Good Morning,You may know, since the early 1900s, Goans were the main exponents of jazz and western music in India. They were credited under the designation ‘music director’ in large type in the credits, while the Goans’ names rolled by in small letters as ‘arrangers’. At the time, only Goans, having trained in Western music knew how to compose music for orchestras with a multitude of instruments playing in harmony. Especially John & Johnny Gomes contribution in Hindi Film Songs were the most popular in those days.
The story of ‘Eena Meena Deeka’…C Ramachandra, the prolific film music director (a misnomer for composer)was entrusted with the score for the film Asha in 1956. One of the songs called for a fun and spice melody designed to tease the senses. Immersed in creative thought in his music room, he was distracted by his kids playing outside. Distraction turned to interest as he heard his kids chant Eenie-Meenie-Miny-Moe…
Music director C. Ramchandra in the center with Joe Gomes on left his brother Johnny Gomes on right who was then nicknamed as Benny Goodman of India.They were Goan musician and asst to C. Ramchandra…
Vaijayantima and Kishore Kumar in 1956 film Asha….
C Ramachandra shared the tune with his assistant John Gomes. Together, they created “Eena Meena Deeka, De Dai Damanika.” John, being Goan, added the ‘Maka naka’ (‘I don’t want’ in Konkani) as the nonsense rhymes developed, alonger phrase each time, gathering tempo till they ended with “Rum pum po..!” John is ecstatic. He whistled an elegant four-bar phrase and notated it immediately. Later, he employed a two-man saxophone section for the part, and added voices. The infectious Eena Meena Deeka was born. With the release of Asha, the song was on everyone’s lips and with apologies to Irving Berlin the melody lingers on…
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Jayant.Sharing is Caring…