{{short description|Musical performance in Indian cinema}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} In Indian cinema, an '''item number''' or '''special song''' is a musical number inserted into a film that may or may not have any relevance to the plot. The term is commonly used within Indian films (Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu cinema) to describe a catchy, upbeat, often provocative dance sequence performed in a movie.<ref name="Definition">[http://www.cylive.com/viewContent.do?id=351&vt=pub Journals : Item number defined] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407174943/http://www.cylive.com/viewContent.do?id=351&vt=pub |date=7 April 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatt |first=Bhavyata |date=2024-10-24 |title=How Bollywood item songs have devolved, lost the plot over the years |url=https://thefederal.com/films/how-bollywood-item-songs-have-devolved-and-lost-the-plot-over-the-years-152012 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=thefederal.com |language=en}}</ref> These sequences predominantly feature glamorous female performers, commonly referred to as '''item girls''', whose appearance, movements, and attire are designed to attract visual attention and heighten the sensual appeal of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FB |date=2018-01-14 |title=A brief history of Bollywood item numbers |url=https://flashbackbollywood.in/2018/01/14/bollywood-item-numbers-helen-bindu-malaika/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Flashback Bollywood |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Jacqueline Fernandez in Bollywood Showstoppers 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|Jacqueline Fernandez, one of the popular performers of item numbers in Indian cinema]] Such item numbers are strongly associated with the objectification of women on screen, where the female body becomes the central spectacle rather than the narrative itself. The main aim of an item number is to entertain movie-goers and to lend support to the marketability of the film by being featured in trailers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India celebrates RRR’s Naatu song making history at Golden Globes |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/11/india-celebrates-rrrs-naatu-song-making-history-at-golden-globes |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This star wife was once an item girl in films, changed her Muslim name to..., now the CEO of a company, her husband is... |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/this-star-wife-was-once-an-item-girl-in-films-changed-her-muslim-name-dilnawaz-sheikh-to-now-the-ceo-of-a-company-her-husband-is-sanjay-dutt-maanayata-dutt-7542793/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.india.com |language=en}}</ref> They are favoured by filmmakers as they afford the opportunity to pick potential hit songs from the stocks, since they do not add to the continuity of the plot.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Rakhi Sawant, through the years |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/visualstories/entertainment/rakhi-sawant-through-the-years-189578-25-11-2024 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.indiatoday.in |language=en}}</ref> It is thus a vehicle for commercial success that ensures repeat viewing.<ref name="Globalization">{{cite book |last=Bhattacharya Mehta |first=Rini |title=Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora |year=2010 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-833-0 |page=42 |author2=Rajeshwari Pandharipande}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=Kangana Ranaut says she fought against item numbers, started parallel feminist cinema |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/kangana-ranaut-says-she-fought-against-item-numbers-started-parallel-feminist-cinema-2589340-2024-08-28 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-01 |title=While Bollywood Is Apparently All For Women Empowerment, It's Still Obsessed With 'Item Number' |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/while-bollywood-is-apparently-all-for-women-empowerment-it-is-still-obsessed-with-item-numbers-374806.html |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-11 |title=Ali Zafar on item numbers in Bollywood: No harm in it if it doesn’t objectify women |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ali-zafar-teefa-in-trouble-bollywood-item-songs-5255081/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
A distinctive feature of the item number is its construction around the visual and sensual appeal of its lead performer. An actress, singer, or dancer—especially someone poised to become a star—who appears in an item number is popularly referred to as an '''item girl'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-07 |title=Mehbooba Mehbooba to Tauba Tauba: Makers on evolution of item songs |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/mehbooba-mehbooba-to-tauba-tauba-makers-on-evolution-of-item-songs-2594277-2024-09-07 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> While male performers known as '''item boys'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Rakhi Sawant, through the years |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/visualstories/entertainment/rakhi-sawant-through-the-years-189578-25-11-2024 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.indiatoday.in |language=en}}</ref> occasionally feature in such sequences, the phenomenon remains overwhelmingly associated with women, who are far more frequently cast in these roles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India celebrates RRR’s Naatu song making history at Golden Globes |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/11/india-celebrates-rrrs-naatu-song-making-history-at-golden-globes |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>
