
Glittering balls hanging from the ceiling, electronic beats and/ or a strong bass and people dancing. That's what most people, including me, think of when we hear the word "disco". But in my mind, there is another thing which I'm sure won't pop into the mind of people who are unfamiliar with Bollywood: the disco song-and-dance. The disco song-and-dance assumedly made its way into Hindi film tradition in the 70s, especially after the superhit Disco Dancer, and was very popular in the violent/glittery cinema of the 80s and 90s. It also appeared in a lot of more or less commercial films and especially the big blockbusters of the early 2000s, representing the "new, modern" youth. It also found its way into a few more independent productions and also some more recent films, but is currently only seldom seen in films, as the disco background-song has been gaining popularity. At the same time, film parties have moved away from discos and now often happen elsewhere.
In a disco song-and-dance, all the three elements I named to start with are included, but what defines the disco song is that a) people sing a song themselves, and b) a bunch of people dance to the same choreography.
There are various other "rules" for disco song-and-dance, some followed by almost every representative of the genre, others less frequent. For one thing, the disco song mostly has a motivation, and starts very suddenly. You will get to read about some examples in the scenes I'll present to you later. Moreover, disco song-and-dance often contains some very interesting fashion, mostly sparkly and very tight (not only the womens' clothes). Interestingly, the disco song-and-dance choreography is often a little awkward, or at least contains some weird sequences that you will rarely see at any real party or disco (I'm not sure about Indian parties though).It is also possible for the story to continue and progress during a disco song-and-dance - actually this is the case quite often, which you will see in the examples. Frequently, the situation isn't the same at the beginning and at the end, so the disco song-and-dance isn't just a pause from the "tiring" story.And last but not least, the disco song itself is always an ear worm, and often a surprisingly good song.
Enough of this introductory gibberish now though - let's get groovy, shall we?
(And I excuse for the bad quality of some of the pictures - it's hard to find good pictures of slightly older Indian films, especially when you're searching for something particular).
„Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe“ - Dil Chahta Hai (2001)Music by: S-E-L - Choreographer: Farah Khan - Watch video

„Pump up the Bhangra“ - Ram Jaane (1995)Music by: Anu Malik, Shyam-Surinder - Choreographer: Nimesh Bhatt - Watch video

„Aaj Ki Raat“ - Don (2006)Music by: S-E-L - Choreographer: Various - Watch video

„Go Balle Balle“ - Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha (2004)Music by: A. R. Rahman, Himesh Reshammiya - Choreographer: unknown - Watch video

„Chammak Challo“ - RA.One (2011)Music by: Vishal-Shekhar - Choreographer: Ganesh Hedge - Watch video

„You Are My Soniya“ - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)Music by: Babloo Chakravarthy, Sandesh Shandilya - Choreographer: Farah Khan - Watch video

„Ek Pal Ka Jeena“ - Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000)Music by: Rajesh Roshan - Choreography: Farah Khan - Watch video

„Where's the Party Tonight?“ - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)Music by: S-E-L - Choreographer: Farah Khan - Watch video

„Fanaa“ - Yuva (2004)Music by: A. R. Rahman - Choreographer: Brinda - Watch video

„It's the Time to Disco“ - Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)Music by: S-E-L - Choreographer: Farah Khan - Watch video

Honorable mentions:"Dard-E-Disco" - Om Shanti Om (2007)"It's Magic" - Koi... Mil Gaya (2003)"Boro Boro" - Bluffmaster (2005)
Not full-blooded disco song-and-dance"Kaal" - Kaal (2005)"Kajra Re" - Bunty Aur Babli (2005)"Gori Gori" - Main Hoon Na (2004)
