Bollywood films have now become accustomed to item songs or item numbers, in which an attractive female character called the item girl, often completely unrelated to the main cast and plot of the film, performs a captivating song and dance number in the film. In the earlier films, the item songs were mostly performed by courtesans, dancing for a rich patron or as part of a cabaret show. The popular dancer Helen was eminent for her cabaret numbers. In modern films, item numbers are often inserted as discotheque sequences, dancing at celebrations or as stage shows. The music used in such sequences is the upbeat rocking music that attracts the audience. Item Songs are mostly done to increase the appeal and promote the movie and in most cases, has little or no relation with the original script. Scantily clad women are represented in beautifully set dance numbers to entice the audience.

The classical meaning of item song in Indian cinema used to be related as highly sensual songs with racy descriptions and suggestive lyrics. The Indian Item Songs would feature an attractive girl who appears in the film as a dancer, usually in a bar or nightclub, and is taken in the film only for the purpose of that song. Earlier this concept was often frowned upon. But, today it is a commonly used with hardly any negative connotations to it. Rather it is considered as an USP of the film to use a renowned female actress in an upbeat item song.

The term item song in modern Indian cinema has now been flexible to include almost all cheerful dance numbers involving either an appealing woman in shiny clothing, or a guest appearance from a star and is present in the movie for the length of that song only. It has become quite common for these item numbers to occur in the opening and closing credits of Bollywood films. However, these days, there are many exceptions. Even if the lead or supporting actress dances to an upbeat song in the movie, it is being considered as an item song. Recently Katrina Kaif played an important role in the movie Tees Maar Khan but she also appeared as the popular item girl with the song `Sheila Ki Jawani"

History of Indian Item Songs
Item songs date long back in the history of Indian cinema starting with Padmini and Vyjayanthimala. It was popular actress Vyjayanthimala who established the concept of item songs in most of her films like Jewel Thief, Nagin, Devdas (1955), Madhumati, Sadhana, Amrapali and many more. But the actual pioneer of this trend is the popular actress and dancer, Helen, who did such musical songs from as far back as the 1960s, along with other glamour girls like Bindu and Aruna Irani in the 1970s.

Evolution of Indian Item Songs
In the late 1980s, the Ek Do Teen sequence was added to the movie, Tezaab as an afterthought and it transformed Madhuri Dixit and made her a superstar in later years. This song is popular even today and some consider Madhuri Dixit to be the pioneer of the modern trend. Actress Urmila Matondkar is one of the most successful item girls, featured in "Chamma Chamma" in the 1998 film China Gate. Although there are many songs that can be called item numbers in the early and mid 1990`s, the term itself became closely associated with the name Shilpa Shetty, when danced for "Main Aai Hoon UP Bihar Lootne" in the movie Shool. Probably, this was the first time Bollywood actually referred to Shilpa as an Item Girl and the scene as a perfect item number.

Recent trends of Indian Item Songs
Malaika Arora Khan and Yana Gupta are more contemporary item number dancers of Bollywood who are renowned to win the ground, wherever they performed. They clearly declared to the media that they don`t want to act in movies since they earn adequate amount of money by just doing one song. Abhishek Bachchan probably became the first Item Boy with his performance in the film Rakht; Shahrukh Khan was also brilliant in his performance as an item boy during the casting of Kaal. However, he earned the label of item number in the true sense of the word with "Dard-e-Disco" in the Farah Khan directed Om Shanti Om where he was shot in typical "item girl" manner with bare six pack abs. He also performed an item number for the lately released movie Krazzy 4. In this film, Hrithik Roshan also has an item number during the end credits. Even Salman Khan continued the trend by appearing in item songs in films like Hello and Tees Maar Khan, Aamir khan in Delhi Belly and Ranbir Kapoor in Chillar Party.

In the current period, Indian Item Songs had attained great new heights and status with the songs "Munni Badnam" featuring the diva of item songs Malaika Arora Khan, from the film Dabbang and "Sheila Ki Jawani" featuring the leading actress Katrina Kaif in the film Tees Maar Khan. Even Raveena Tandon`s item song in the recent film, Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap has been much appreciated by the audiences.