In colloquial filmi slang used in Mumbai, the term ''item'' itself often implies a "sexy woman", reinforcing the view that the female body is the intended spectacle in these numbers, complemented by racy visuals and suggestive lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=Kangana Ranaut says she fought against item numbers, started parallel feminist cinema |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/kangana-ranaut-says-she-fought-against-item-numbers-started-parallel-feminist-cinema-2589340-2024-08-28 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-01 |title=While Bollywood Is Apparently All For Women Empowerment, It's Still Obsessed With 'Item Number' |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/while-bollywood-is-apparently-all-for-women-empowerment-it-is-still-obsessed-with-item-numbers-374806.html |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-11 |title=Ali Zafar on item numbers in Bollywood: No harm in it if it doesn’t objectify women |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ali-zafar-teefa-in-trouble-bollywood-item-songs-5255081/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> [[File:12 Nathalia Department - Flickr - rgvzoomin.jpg|thumb|upright|Actress Nathalia Kaur performing an item number in the film ''Department'' (2012)]]
==History== ===1930s{{ndash}}1970s=== Up to the 1970s, Hindi cinema often relied on a female "vamp" character – usually playing the role of a cabaret dancer, ''tawaif''/prostitute/courtesan, or male gangster's moll – to provide musical entertainment deemed more risqué. While film heroines also sang and danced, it was the vamp who wore more revealing clothes, smoked, drank, and sang sexually suggestive lyrics.<ref name="Communalism">{{cite book |last=Morey |first=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/alternativeindia00more |title=Alternative Indias: writing, nation and communalism |author2=Alex Tickell |publisher=Rodopi |year=2005 |isbn=90-420-1927-1 |editor=Peter Morey and Alex Tickell |page=[https://archive.org/details/alternativeindia00more/page/n259 221], 178 |url-access=limited}}</ref> The vamp was portrayed as immodest rather than evil, and her dance performances were sexualized by male producers. The trend was started by Cuckoo in films like ''Awaara'' (1951), ''Aan'' (1952) and ''Shabistan'' (1951).<ref name="filmonomics">{{cite web |url=http://www.pixelonomics.com/bollywood-item-numbers-monica-to-munni/ |title=Bollywood item numbers: from Monica to Munni |year=2010 |access-date=16 November 2010 |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722184028/http://www.pixelonomics.com/bollywood-item-numbers-monica-to-munni/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Item numbers had been featured in Bollywood from as early as the 1930s. Azoorie in the 1930s often performed item numbers; Cuckoo was the next popular item dancer in the late 40s. Her banner year was 1949 when she was featured in over 17 films performing dances. Actress and classical dancer Vyjayanthimala was the one that introduced the classical dance number in Hindi films with her debut film ''Bahar'' (1951). The mixture of classical plus contemporary was popularized by Vyjayanthimala in films such as ''Devdas'' (1955), ''Amrapali'' (1966), ''Madhumati'' (1958), ''Sadhna'' (1958), Sunghursh (1968) etc.
In the early 50s, Cuckoo introduced the Anglo-Burmese Helen as a chorus girl. In time Helen would come to be the most popular vamp of the late-50s, 60s and 70s,<ref name="Global Bollywood">{{cite book |last=Anandam P |first=Kavoori |title=Global Bollywood |year=2008 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=978-0-8147-4799-5 |page=187}}</ref> having had performed in scores of item numbers including such popular songs as "Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo" from the film ''Howrah Bridge'' (1958), "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" from ''Caravan'' (1971), "Mehbooba Mehbooba" from ''Sholay'' (1975), "Yeh Mera Dil" from ''Don'' (1978) (the song's tune was used in Don't Phunk with My Heart), "O Haseena Zulfon Wali" from ''Teesri Manzil'' and "Aa Jaane Jaan" from ''Intaqam''. In films like ''Gunga Jumna'' and ''Zindagi'' the actress performed semi-classical Indian dances in songs like "Tora man bada paapi" and "Ghungarwa mora chham chham baaje". A ''desi'' bar number, "Mungda" from ''Inkaar'' was also immensely popular. In addition to her skillful dancing, her anglicised looks too helped further the vamp image.<ref name="revamp">{{cite news |last=Mukherjee |first=Madhurita |title=Revamping Bollywood's sexy vamps |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Revamping-Bollywoods-sexy-vamps-/articleshow/36310778.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103220911/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-03/news-interviews/27281535_1_cinema-special-appearance-shamita-shetty |url-status=live |archive-date=3 November 2012 |access-date=12 November 2010 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=3 February 2003}}</ref> Helen's dominance pushed other vying item number dancers like Madhumati, Bela Bose, Laxmi Chhaya, Jeevankala, Aruna Irani, Sheela R. and Sujata Bakshi into the background and less prestigious and low budget B-movies.
