Veteran filmmaker B. Subhash recently shared memories from the making of ‘Disco Dancer,’ the film that transformed Mithun Chakraborty into a household name and created one of Indian cinema’s most recognizable characters. Appearing on a television reality show, the director looked back at the journey behind the blockbuster and the events that shaped its success.The filmmaker spoke during ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 5’ about the origins of the project, the creation of Jimmy, and the film’s remarkable popularity across different parts of the world.
The promise B. Subhash made to Mithun Chakraborty
According to IANS, during the conversation, Subhash recalled meeting Mithun Chakraborty when the actor was still searching for a major breakthrough. The director said he immediately recognized the actor’s potential and assured him that bigger opportunities awaited him.Sharing the memory, B. Subhash said, “Mithun thoda pareshan tha. I was doing a film ‘Taqdeer Ka Badshah’. Maine bola, ‘Don’t worry, ek din film banaunga tumhare saath. You’re going to be a big star.’ Maine bola ‘Disco Dancer’. I felt ki uski aankhon mein na jhalak aa gayi. That’s how I started with him.” (Mithun was a little worried at that time. I was working on a film called Taqdeer Ka Badshah. I told him, ‘Don’t worry, one day I will make a film with you. You’re going to be a big star.’ I mentioned Disco Dancer. I felt there was a spark in his eyes at that moment. That’s how my journey with him began.)According to the filmmaker, that conversation marked the beginning of a partnership that would eventually produce one of the most iconic films of the era.
How the title track took shape, reveals B. Subhash
Subhash also revealed how the concept behind Disco Dancer evolved during the creative process. He explained that a simple English phrase inspired an idea that later became closely associated with the film’s musical identity.Recalling the moment, he shared, “Uss time kya likha tha: ‘My mother says I used to sing when I was not able to talk. I used to dance when I was not even able to walk.’ Udhar se Disco Dancer aaya. Toh maine Anjaan sahab ko diya. Bahot achha reaction diya unhone.” (At that time, I had written: ‘My mother says I used to sing when I was not able to talk. I used to dance when I was not even able to walk.’ That’s where the idea of Disco Dancer came from. Then I shared it with Anjaan saab, and he responded very positively.)The filmmaker further explained that the project held special significance because it represented an important milestone in his career. He wanted every department to feature the best talent available.Speaking about the title and the team behind the film, he said, “D se hota hai Dance, I se hota hai Item, S hota hai Singer, C se hota hai Chorus, O se aata hai Orchestra. Ye badi precious film thi mere liye. Meri pehli production thi, pehli maine direction ki thi. Toh I wanted best. Toh best choreographer uss time the Suresh Bhatt ji.” (“D stands for Dance, I stands for Item, S stands for Singer, C stands for Chorus, and O stands for Orchestra. This film was very precious to me. It was my first production and also the first film I directed. So I wanted the very best. At that time, the best choreographer was Suresh Bhatt ji.”)
Jimmy became a global phenomenon
The conversation also highlighted the extraordinary international appeal enjoyed by Mithun Chakraborty’s character Jimmy. Choreographer-director Remo D’Souza recalled witnessing the actor’s popularity firsthand during a shoot in Russia.Remo said, “Hum Russia mein shoot kar rahe the Salman sir ki film Lucky, aur usmein Mithunda sir bhi the film mein. Lekin jis din main set pe gaya na, uss din kuch alag hi bheed thi. Phir maine bola, ‘Ye log kaun hain?’ Woh bole, ‘Jimmy ko hum dekhne aaye hai.’ Phir maine bola, ‘Jimmy kaun?’ Woh logon ne bola, ‘Mithunda sir baithe hue hain udhar.'” (“We were shooting for Salman sir’s film Lucky in Russia, and Mithun da was also part of the film. But on the day I arrived on set, there was an unusually large crowd. So I asked, ‘Who are all these people?’ They replied, ‘We’ve come to see Jimmy.’ Then I asked, ‘Who is Jimmy?’ They pointed towards Mithun da and said, ‘Mithun sir is sitting over there.'”)Subhash also shared a memorable experience from China, where the song Jimmy Jimmy continued to unite fans despite differences in language and culture.Remembering the moment, he said, “Jimmy Jimmy’ woh log ne apni language mein bola. Within 10 minutes 100 aadmi ho gaye. So they made me stand in between them and round banaya, and sab log ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ gaa rahe the. It’s a rare moment when your work is appreciated by those people who don’t know our language also.” (“They were saying ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ in their own language. Within 10 minutes, nearly 100 people had gathered. They made me stand in the middle, formed a circle around me, and everyone started singing ‘Jimmy Jimmy.‘ It’s a rare moment when your work is appreciated by people who don’t even know your language.”)Released in 1982, ‘Disco Dancer’ starred Mithun Chakraborty and Kim in lead roles. The film became a major success and remains one of the most beloved musical dramas in Indian cinema.
