"Sheila Ki Jawani" is a song sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Vishal Dadlani featuring Katrina Kaif along with Akshay Kumar in the 2010 Bollywood movie Tees Maar Khan. The music is composed by composer duo Vishal-Shekhar and the lyrics are penned by Dadlani and Shree Naeem Parkar of Harvit who originally penned the song in 1979 after he got married. The moves were choreographed by choreographer-director Farah Khan, who went on to win the Filmfare award for best choreography for the movie. The immense popularity of the song prompted many comparisons between the song and "Munni Badnaam Hui", from the 2010 movie Dabangg. It has since become one of the most viewed Bollywood songs on YouTube with more than 100 million views to date.
Influences
Katrina Kaif stated that Farah Khan presented her with DVDs of Madhuri Dixit's movies, so that Katrina could concentrate on Dixit's dances. Kaif then stated that it helped her a lot. Kaif describes her performance in this song as "one of the sexiest" she has ever done. She said, "It was kind of a learning experience for me. I don't take the song being called item number as an offense. There is exposure in the song but it is more about attitude and I was specific about it..." The gorgeous actress who sported a fab zero size figure almost bared her all in the song and gave credit to her director, Farah Khan for her makeover. Director Farah Khan recalls, "Katrina was very conscious of revealing her navel in Sheila ki Jawani and worked out for two months for it, telling me to allow her an option to cover herself with a dupatta if her abs weren't flat. But in the end, she was extremely confident, not bothering to cover up with a bathrobe in between shots or even in the walk from her vanity van to the set."
Reception
The song was well received by film critics, who praised the choreography of Farah Khan and the moves of Katrina. Anupama Chopra of NDTV wrote, "Farah continues to be the consummate choreographer – So, Sheila ki Jawani has a superb, infectious energy". Nikhat Kazmi of the Times of India wrote "Of course Sheila Ki Jawani is eye-popping chartbuster fare and adds another definition to the item number with Katrina's explosive rendition". India Today wrote "The stunning Katrina Kaif brings sexy back with her latest item song from Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan." CNX.org wrote, "The sizzling hot number performed by the steaming Katrina Kaif is a mix of outstanding talent and crude sexual appeal. Undoubtedly, the choreographer Farah Khan has an uncanny talent to bring out the best of sari. She would remind you 'Who says that sari is not a sexy outfit?'" bollykings.com wrote, "This song can safely be called the sexiest, raunchiest, hottest eye popping dance number after, well, Beedi and Munni Badnaam. Sheila Ki Jawaani successfully establishes Katrina Kaif as an established item girl in Bollywood for she has pulled the act off with grace and sexiness at the same time. Nothing cheap, just pure oomph!" The Times of India, praising Katrina in item songs, wrote, "Katrina Kaif made men go weak on their knees with her navel exposure for the item songs, 'Sheila ki Jawani' and 'Chikni Chameli' which were major hits in her career." The song turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the year, along with "Munni badnaam hui" from Dabangg. Malaika Arora Khan, who featured in "Munni badnaam hui" was frequently compared with Kaif, in what was popularly known as the "Munni vs Sheila" debate.
