Chammak Challo

"Chammak Challo"
Screenshot from the music video of "Chammak Challo"
Song by Akon from the album Ra.One & Stadium[1]
Released	September 12, 2011
Recorded	2010
Genre	World, R&B, Bhangra
Length	3:46
Label	T-Series
Writer	Vishal Dadlani Niranjan Iyengar
Producer	Vishal-Shekhar Giorgio Tuinfort

Chammak Challo (Hindi: छम्मक छल्लो) is a song composed by musical director duo Vishal-Shekhar as a part of the soundtrack for the 2011 Bollywood film Ra.One. The song, along with the rest of the soundtrack, was officially released on September 12, 2011.^[2] However, the song faced controversy when the rough version was leaked on the Internet on May 31, 2011.^[3] The song is sung by international pop singer Akon, while the female vocals are given by Hamsika Iyer. Chammak Challo is also noted for being the first musical collaboration of Akon with Indian artists.

Chammak Challo has been dubbed as the "trademark of Ra.One's publicity campaign". There are four other versions of the song in the album, including a remix by Abhijit Vaghani, another remix by DJ Khushi and an international version sung solely by Akon with no female vocals.^[4]

Production

The song was composed by music duo Vishal-Shekhar and co-composed by Akon who arrived in Mumbai in March, 2010 for two days to record the song.^[5] Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Ra.One director Anubhav Sinha held a press conference to declare the association of the Grammy award winning singer with the film.^[6] was recorded at the Yash Raj Studios.^[5] The lyrics of the song were penned by Vishal Dadlani and Niranjan Iyengar.^[7] The lyrics are primarily in Hindi and Tamil, with a few English lines included.

Along with the English parts, Akon sang parts of the song in Hindi by himself.^[8] Hamsika Iyer sang the Hindi and Tamil parts of the song.^[7] According to the music directors, the Senegalese American R&B singer had no problems voicing the Hindi lyrics, "It was really easy for Akon. When he came to the studio and we told him that he would have to sing in Hindi too, he got really excited. Once he heard the lines, he started singing fluently. It took him only three-four hours to learn...he picked up everything so well," said Shekhar.^[8][9] The song is produced by Giorgio Tuinfort, who also produced Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape, featuring Akon.^[10]

The remix version by DJ Khushi is a club mix keeping in mind that it has to compliment the original score and has more beats with electro sounds, has Indian sounds like a Dholki and vocal-effects used to make it sound groovy. Khushi was referred to SRK by the Moranis for remixing this song, he then grabbed the opportunity and made a demo and then it was sent to Khan who loved it and told him to complete the track. ^[11]Sharing his experience, he said: 'Remixing Chammak Challo was not just an amazing and an exciting experience but it also came with a lot of responsibility to make a track that compliments the song as it was already a very big hit even before the release.^[11]

Lyrics

An example of the multi-lingual lyrics of the song is given below.

Lyrics	Translation
कैसा शरमाना आजा नच के दिखा दे आ मेरी हो ले आजा परदा गिरा दे आ मेरी अखियों से अखियाँ मिला ले अब तु ना नखरे दिखा	Why blushing, come on and show your dance Come to me, my insatiable, and drop the curtains Come to me and look at me eye-to-eye Now don't put up your tantrums
Shawty I’m gonna get ya You know I’m gonna get ya You know I’ll even let you Let you be my chammak challo
என்னைத் தொட்டு என்னுள்ளத்தை நொறுக்க மாட்டியோ என்னைப் போல பெண்ணைப் பார்த்து மயங்க மாட்டியோ கண்ணில் கண்ணைப் பூட்டி விட்டால் சிரிக்க மாட்டியோ என்னில் உன்னைச் சூட்டி விட்டால் ஒட்டிக்க மாட்டியோ	Won't you crush my heart by touching me? Wouldn't u be mesmerized on seeing a girl like me? Won't you smile if our eyes are locked together? Won't you stick to me when I join you?

Reception

Ra.One audio launch. Shahrukh and Kareena in their Chammak Challo costumes.