In the early part of the 1970s, actresses Jayshree T., Bindu, Aruna Irani and Padma Khanna entered into what was Helen's monopoly. Another noted feature of this era was the "tribal and ''banjara''" item numbers such as the one in ''Shalimar''. Such songs provided the necessary settings for the lead couple's love to bloom.<ref name="bourgeois">{{cite book |last=Deshpande |first=Anirudh |title=Class, Power And Consciousness In Indian Cinema And Television |year=2009 |publisher=Primus Books |isbn=978-81-908918-2-0 |page=49}}</ref>
===1980s{{ndash}}1990s===
Silk Smitha was part of several successful Item dance numbers in the 1980s Indian films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=K |first=Janani |date=2 December 2020 |title=Who was Silk Smitha? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/who-was-silk-smitha-1745997-2020-12-02 |access-date=26 July 2021 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726064246/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/who-was-silk-smitha-1745997-2020-12-02 |url-status=live }}</ref> Around the 1980s the vamp and the heroine merged into one figure and the lead actress had begun to perform the bolder numbers. The craze for "tribal and ''banjara''" item numbers were soon gave way to slick choreography.<ref name="bourgeois"/> In the late 1990s, with the proliferation of film songs based television shows, film producers had come to realise that an exceptional way to entice audiences into theaters was by spending excessively on the visualization of songs. Hence regardless of the theme and plot, an elaborate song and dance routine involving spectacularly lavish sets, costumes, special effects, extras and dancers would invariably be featured in a film. It was asserted that this contributed highly to the film's "repeat value".<ref name="Ganti">{{cite book |last=Ganti |first=Tejaswini |title=Bollywood: a guidebook to popular Hindi cinema |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-28853-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bollywoodguidebo0000gant/page/86 86, 167] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bollywoodguidebo0000gant/page/86}}</ref>
Madhuri Dixit is often considered to be the pioneer of the modern trend. In the late 1980s, the song "Ek Do Teen" was added to the movie ''Tezaab'' as an afterthought, but it transformed Dixit and made her a superstar.<ref name="Ganti"/> Her partnership with choreographer Saroj Khan has resulted in numerous hits including the controversial "Choli Ke Peeche Kya hai" and "Dhak Dhak Karne Laga" (''Beta'').<ref name="saroj khan">{{cite news |last=Bhattacharya |first=Roshmila |title=Our heart goes ''dhak dhak'' again |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Our-hearts-go-dhak-dhak-again/Article1-629156.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127023112/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Our-hearts-go-dhak-dhak-again/Article1-629156.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2010 |access-date=29 November 2010 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=21 November 2010}}</ref> Soon after the release of the film ''Khal Nayak'', there were press reports stating that people were seeing the film again and again but only for the song "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" that featured Dixit.<ref name="Ganti"/>. Actress Sridevi had performed her most famous number in the song "Kate Nahin Kat Te" from the film ''Mr. India''.
Although there have been many songs that fit the descriptions of item numbers in the early and mid-1990s, the term itself was coined when Shilpa Shetty danced for "Main Aai Hoon UP Bihar Lootne" in the movie ''Shool''. This is perhaps the first time the media actually referred to Shetty as an "item girl" and the scene as an "item number".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdySdhZAvh4&feature=feedu |url-status=dead |title=Latest Bollywood News — Top 5 Trends That Gripped Bollywood |via=YouTube |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=11 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111073548/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdySdhZAvh4&feature=feedu}}</ref> In 1998 Urmila Matondkar featured in the song "Chamma Chamma" in the 1998 film ''China Gate''.
