What’s the deal with item numbers in Indian/Pakistani movies?

To those who are vaguely familiar with Indian/Pakistani cinema. 99% of these movies include songs which are part of the plot. It is mostly associated with romantic movies where the hero and the heroine dance in different settings. The background and clothes change within the song. One thing remains common with most of them, the heroine is sexualized by wearing revealing clothes. What’s more ironic, ‘item number’ songs are included in some movies where the lead female, or a cameo by another actress does a half-naked dance with the weirdest lyrics.

I mean, what the hell?

Why is this still a thing?

I remember in 2010 when the movie Dabaang was released which made a lot of money in the box office. Being a Salman Khan movie which involves action, you cannot go wrong with a good plot but below-par action scenes. Dabaang had good songs, especially “Tere mast mast do nain,” sung by Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The song that really hit a chakka (sixer in desi cricket terms) was “Munni Badnam Huwi” where Malaika Arora dances half-naked with the movie’s villain and hero. The song is very catchy and makes you dance with the rhythm. It was big when it was released. It was all over the media and wedding festivities. I remember it was being played in a Pakistan-England ODI cricket match.

Munni Badnam Huwi translates to Munni got humiliated. Basically, a woman named Munni gets humiliated. The next line is “Darling Tere Liye” meaning “for you darling.”

Munni got humiliated for you darling.

I mean, what the hell?

The movie “Tees Maar Khan” was released in 2010. It too, had an item song starring Katrina Kaif called “Sheila Kee Jawani.” It goes like “Sheila! Sheila kee jawani. I’m too sexy for you. Main tere haath…” You get it. It translates to, “Sheila! Sheila’s youth. I’m too sexy for you. I’m not coming for you.” This song too was huge!

Munni Badnam Huwi and Sheila Kee Jawani were probably the most famous songs of that year. Not only do these songs objectify women, it shows that a Bollywood movie cannot be complete without a woman dancing half-naked to weird lyrics so that most of the male audience can get sexually aroused.

It’s not just Bollywood but in Pakistani movies, item songs are included. I remember watching a Pakistani movie called “Na Maloom Afraad” (2014) in theaters in Karachi. An intense scene took place in the movie where the protagonists destroy a bank along with others so they could get the insurance money. The scene immediately changes to an item song where Mehwish Hayat is dancing with the lyrics half-naked.

I mean, what the hell?

“Wrong No.” was released in 2015 which I watched in theaters with my friends in Karachi. It also had an item song where one of the lead actresses is dancing half-naked to the lyrics about selfies. What’s more surprising was that I heard women in the cinema room cheering for the song when it played an ended.

I mean, what the hell?

It seems that Indian and Pakistani movies cannot be made without item numbers or songs that feature women half-naked. It really depicts a misogynistic and sexist mindset of filmmakers in the subcontinent. Some would argue women wear revealing clothes in western movies or they have sex scenes. Fair enough! However, it’s not to the point where its getting the audience sexually aroused or every single western movie has a song or scene where she is dancing half-naked. Not to mention a woman is getting objectified on screen. I mean, item numbers are not a thing in western movies.

I remember watching a Bollywood movie in theaters with my friends in Karachi called “Phata Poster Nikhla Hero.” That song also had an item number. I remember when it was being played, I put my head down so I didn’t had to watch a woman dancing half-naked. My friends were looking at me with amusement.

Even as I write this blog and research the movie and songs to make sure my content is correct, my heart is pounding because I might look at the pictures on the internet. Plus, I couldn’t find a photo that had an item song where a woman’s belly was censored. So I chose the picture you see on top.

Filmmakers of the Indian Subcontinent need to stop putting item songs in movies or songs which have scenes where a woman’s body is revealing. Not only does it objectify women, it also shows a misogynistic and sexist mindset of filmmakers and audiences. There is a demand for item songs which is why they are being made.

Some would argue it’s art. It doesn’t necessarily have to include a half-naked woman.

That’s why some channels show the picture scene of the Titanic censored or do not show it at all.

I get it, western media objectifies women too. However, item songs objectify women in a more overt way.