Narcissism is seen as some kind of personality disorder denoting an exaggerated sense of self-importance, arrogant, self-centred behaviour and need for excessive attention and admiration. Narcissus in the Greek mythology was cursed by the gods to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. When he saw his reflection he became transfixed in love, he slowly pined away and died. If anyone calls you a narcissist, you will become defensive, and vehemently protest. But my views have changed after I became an admirer of the girl from Gujarat (GFG) since she decided to marry herself, as she could not think of anyone she would love as much as she loved herself. It is trite that one has to love oneself to be happy. A low self-esteem would make a person brooding, sad and a misfit in the society. No one admires a person who pines Ab mera kaun sahara or Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahin, wapas bula le. You would much rather prefer a wild person who prances around with Yaar chulbula hai.
The GFG Kshama is an inspiring example for such persons. Most of us are narcissists in some degree. Kshama has helped us in coming out of the closet. Now I have no hesitation in admitting that I am a narcissist.
Bollywood has a sharp insight into social and individual realities. Therefore, you can be sure that there are several songs which can be described as songs of narcissists.
1. Main jahan chala jaaun, bahaar chali aaye, ho mahak jaaye raahon ki dhool, main banphool, ban ka phool by Kishore Kumar from Banphool (1971), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant Pyarelal
This song takes the cake as the ultimate song of a narcissist. Jitendra asserts with supreme self-confidence that wherever he goes, spring follows behind and the dust of the pathway becomes fragrant with his aroma as he breezes along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9EZ373V7SM
2. Main aashiq hun bahaaron ka, fizaaon ka, nazaaron ka/ Main mastana musafir hun jawan dharti ke anjaane kinaaron ka by Mukesh from Aashiq (1962), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar-Jaikishan
This is a song of a mild narcissist. Raj Kapoor does not claim that the spring, the climes, the sights and sounds are all because of him, but he does proclaim his attributes in a flowery language – that he has been coming to this world for hundreds of years, in different lands in a different guise, a la सम्भवामि युगे युगे, to spread the message of love, and bring cheers to the lives of the hapless people:
Sadiyon se jag mein aata raha main
Naye rang jeevan mein lata raha main
Har ek des mein, nit naye bhes mein
Main aashiq hun
Chala gar safar mein koi besahara
To main ho liya sang liye ektara
Gata hua dukh bhulata hua
Main aashiq hun
3. Nahin dekha kabhi pahle ye phool hai kin gulzaaron ka, Main aashiq hun bahaaron ka by Kishore Kumar from Aashiq Hun Bahaaro Ka (1977), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
As a person Rajesh Kumar was said to be arrogant, conceited and self-centred, which led to his downfall after a dream run which earned him the moniker, ‘The Phenomenon’, the only star described as such. His swagger in this song perfectly matches with his image; he also declares Mujhe jo pasand hai main chhodta nahin, and tells Zeenat Aman imperiously, Tum si haseenon ki ho khaak kadar, Hum log rang roop ko na dekhen agar (No one would care for bimbos like you, if dandies like us do not flirt with you).
4. Main gareebon ka dil hun watan ki zubaan, bekason ke liye pyar ka aasmaan by Hemant Kumar from Aab-e-Hayaat (1955), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Hemant Kumar
Premnath swaggers down the street as if he owns it. Not everyone can carry it with such élan:
Main jo gata chalun saath mehfil chale
Main jo badhata chalun saath manzil chale
Mujhe raah dikhaati chalein bijliyan
Main gareebon ka dil
And the ultimate narcissist:
Husn bhi dekhkar mujhse hairaan hai
Ishq ko mujhse milne ka armaan hai
Apni duniya ka hun main haseen naujawan
Main gareebon ka dil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p46HblFw5Pg
5. Main deewana mastana mushquil bhed mera pa jana by Mukesh from 40 days (1959), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul
Premnath again, now on horseback, cutting a dashing figure, proclaims the world is under his boot, no one dare pick up a quarrel with him. Narcissists are also obsessed with their handsome looks:
Duniya meri thokar mein
Toofan qaid mere saagar mein
Sara zamana mera nishana
Khel nahin mujhse takrana
Mushqil bhed mera paa jana
Main deewana mastana
Charche mere panghat par
Roke raah machal ke dilbar
Mast jawaani meri deewaani
Husn mujhe de dil nazraanaa
Mushqil bhed mera paa jana
Main deewana mastana
6. Maan mera ahsaan arey naadan ki maine tujhse kiya hai pyar by Rafi from Aan (1952), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
Narcissists do not believe in the dictum नेकी कर और दरिया में डाल. If the commoner Dilip Kumar loves the haughty princess Nadira, it has to rubbed in and she has to feel obliged.
7. Mere man ki Ganga aur tere man ki Jamuna ka bol Radha bol sangam hoga ki nahin by Mukesh (and Vyjayanthimala) from Sangam (1964), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar-Jaikishan
Sangam is a tragedy of two bosom friends – one, an extreme narcissist and the other, a meek dumbo – falling in love with the same girl. Since a narcissist believes he is god’s gift to the mankind, he can’t believe that the girl he has fallen for can spurn his advances. Raj Kapoor cannot take ‘No’ for an answer. He does not let go until Vyjayanthimala says ‘yes’ in exasperation. The same narcissism permeates in Har dil jo pyar karega wo gana gayega and O mehbooba, tere dil ke paas hi hai meri manzil-e-maqsood (Sab dekhate rah jayenge le jaunga ek din).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kDPTrnvw-U
8. O jaaneman dilara ek nazar idhar bhi…Aasman se aya farishta pyar ka sabak sikhalaane by Rafi from An Evening in Paris (1967), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar-Jaikishan
If you thought I used ‘god’s gift to the mankind’ as an idiomatic expression, in this one Shammi Kapoor comes down a helicopter literally as a farishta from the heaven to teach the lesson of love. Ignore his bathrobe, farishtas from heavens do not waste time in dressing up in rushing to help people in distress. This one is similar to the earlier song lip-synched by his elder brother. In this one too, Sharmila Tagore finally yields to Shammi Kapoor’s demand that she admit she is in love with him.
9. Yahoo….Chaahe koi mujhe junglee kahe, kahne do ji kahta rahe by Rafi from Junglee (1961), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar-Jaikishan
Now we can see the positive side of being a narcissist. Shammi Kapoor does not care if people call him junglee. In fact in later years, he becomes bolder to dare ‘Budtameez kaho ya kaho jaanwar’. For all he cares, Kahne do ji kahta rahe. This supreme self-confidence finally leads to a happy ending.
10. Main hun jhum jhum jhum jhum jhumroo by Kishore Kumar from Jhumroo (1961), lyrics and music Kishore Kumar
I end with Kishore Kumar’s superb narcissistic song which again shows the positive side of being a narcissist. He is carefree; dances, sings and lives life at his own terms:
Main hun jhum jhum jhum jhum jhumroo
Fakkad ghumun banke ghumroo
Mere dil mein hai pyar har kisi ke liye
O mujhko pyara har insaan, dilawalon pe hun qurban
Zindagi hai meri zindagi ke liye
Main hun jhum jhum jhum jhum jhumroo
Fakkad ghumun banke ghumaroo
Main ye pyaar ka geet sunata chala
Manzil pe meri nazar, main duniya se bekhabar
Beeti baaton pe dhool udata chala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYV7wRovPhY
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
1. The thumbnail picture of the painting of Narcissus has been gratefully taken from Google Images.
2. The YT links of songs have been embedded only for the listening pleasure of music lovers.
3. This blog claims no copyright over the image or the songs, which belong to the respective owners.