===2000s=== Abhishek Bachchan became the first "item boy" with his performance in ''Rakht''. Shah Rukh Khan performed an item number of sorts during the opening credits of ''Kaal'' but later had an item number in a truer sense of the word with "Dard-e-disco" in ''Om Shanti Om'', where he was shot in a more typical "item girl" manner, with Khan wearing minimal clothing (though this number did have a connection, albeit tenuous, with the plot of the film). In ''Krazzy 4'', Hrithik Roshan has an item number during the end credits. Ranbir Kapoor made his debut in an item number in ''Chillar Party'' (2011), drawing inspiration from his father Rishi Kapoor's Qawwali song "Parda Hai Parda" from ''Amar Akbar Anthony''. In 2005 and 2006 actress Bipasha Basu gave blockbuster hit numbers like "No Entry" and "Beedi Jalaile".
After Bachchan, the "item boy" trend was reused by Dev in Bengali cinema, who did a cameo with the song "Pante Taali" in the film ''Chirodini...Tumi Je Amar'' (2008). He also established his image of a "dancing star" with popular dance numbers - "Bhojo Gourango" in ''Challenge'' (2009), "Le Paglu Dance" in ''Bolo Na Tumi Aamar'' (2009), "Pyarelal" in ''Dui Prithibi'' (2010), "Khokababu Jay" in ''Shedin Dekha Hoyechilo'' (2010), "Lady Killer Romeo" in ''Romeo'' (2011), "Dance Maare Khokababu" in ''Khokababu'' (2012), "Party Shoes" in ''Bindaas'' (2014), "Desi Chhori" in ''Yoddha'' (2014) and "Dhitang Dhitang" in ''Love Express'' (2016).
In 2005, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was featured in "Kajra Re" from the movie, ''Bunty Aur Babli''. In 2006, Mumaith Khan was featured in "Ippatikinka" from a Telugu film, ''Pokiri'', sung by Suchitra. Plus, the remake did the same to 2007 Tamil film, ''Pokkiri'' in "En Chella Peru Apple". In the 2007 Telugu film ''Desamuduru'', the song "Attaantode Ittaantode" featuring Allu Arjun and Rambha became a chartbuster. In the 2007 film ''Om Shanti Om'', the song "Deewangi Deewangi" had guest appearances by over 30 Bollywood stars. In 2008, the makers of ''Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'' featured Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Priety Zinta, and Rani Mukerji playing five leading ladies opposite Shahrukh Khan in the song "Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte". In 2007, Mallika Sherawat performed an item number "Mehbooba O Mehbooba" in ''Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story''.
===2010s=== In 2010, Katrina Kaif featured in "Sheila Ki Jawani" from ''Tees Maar Khan'', and Malaika Arora featured in "Munni Badnaam Hui" from ''Dabangg''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-top-item-numbers-of-2010/20101209.htm |title=The Hottest Item Numbers of 2010 |publisher=Rediff.com |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=6 July 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627033353/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-top-item-numbers-of-2010/20101209.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Parallels were drawn between Katrina and Malaika, as well as between the item numbers, in what was popularly known as the "Munni vs Sheila" debate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nagpaul-D'Souza |first=Dipti |title=Munni vs Sheila: The way of the 'Item Bomb' |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/munni-vs-sheila-the-way-of-the-item-bomb/729468/1 |access-date=22 December 2011 |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=26 December 2010 |archive-date=31 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231063743/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/munni-vs-sheila-the-way-of-the-item-bomb/729468/1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wangoo |first=Anupama |title=Sheila steals Munni's thunder |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Sheila-steals-Munnis-thunder/articleshow/7164852.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701180033/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-26/chandigarh/28217169_1_munni-badnaam-hui-malaika-arora-jawani |url-status=live |archive-date=1 July 2012 |access-date=22 December 2011 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=26 December 2011}}</ref> The songs became so popular, that, soon, more films began incorporating item numbers, and with more top stars now wanting to do them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-forthcoming-item-numbers/20120626.htm |title=PIX: SIZZLING item numbers coming up! |publisher=Rediff.com |date=26 June 2012 |access-date=6 July 2012 |archive-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706062616/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-forthcoming-item-numbers/20120626.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2012, Katrina Kaif again featured in an item number "Chikni Chameli" in ''Agneepath'', sung by Shreya Ghoshal which became a huge hit,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-21/news-interviews/30538652_1_chikni-chameli-song-marathi-music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924053654/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-21/news-interviews/30538652_1_chikni-chameli-song-marathi-music |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2013 |newspaper=The Times of India |title=Chikni Chameli sets Kombdi's popularity soaring}}</ref> while Kareena Kapoor was featured in "Fevicol Se" in ''Dabangg 2'', sung by the same artist from "Munni Badnam Hui".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-30 |title=Watch Kareena Kapoor sizzle in item number 'Fevicol Se' for Dabangg 2 |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/watch-kareena-kapoor-sizzle-in-item-number-fevicol-se-for-dabangg-2-533497.html |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}}</ref> In 2013, Deepika Padukone had some success item dancing, performing songs like "Party On My Mind" and "Lovely". Priyanka Chopra did many songs such as " Babli Badmaash", "Pinky", and an appearance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ''Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela'' song "Ram Chahe Leela", of which became a blockbuster upon release. Mahi Gill, Sonakshi Sinha, and Jacqueline Fernandez made their debut with "Don't Touch My Body", "Govinda Govinda" and "Jadu Ki Jappi" respectively.
