Kareena Kapoor Khan pays tribute to ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ while embracing her own unique style
For the 2024 film Crew, the legendary song Choli Ke Peeche has been reimagined with the help of the same crew that brought us the iconic grunts, sighs, and moans of the 1990s. One may question how THE Madhuri Dixit, who lip-synces to a very provocative song while elegantly courting the problematic male gaze while maintaining her innocence, can be surpassed or even equaled.
But the solution appears to come from a celebrity who is practically a modern-day icon. The star of the show, Kareena Kapoor Khan, who Diljit Dosanjh calls our “Rihanna and Beyonce,” takes center stage, with movie snippets strewn throughout the YouTube version. Kareena takes on the enormous challenge of honoring Madhuri while wearing pink. However, Bebo is what Bebo is. Kareena is striking, seductive, and radiates spice, and she does it well. But Diljit is another element that contributes to the song’s success.
The song’s overt sensuality has been toned down, and instead of the original’s overt sultriness, the ambiance lends itself to a more fun and flirty attitude. This works because Diljit’s vocals hit their sweet spot, taking center stage and harmonizing flawlessly with remnants of the hit song. The updated rendition pays homage to the original while acknowledging that it must appeal to a more contemporary audience. The trio skillfully balances their diverse talents to produce an updated version that is expected to become a popular dance song. All that is lacking is a release date closer to wedding season.
Don’t get us wrong, without the blatantly sexual sound effects that made the original song difficult to listen to with our parents (had that ever been the case for any of us), the song would not have been complete. Because of this, the remix keeps the same in mind. “How so?” one may ask. Well, the reimagined version of the song has a nostalgic touch because to the partial retention of the iconic vocals of Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik. Music composers Akshay & IP have remixed the song, adding their own special touch and modern feelings without sacrificing the essential elements of the original.
It would be impossible to discuss the music without also talking about the video. In the 2024 version, Kareena takes center stage, bringing her own charm and elegance into the remix, while Madhuri stuns the crowd with her emotions and composure without coming off as crass (a tough task for the song). This is where the question of how fair a comparison is arises. While the themes of the videos are similar, the settings and general vibes are quite different. Seeing Kareena groove to a song that she knows is a tribute to the original feels almost meta in many ways.
Kareena appears to be in the know, playing herself, as she invites the audience to keep up with her speed and go with her in what is clearly an homage rather than a competitive audiovisual voyage. Madhuri was in character while playing tricks on her audience in the original. After seeing the song, one can no longer conceive how any other rendition of the same would have seemed, just as one could not have imagined what a remake starring Kareena would have looked like. With discipline and respect for the original, every aspect of the song comes together to create a cohesive whole.
One noteworthy feature of Crew appears to be the team’s apparent goal of combining the innovative and the comfortable, sweet spot it has found. Another song, Ghagra, is a fresh version of an old Ila song, and it reflects this as well. It is only reasonable to believe that the purpose of doing this is to stir up nostalgia while boosting the rhythms and changing the atmosphere of these songs. Renowned celebrities like Tabu and Kareena partying with the younger star Kriti Sanon is a great approach to also reflect the casting decisions.
All things considered, the song is a huge hit, and it is clear that a lot of thought went into it to get to this point. One can only guess what more twists the creators have in their sleeves as Crew draws ever closer to release.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.
