Helen was a fixture in mainstream Bollywood movies on 1960s and 70s. No, she did not play important roles in these movies. Rather, she was often there for a cameo appearance where she would figure in a cabaret dance.

In one of my earlier post about a Helen cabaret dance, I had mentioned that there may be many memorable Helen cabarets. When it comes to the most memorable of them all, this particular song must be among the front runners. This song” aa jaane jaan mera ye husn jawaan” is known even today, long after everyone has forgotten the name of the movie.

Another special thing about this song is that this was not sung by Asha Bhonsle ( the default voice for cabaret songs) but by Lata Mangeshkar. And it must be said that Lata Mangeshkar, while singing a rare cabaret song, sounds as seductive as her younger sibling did in her numerous cabaret songs.

The song was penned by that versatile lyricist Rajinder Krishan and music was by Laxmikant Pyarelal. And the dance was of course performed by Helen. This song soon became the benchmark for cabaret songs. Even today, it continues to be the gold standard for this genre of songs.

Song- Aa jaane jaan mera ye husn jawaan (Inteqam 1969) Singer-Lata,Lyrics- Rajinder Krishan, MD- Laxmikant Pyarelal

Lyrics

aa jaan-e-jaan
aa jaan-e-jaan
aa meraa ye husn jawaan, jawaan, jawaan
tere liye hai aas lagaaye
o zaalim aa jaanaa
aa jaan-e-jaan
aa jaan-e-jaan
aa meraa ye husn jawaan, jawaan, jawaan
tere liye hai aas lagaaye
o zaalim aa jaanaa
aa jaan-e-jaan

o aankh se masti tapke hai, tapke hai, tu dekhe na
dil kaa saagar chhalke hai, chhalke hai, tu samjhe na
aa la la la la la aa kyun tadpaaye, tu kyun tarsaaye
o zaalim aa jaanaa na
aa jaane jaan
aa meraa ye husn jawaan, jawaan, jawaan
tere liye hai aas lagaaye
o zaalim aa jaanaa na
aa jaane jaan

o door se kitni aayi hoon, aayi hoon, tu jaane na
pyaar kaa tohfaa laayi hoon, laayi hoon, tu maane na
aa la la la la la aa be-dardi se, tu kyun thukraaye
aa zaalim aa jaanaa na
aa jaan-e-jaan
aa meraa ye husn jawaan, jawaan, jawaan
tere liye hai aas lagaaye
o zaalim aa jaanaa na
aa jaane jaan…