Indian-Canadian actress Sunny Leone performed her first item dance with "''Laila''" from the 2013 film "Shootout at Wadala", followed up with ''Baby Doll'' from Ragini MMS 2. In 2017, Sunny Leone featured in the hit item number "Laila Main Laila" starring Shah Rukh Khan in the film ''Raees''. It is a recreation of the song "Laila O Laila" from the 1980 film ''Qurbani'', which featured actress Zeenat Aman with Feroz Khan in the original musical number.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zeenat Aman reveals the story behind original Laila Oh Laila song |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-zeenat-aman-reveals-the-story-behind-original-laila-oh-laila-song-2282919 |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=DNA India |date=15 December 2016 |archive-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218144600/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-zeenat-aman-reveals-the-story-behind-original-laila-oh-laila-song-2282919 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Anglo-Indian actress Amanda Rosario featured in the item number "Sarkar"<ref>{{Citation |last=R-Vision India |title=Sarkar {{!}} Udanchhoo {{!}} Amanda Rosario {{!}} Rani Hazarika {{!}} Latest Bollywood Item Hindi Song |date=1 December 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2aS1OFT790 |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711165515/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2aS1OFT790 |url-status=live }}</ref> sung by Rani Hazarika from the movie ''Udanchhoo''.
In 2018, Pooja Hegde featured in the hit item number "Jigelu Rani" from the film ''Rangasthalam''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/pooja-hegde-lands-a-special-song-in-rangasthalam-117100500310_1.html |title=Pooja Hegde lands a special song in 'Rangasthalam' |website=Business Standard |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129062318/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/pooja-hegde-lands-a-special-song-in-rangasthalam-117100500310_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The song was trending on YouTube.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2018 |title=Pooja Hegde sizzles as Jigelu Rani |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/pooja-hegde-sizzles-as-jigelu-rani/articleshow/63518299.cms |access-date=20 April 2022 |website=The Times of India |archive-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522055131/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/pooja-hegde-sizzles-as-jigelu-rani/articleshow/63518299.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Jacqueline Fernandez featured in the remake of the "Ek Do Teen" song that originally featured Madhuri Dixit. Moroccan-Canadian dancer-actress Nora Fatehi also featured in the item song "Dilbar" which has become one of the most popular Bollywood music videos of all time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nora Fatehi rejects reports of signing up Mahira Khan's 'Superstar' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/462437-nora-fatehi-of-dilbar-fame-to-dance-in-mahira-khans-superstar |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=The News International |date=24 April 2019 |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426104557/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/462437-nora-fatehi-of-dilbar-fame-to-dance-in-mahira-khans-superstar |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a recreation of an item number of the same name from ''Sirf Tum'' (1999), which was composed by Nadeem–Shravan and featured Sushmita Sen as an item girl. The re-created version by Tanishk Bagchi features Middle-Eastern musical sounds.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shaken, Not Stirred |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/shaken-not-stirred-bollywood-playback-singers-old-classic-music-remakes-5294719/ |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=7 August 2018 |language=en-IN |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506032109/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/shaken-not-stirred-bollywood-playback-singers-old-classic-music-remakes-5294719/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the music video, Nora Fatehi performs belly dancing, an Arabic dance style that was previously featured in a number of popular Bollywood item numbers, performed by actresses such as Helen in "Mehbooba O Mehbooba" from ''Sholay'' (1975), Zeenat Aman in "Raqqasa Mera Naam" from ''The Great Gambler'' (1979), Mallika Sherawat in "Mayya Mayya" from ''Guru'' (2007), and Rani Mukerji in "Aga Bai" from ''Aiyyaa'' (2012).