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This Article is From Aug 18, 2011

Meet Shammi's Yahoo

Meet Shammi's Yahoo
Quick Take
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Amongst the scores of celebs who attended the late Shammi Kapoor's prayer meeting on Tuesday evening, there was an unsung hero who came too.
Bollywood writer-director Prayag Raaj (who has written many Manmohan Desai films like Amar Akbar Anthony and co-directed Coolie), the actual 'voice' who screamed the legendary Yahoo in Junglee that was picturised on Kapoor.
With tears in his eyes, 76-year-old Prayag talks fondly about the late superstar. "Shammiji treated me like his younger brother and we often dined together. I didn't know my Yahoo yell would become such a timeless sensation." he says.
Mumbai: Amongst the scores of celebs who attended the late Shammi Kapoor's prayer meeting on Tuesday evening, there was an unsung hero who came too.

Bollywood writer-director Prayag Raaj (who has written many Manmohan Desai films like Amar Akbar Anthony and co-directed Coolie), the actual 'voice' who screamed the legendary Yahoo in Junglee that was picturised on Kapoor.

With tears in his eyes, 76-year-old Prayag talks fondly about the late superstar. "Shammiji treated me like his younger brother and we often dined together. I didn't know my Yahoo yell would become such a timeless sensation." he says.

Although the late legendary singer Mohammed Rafi was the actual playback singer of Chaahe koi mujhe junglee kahe, composers Shankar-Jaikishan roped him in for this additional startling voice track.

"They felt that the wild screams of Yahoo for multiple takes would be a professional vocal hazard for Rafi Saab.

They (including Rafi Saab) felt I had the perfect potential. Acoustics expert Minoo Katrak recorded ten re-takes of just the Yaaahoo yell in my voice; only two takes were finally okayed." he shrugs.

"Apart from Shammiji complimenting me, I was also paid a generous amount for my scream, which lasted me for a month in those days.

Thereafter, Shammiji insisted I play a cameo in his film, Professor," discloses Raaj, who, post-Junglee, lent his vocals to several chartbusters from movies like Jab Jab Phool Khile and Farz.