On her birthday, let's revisit her most popular songs.
She made the cabaret a quintessential experience in Hindi cinema with her unmatched moves and complete ease on the dance floor.
Helen Jairag Richardson, better known as India's original dancing diva Helen, turns 72 today.
The inspiration for four films and a book, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 and the Padma Shri in 2009, Helen gave us some of Hindi cinema's most glorious moments.
Take a look.
Aa Jaane Jaan - Intaqam (1969)
Whoever thought Lata Mangeshkar didn't sing cabarets was in for a melodious surprise. Not only did she break stereotypes and match sister Asha but via this haunting melody, she catapulted Helen into people's minds and hearts in a whole new way.
Provocative outfits and dirty dancing by the diva ensured that the song spelled titillation.
Haye Mere Paas To Aa - Shikar (1968)
Helen teases and flirts with a cigarette-smoking stone-faced Sanjeev Kumar, who is busy with a murder inquiry with Helen as the prime suspect. Melodious song, some innovative dance steps and an unmissable beehive on Helen's head were some of the standout features of the song.
Khilta Hua Shabab - Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar (1973)
Helen reprises the legend of Carmen Miranda with the epic dance-drama number. Helen's lampshade hat and chequered outfit alongwith her harem pants steal the show as she seduces Kiran Kumar in the song.
Mehbooba Mehbooba - Sholay (1975)
The sheer starpower of Helen could be measured from the fact that she managed to steal the show with her four-odd minute dance performance. Not that the epic film needed anything else to go in its favour but Helen's belly-dancer moves and RD Burman's music made it one of her most memorable, if not the most memorable, Helen moment in the history of cinema.
Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu - Howrah Bridge (1958)
The song marked Helen's debut solo performance and the prima donna in the troupe managed to fill each and every frame of the B&W song with colour.
Unlike most of her other numbers, the song had a certain earthiness, innocence and flamboyance at the same time. She teased Ashok Kumar in the song and consistent with the theme of the song, dressed in a Chinese kimono, completing the look with a fan.
Mere Jawani Pyar Ko Tarse - Upaasna (1971)
Helen's dancing prowess aside, she brings a statue of a man to life with her mere touch.
Dancing to Kalyanji-Anandji's music, she looked ravishing in one of her most provocative movie appearances.
Tu Mungda, O Mungda, Main Gud Ki Dali - Inkaar (1978)
Bar dancing was never the same again since Helen performed to the chartbuster song in the movie Inkaar. Her traditional outfit was at par with her eccentric outfits in terms of its seductiveness and ensured that the song became a cult hit in pubs and even discs at the time. The song also featured the inimitable Keshto Mukherjee and Amjad Khan, who enjoy her performance first hand.
O Haseena Zulfowali - Teesri Manzil (1966)
Vijay Anand's Teesri Manzil saw Helen mesmerise the Indian Elvis Shammi Kapoor. From once dancing sensation to another, the song was a visual treat unlike any other.
The on-screen persona and sheer energy of the two stars ensured that the song was a mega hit.
The song was sung by the legendary pair of Rafi and Lata and many believe that Shammi-Helen were perhaps the only two dancing superstars who could have done the song justice.
Piya Tu Ab To Aaja - Caravan (1971)
Playing a cabaret dancer, Helen breathed life into Asha Bhosle's cult classic. She combined the heavy breathing and the mean dance moves with effortless ease. Her shimmering red dress and her trademark blonde wig marked the birth of the legend of Monica.
At the time, Helen's two-piece golden dress and her dance in the gilded cage got the audiences hot under the collar.
Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana - Don (1978)
The Don song starring Amitabh and Helen was perhaps one of her most memorable numbers till date. Helen's dance had evolved into narrative theatrics that now blended a sub-plot into the story.
The provocative dance was seduction at its very best as Helen engaging the mighty Don with the best of her moves.
Aaj Ki Raat Koi Aane Ko Hai - Anamika (1973)
A theatrical dance number with Helen dressed in a pink raincoat and short white skirt captured the imagination and fantasy of many at the time. R.D. Burman's melody and Asha Bhosle's voice did complete justice to the song and even Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri can't help but admire.
Yeh Pal Chanchal - Kalicharan (1976)
Kalyanji-Anandji's hit music sees Helen rock the floor in this flamenco-flavoured number, also starring Shatrughan Sinha, Ajit and Prem Nath.
Jeena Kaisa O Pyar Bina - Kathputli (1971)
Dressed in black and gold Helen sings and dances to impress a shy Jeetendra. As the lyrics from the song imply, she is out to find love and tries to woo and captivate Jeetendra.
Hello Everybody - Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969)
With ostrich feathers gracing her head, Helen danced around the nightclub in a transparent negligée in this happy, bubbly number.
Gham Chhod ke Manao Rang Relly - Gumnaam (1965)
Shankar Jaikishan gave Helen three great songs in this film but this one clearly stands out especially because of her chemistry with Pran. With a blonde mane and a pink swimsuit, Helen looked dressed to kill while Pran looked casual and carefree at best as the two soaked some sun at the beach.
Ae Naujawan Hai Sub Kuchh Yahan - Apradh (1972)
Dressed in black, Helen sets her eyes on Feroz Khan, whose drunken determination metamorphoses Helen into Mumtaz. Kalyanji-Anandji's music and Helen's tantalizing dance moves inspired even the likes of hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas who used the melody and beats in their 2005 chartbuster, Don't Phunk with My Heart.
Jane Anjaane Yahan Sabhi Hain Deewaane - Jane Anjane (1971)
A fantastically lively and upbeat song featuring a young Vinod Khanna and the masterful Helen who tries to seduce him. The Shakti Samanta film had melodious music by Shankar Jaikishan and was otherwise remembered as a Shammi Kapoor film.
Karle Pyar Karle - Talash (1969)
Dancing queen Helen and all those ostrich feathers, need we say more? Helen dances like no-one else is watching to the voice of Asha Bhosle and seduces Rajendra Kumar who can't but help grin from ear to ear.
Baithe Hain Kya Uske Paas - Jewel Thief
The box office hit Jewel Thief had more than a sound script and good performances from the lead pair of Dev Anand and Vyjayanthimala. The song ‘Baithe Hain Kya Uske Paas' was picturised on Helen and besides her trademark moves and her outlandish red dress, her tail feathers and Dev Anand's swagger stole the show.