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajguru |first1=Sumit |title=International Dance Day 2019: Top 5 belly dance numbers in Bollywood you can't miss |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/280419/international-dance-day-2019-top-5-belly-dance-numbers-in-bollywood-y.html |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=29 April 2019 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429043111/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/280419/international-dance-day-2019-top-5-belly-dance-numbers-in-bollywood-y.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The international success of "Dilbar" inspired an Arabic-language version, also featuring Nora Fatehi. "Dilbar" is popular across Southern Asia and the Arab world, with all versions of the song having received more than 1{{nbsp}}billion views on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dilbar |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/tseries/search?query=Dilbar |access-date=18 April 2019 |via=YouTube |publisher=T-Series |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420201841/https://www.youtube.com/user/tseries/search?query=Dilbar |url-status=live }}</ref> From then on, Nora Fatehi became associated with performing item numbers that featured belly dancing. TV and Bollywood Actress Mouni Roy made her debut by "Nachna Aunda Nahi". The "Gali Gali" track from the Kannada film ''K.G.F: Chapter 1'', sung by Neha Kakkar, which featured Mouni Roy also, was a huge hit. Alia Bhatt also made an appearance in "The Hookup Song" from ''Student of The Year 2'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/alia-bhatt-to-be-a-part-of-the-hook-up-song-from-soty220190427141743/#:~:text=Alia%20Bhatt%20to%20be%20a,Up'%20song%20from%20'SOTY2'|title=Alia Bhatt to be a part of the 'Hook Up' song from 'SOTY2'}}</ref>
=== 2020s === In the 2020s, the item songs moved away from the suggestiveness and risque visuals to a more musical and dance-filled approach, while still wearing similar belly-dance clothes. In 2021, the popular "Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava" track sung by Indravathi Chauhan from the Telugu language film ''Pushpa: The Rise'' featuring Samantha was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/not-rs-1-5-crore-samantha-charged-rs-5-crore-for-oo-antava-song-from-allu-arjun-s-pushpa-1900813-2022-01-17|title=Not Rs 1.5 crore, Samantha charged Rs 5 crore for Oo Antava song from Allu Arjun's Pushpa?}}</ref> Nushrratt Bharuccha too featured in an item number song from the film ''Chhalaang''. In 2021, Janhvi Kapoor performed her first item number in the song "Nadiyon Paar" from the film ''Roohi''. Pooja Hegde delivered an Arabic belly dance in blockbuster song "Arabic Kuthu" from ''Beast''. In 2023, Sayyeshaa featured in an item number "Raawadi" from the Tamil film ''Pathu Thala''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 March 2023 |title='Raawadi' video song: Sayyesha amazes fans with her dance moves in this 'Pathu Thala' item number |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raawadi-video-song-sayyesha-amazes-fans-with-her-dance-moves-in-this-pathu-thala-item-number/articleshow/98996891.cms?from=mdr |access-date=9 June 2023 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609194312/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raawadi-video-song-sayyesha-amazes-fans-with-her-dance-moves-in-this-pathu-thala-item-number/articleshow/98996891.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref> Tamannaah featured in item songs like "Kaavaalaa" from ''Jailer'' alongside Rajinikanth and "Aaj Ki Raat" from ''Stree 2''. In 2024, Actress Sharvari performed her first item number in the song "Taras" from ''Munjya''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/sharvari-wagh-talks-about-her-dance-track-in-munjya-66317.html|title=Sharvari Wagh talks about her dance track in Munjya}}</ref> Actress Sreeleela performed many item number songs in Telugu cinema, with her most famous being Kissik from ''Pushpa 2: The Rule''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/sreeleela-reveals-the-reason-behind-doing-the-dance-number-kissik-with-allu-arjun-in-pushpa-2/articleshow/115744611.cms|title=Sreeleela reveals the reason behind doing the dance number}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/south/exclusive-how-did-sreeleela-bag-pushpa-2-the-rules-song-kissik-69661.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: How did Sreeleela bag Pushpa 2: The Rule's song Kissik?}}</ref>
