aggarwal did such songs in Jai Lava Kusa and Janatha Garage, respectively.
Regina joined their club with "Saana Kashtam" from Acharya after Samantha Ruth Prabhu's sensational "Oo Antava Oo Antava" outing in Pushpa. For these songs, actresses are getting paid in crores too, almost like a full movie commitment.
At this pace, who can be next is left to your wildest guessing power!
Songs like Eruvaka Sagalroyi (Rojulu Marayi, 1951) could be mentioned as examples for such special songs in films. Comedians Relangi, Ramana Reddy, Rajababu, Allu Ramalingayya, Padmanabham, Chalam used to shine in them with young & upcoming actresses like Sharada, Rajasulochana or established comedian like Girija.
From 1965, these special songs became pure dance numbers that will add glamour to the proceedings when story slows down. Jyothi Lakshmi, Halam became top most dancers to shine in these songs.
In 1970's Jayamalini became such a sensation that without her song big commercial films used to look incomplete. She used to be a must have person in the casting in NTR films from 1974 - 1979.
Silk Smitha, Anuradha filled her place in 1980's and Silk Smitha took the craze for special songs or item numbers to such a range that just her hit song in any film could guarantee an opening and even better long run at some C centres.
Disco Shanthi also became famous due to the item numbers. Slowly directors started thinking about adding variety and they started asking lead actresses to dance in these numbers.
Soundarya did a song with Babu Mohan - "Chinuku Chinuku Andela" tho and did same with Ali too, in different films. Ramba, Indraja, Aamani danced with Nagarjuna in "Kanne pittaro Kannu Kottaro". Ramya Krishnan did "Chinnadi Amme Chikulu kabala" song in Simhadri.
When the trend seemed to vanish almost, Mumaith Khan became popular with "Ippati kinka Naa vayasu" song from Pokiri. Rajamouli again did a special song with three dancers in Yamadonga - "Young Yama" and in Baahubali The Beginning - "Manohari" songs.
The songs mentioned above have specialised dancers or actresses who couldn't really become popular as heroines in them. With their popularity demand for special songs grew and Hamsa Nandini, Laxmi Rai became popular even though their lead actress ambition did not get positive start.
Shriya Saran did special number in Tulasi and again lead actresses started getting many offers to star in such songs. Tamanna Bhatia, Kajal Aggarwal did such songs in Jai Lava Kusa and Janatha Garage, respectively.
Regina joined their club with "Saana Kashtam" from Acharya after Samantha Ruth Prabhu's sensational "Oo Antava Oo Antava" outing in Pushpa. For these songs, actresses are getting paid in crores too, almost like a full movie commitment.
At this pace, who can be next is left to your wildest guessing power!