Pre-release

Since the online leak, the song has become extremely popular, with video trailers on YouTube reaching millions of hits within weeks.^[12] The song also received very positive reviews from critics and listeners alike, with most people finding the song "highly addictive" and "groovy".^[8][4] The remixes were very well received as well, particularly the remix by DJ Khushi .^{[13] [14][11]}

Critical reception

Chammak Challo received very positive reviews from critics and has been often noted as the best track in the album.^[13][4] Bollywood Hungama described it as "A grand song by all means, with huge production values that would be assuring enough for Akon to believe that this one can compete at an international level, Chammak Challo is a fantastic amalgamation of Indian, Middle East and Western sounds that gives it a distinguished appeal."^[7] Ruchika Kher from The Times of India identified the song as "A clear winner all the way, the song, which has Hindi, English and Tamil words in the lyrics, makes you groove(...)A fun dance number, Chammak Challo is here to stay and it will surely become the DJs' favourite."^[13] Indo-Asian News Service said "International pop star Akon sings in English and surprisingly well in Hindi, making Chammak Challo ride high on its novelty factor. Hamsika Iyer, who has sung for films like Raajneeti and Khoya Khoya Chand in the past, supports him beautifully, accompanying the English-Hindi vocals with a little Tamil strewn in. Primarily a dance track, Chammak Challo is here to stay." He also praised the remixes adding "The song also has a couple of remixes, but don't dismiss them as ordinary fare. A Punjabi Mix adds some bhangra to the beats while DJ Khushi's version, simply titled Chammak Challo Remix, is explosive. A third, international version is what his fans will hear globally-this one is pure Akon, without Hamsika to accompany him."^[15] Sukanya Verma from Rediff.com praised the song calling it "A scorching mishmash of Arabic influences and Bollywood-style bhangra amid Hamsika Iyer's swiftly-pronounced Tamil lyrics, the showstopper song's perfectly-timed arrangement and vivacious rhythm makes it a win-win."^[16]

Vivek Warrier was impressed by Akon's Hindi and said "Full marks to Akon for his wonderful Hindi - yes, he sings Chammak Challo in Hindi. He is, in fact, better than Remo. The song has good use of Vocoder and other classic ‘Akon-ic’ effects which also includes the “Oh oo oo” which is what Akon is known for." He also noted that "the three remixes of the song, also included in the album, add value to the album from a commercial point of view."^[12] Devesh Sharma from Filmfare said "Chammak Challo rules - and how! The song, sung by international R&B icon Akon, is superbly produced by Giorgio Tuinfort. Tuinfort turns Vishal-Shekhar’s tunes into a haunting medley that invades your brains and refuses to go away. Akon sings in such a way that you believe that it’s actually Shah Rukh Khan who’s crooning the song. Getting the Hindi diction right is by itself an achievement. Hamsika Iyer accompanies Akon in the film version and her full throated voice adds to the charm." He also appreciated the remixes calling them "well crafted". ^[10]

Commercial and chart performance

Chammak Challo rapidly rose in popularity, gaining much attention and climbed the top of the charts and dominated radio stations. It is increasingly being played at nightclubs, and the beats have become a huge hit with the masses and DJs at large.^[17][9] The song also occupied the top position at the Indian Singles Chart for several weeks.^[18] The remixed version of 'Chammak Challo ' by DJ Khushi has gained much popularity both in charts and amongst the audience.^[11] Overseas, the song saw major success among worldwide songs and reached the top ten positions in several countries. The chart performance of the song on the iTunes World Songs charts for some countries are given.^[19]

Film Version iTunes World Songs Charts (2011) Peak Position Australia 3 Austria 71 Canada 1 Denmark 16 France 38 Germany 13 Greece 2 Ireland 5 Luxembourg 65 Mexico 31 Netherlands 14 New Zealand 2 Norway 7 Spain 16 Switzerland 15 United Kingdom 1 United States of America 2

International version iTunes World Songs Charts (2011) Peak Position Australia 4 Canada 2 Denmark 30 France 44 Germany 35 Greece 8 Luxembourg 76 New Zealand 6 Norway 11 Sweden 7 Switzerland 13 United Kingdom 2 United States of America 8

Music video

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, on the sets of Chammak Challo

The music video of the song is picturised on the lead pair of the film, Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor, dancing together in a specially-constructed set at Yash Raj Studios. Kapoor's look in the song has received much public attention, as it marks her return to the typical Indian (locally called "desi") avatar after a long gap. In an interview with Hindustan Times, she said “Everyone was waiting to see the full track. My fans like me in a sari, and so do I. And now that the size zero chapter is out of my life forever, I have the curves to carry off the desi girl look to perfection.”^[12] The music video received mixed to positive reviews, with some critics praising its fresh and hybrid style of choreography by Ganesh Hegde, while others criticizing the costumes, especially those of the background dancers.^[7][13]