==Impact== On 21 July 2005, Indian parliament passed a bill to ban dance bars in Maharashtra. Criticizing the bill and supporting the dancers, Flavia Agnes said that bar dancing cannot be termed as vulgar, what they are doing is an imitation of what item girls are doing in films, they work there out of their own choice.<ref name="Mumbai bar">{{cite web |last=Agnes |first=Flavia |title=Hypocritical Morality: Mumbai's Ban on Bar Dancers |url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20Files%20149/Flavia%20Agnes.pdf |publisher=Manushi |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721105921/http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20Files%20149/Flavia%20Agnes.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
As one writer put it, "On paper, item numbers form the perfect formula for female sexual empowerment. In reality, they mostly result in the most blatant objectification. Camera angles zoom in over gyrating hips and linger over bare waists as blatantly as the eyes of the ogling men with no subtlety. The gaze in these dance numbers presents itself as vaguely voyeuristic, at best. There is a very deliberate implication present; that the item girl is not only inviting the leers and jeers, but she is also enjoying them."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waseem |first1=Anum |title=Bollywood item numbers are more dangerous than we think |url=https://thetempest.co/2018/09/13/entertainment/are-bollywood-item-numbers-selling-danger/ |website=The Tempest |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=13 September 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804032013/https://thetempest.co/2018/09/13/entertainment/are-bollywood-item-numbers-selling-danger/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013, the Central Board of Film Certification issued a resolution declaring that item songs will now be rated as adult content and will not be allowed to be shown on television channels.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Amitabh |title='Item songs' to be barred from TV |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/item-songs-to-be-barred-from-tv/1071182/ |access-date=10 February 2013 |archive-date=13 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513020158/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/item-songs-to-be-barred-from-tv/1071182/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Outside Indian Movies== Pakistani film industry Lollywood has recently adopted the concept of adding item songs to boost the success of commercial films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.divaonline.com.pk/diva-jukebox-10-pakistani-item-songs-that-sizzled-cinegoers-with-their-groove/|title=Diva Jukebox: 10 Pakistani 'Item songs' that sizzled cinegoers with their groove}}</ref> In 2014 Mehwish Hayat debuted in the big screen for the first time in an item number ''Billi'' in the film ''Na Maloom Afraad''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Labor of love: Mehwish Hayat on her upcoming item number|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1117030|access-date=8 July 2014|work=DAWN.com|publisher=Mahjabeen Mankani}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mehwish Hayat prominent among 'Na Maloom Afraad'|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/04/25/entertainment/mehwish-hayat-prominent-among-na-maloom-afraad/|website=Pakistan Today|accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref> She also did another item number ''Gangster Guriya'' in the movie ''Baaji''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1996314/4-mehwish-hayat-moves-grooves-gangster-guriya-upcoming-film-baaji/ |title=Mehwish Hayat moves and grooves in 'Gangster Guriya' from upcoming film 'Baaji' |website=The Express Tribune |first=haddiqua |last=siddiqui |date=20 June 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> Actress Urwa Hocane appeared in the song ''Pretty face'' in the film ''Tich Button''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-02-11 |title=Ready, Steady, Shoot: Team 'Tich Button' is all set to start shooting! |url=https://arynews.tv/en/tich-button-shoot/ |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=ARY News |language=en-US}}</ref> In the year 2015 Ayesha Omar performed in the song ''Trutti frutti'' for the film ''Karachi Se Lahore''. In the second part of the film ''Na Maloom Afraad'' the item number ''Kaif o Suroor'' was performed by Sadaf Kanwal.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1467598/na-maloom-afraads-kaif-o-suroor-will-prove-sadaf-kanwal-stick-modelling/ |title=Na Maloom Afraad's 'Kaif O Suroor' proves that Sadaf Kanwal should stick to modelling {{!}} The Express Tribune |date=2017-07-27 |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=2018-09-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-1/item/item-numbers.html History of Item Girls in Tamil Cinema]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Item Number}} Category:Film industry in India Category:Hindi cinema Category:Indian songs Category:Culture of India Category:Telugu cinema Category:Sexuality in India *