Red Chillies, Khan's production house created a video for the remixed version by Delhi-based DJ Khushi and put it up on the official YouTube channel of the film. The video contained shots from the original song, with the remix as the background score. Within the first couple of days, the video received more than 2 lakh views on YouTube and 3.5 lakhs on Facebook. Khushi said "I met SRK recently at an awards ceremony in Gurgaon, where he said, 'I had to make a video for this. It was the best remix on the CD and it was getting great feedback.' So, he made the video."^[14] Within the first couple of days, the video received more than 4 lakh views from social networking sites.^[11]

While shooting for the song in Mumbai, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Yash Raj Studios, to watch Khan and Kapoor at work.^[20]

Track listings

• CD Single^[13]

1. "Chammak Challo" (Album Version) – 3:46
2. "Chammak Challo" (Remix by Abhijit Vaghani) – 4:36
3. "Chammak Challo" (Remix by DJ Khushi) – 4:17
4. "Chammak Challo" (Akon solo version) – 3:47

See also

• Ra.One (soundtrack)
• Ra.One
• Anubhav Sinha
• Vishal-Shekhar
• Akon
• Hamsika Iyer
• Shahrukh Khan
• Kareena Kapoor

References

1. ^ "Chammak Challo to appear on Akon's new album as well as Ra.One soundtrack". T-Series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAHagot7RIQ. Retrieved 30 September, 2011. 
2. ^ "Big One: Shah Rukh, Bebo unveil Ra.One album". NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/video/special/big-one-shah-rukh-bebo-unveil-ra-one-album-549/210612. Retrieved 12 September, 2011. 
3. ^ "Shah Rukh Khan sues a jewellery brand". Hindustan Times. 2011-08-18. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Shah-Rukh-Khan-sues-a-jewellery-brand/Article1-734627.aspx. Retrieved 2011-08-30. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Ra.1 M.R". Hindustan Times. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Thumbs-up-to-RA-One-s-music/Article1-746348.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Akon in India for Ra.One". Filmfare. http://www.filmfare.com/articles/akon-to-sing-for-srk-for-free-552.htmlhttp://www.filmfare.com/articles/akon-to-sing-for-srk-for-free-552.html. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
6. ^ "SRK welcomes Akon". oneindia.in. http://videos.oneindia.in/watch/18038/shahrukh-kareena-welcome-akon.html. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Tuteja, Joginder (2011-09-14). "Ra.One: Music Review". Bollywood Hungama. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/14208/index.html. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} Vivek, Warrier (2011-09-14). "Ra.One's Music Review". koimoi.com. http://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/ra-one-music-review/. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Chammak challo catching the fancy of music lovers". India Today. 2011-09-14. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/chammak-challo-from-ra.one-catching-fancy-of-music-lovers/1/151248.html. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Ra.1 Music worth every penny". Filmfare. http://www.filmfare.com/articles/raone-2774.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dj Khushi makes rocking 'Chammak Challo Remix' for SRK". 2011-10-18. http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/11/oct/18-dj-khushi-makes-rocking-chammak-challo-remix-for-srk-101111.asp. Retrieved 2011-10-18. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} Roshmila, Bhattacharya (2011-09-14). "Kareena: My fans love me in a sari". Hindustan Times. http://www.hindustantimes.com/RA-One-will-make-Rs-200-crore-Kareena/Article1-745236.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
13. ^ ^{a b c d e} Kher, Ruchika (2011-09-17). "Ra.One". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/music-reviews/RA-One/articleshow/10005520.cms. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Kher, Ruchika (2011-10-06). "DJ Khushi is happy over RA.One remix". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/DJ-Khushi-is-happy-over-RA-One-remix/articleshow/10244277.cms. Retrieved 2011-10-06. 
15. ^ Indo-Asian News Service (2011-09-16). "Music Review: SRK's Ra.One". NDTV. Prannoy Roy Publications. http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20110184255&keyword=music&subcatg=MUSICINDIA&nid=134111. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
16. ^ Verma, Sukanya (2011-09-13). "Review: Ra.One songs are a great listen". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-ra-one/20110913.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
17. ^ "I dance Chammak Challo: SRK". The Times of India. 2011-09-16. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-16/news-interviews/30164456_1_raone-music-chammak-challo-songs. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
18. ^ "Chammak Challo on Indian Singles Chart". air check India. http://www.aircheckindia.com/AirCheckT20.pdf. Retrieved 14-10-2011. 
19. ^ "Chammak Challo by Hamsika Iyer, Vishal-Shekhar & Akon Chart Summary". Music-Chart.info. http://www.music-chart.info/song/783169/Chammak-Challo. Retrieved September 21, 2011. 
20. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (2010-12-24). "Russian President Dmitry meets Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan". Bollywood Hungama. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2010/12/24/6952/index.html. Retrieved 2011-08-19.