Many movies use item songs in their films as a marketing tool that is used as a trailer or a teaser to advertise the movie on television music channels. Sometimes reputable female and male actors offer special appearances to an item song to improve the film`s marketability. Item numbers of this type are generally less exposing and have more of a appealing flavour.

Year	Song	Film
1971	Piya Tu Ab To Aaja	Caravan
1973	Aaj Ki Raat	Anamika
1975	Mehbooba Mehbooba	Sholay
1978	Yeh Mera Dil	Don

Malaika Aora Khan

Year	Song	Film
1998	Chaiya Chaiya	Dil Se
2002	Mahi Ve	Kaante
2005	Kaal Dhamaal	Kaal
2007	Hath Rasiley	Welcome

Yana Gupta

Year	Song	Film
2003	Babuji Zara Dheera Chal	Dum
2004	oh! What A Babe	Rakht
2004	Manmadhan	Manmadhan
2005	Kadhal Yaanai	Anniyan

Shahrukh Khan

Year	Song	Film
2005	Kaal Dhamaal	Kaal
2007	Mast Kalandar	Heyy Babyy
2007	Dard-e-disco	om Shanti om
2008	Break Free	Krazzy 4

Madhuri Dixit

Year	Song	Film
1988	Ek Do Teen	Tezaab
1992	Dhak Dhak	Beta
1993	Choli Ke Peeche	Khalnayak

Urmila Matondkar

Year	Song	Film
1998	Chamma Chamma	China Gate
2002	Aa Hi Jaiye	Lajja
2007	Mehbooba Mehbooba	Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag

Shilpa Shetty

Year	Song	Film
1999	Maine Aai UP Bihar Lootne	Shool
2000	Macarena	Kushi
2004	Saiyaan Mora Saiyaan	Garv

Sushmita Sen

Year	Song	Film
2000	Mehboob Mere	Fiza
2001	Shakalaka Baby	Mudhalvan
2001	Shakalaka Baby	Nayak

Aishwarya Rai

Year	Song	Film
2001	Ishq Kameena	Shakti
2005	Kajra Re	Bunty aur Babli

Isha Kppikar

Year	Song	Film
2002	Khallas	Cmpany
2003	Ishq Samundar	Kaante

Shamita Shetty

Year	Song	Film
2002	Sharara Shararai	Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
2002	Chori Pe Chori	Saathiya

Koena Mitra

Year	Song	Film
2002	Khullam Khulla	Road
2004	Saaki Saaki	Musafir

Negar Khan

Year	Song	Film
2004	Ishq Khudai	Rudraksh
2004	Chal Hat	Shaadi Ka Laddoo

Esha Deol

Year	Song	Film
2004	Dhoom Machale	Dhoom
2007	Sunday	Sunday

Bipasha Basu

Year	Song	Film
2006	Beedi	Omkara
2006	Namak	Omkara

Parveen Babi

Year	Song	Film
1982	Jawani Jaaneman	Namak Halaal
1982	Raat Baki	Namak Halaal

Raveena Tandon

Year	Song	Film
1994	Tu Cheez Badi Hai	Mhra
1996	Shahar Ki Ladki	Rakshak

Nayantara

Year	Song	Film
2005	Kodambakkam Area	Sivakasi
2007	Balleilakka	Sivaji: The Boss

Kareena Kapoor

Year	Song	Film
2006	Yeh Mera Dil	Don
2007	It`s Rocking	Kya Love Story Hai

Mallika Sherawat

Year	Song	Film
2007	Mayya Mayya	Guru
2007	Mehbooba Mehbooba	Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story

Abhishek Bachchan

Year	Song	Film
2004	one Love	Rakht
2006	mehbooba mehbooba	[ram gopal verma ki aag]

Dia Mirza

Year	Song	Film
2006	Pyaar Ki Chatni	Phir Hera Pheri

Hrishitaa Bhatt

Year	Song	Film
2008	Ya Baba	My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves

Amisha Patel

Year	Song	Film
2008	Lazy Lamhe	Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

Hrithik Roshan

Year	Song	Film
2008	Break Free	Krazzy 4

Karishma Kapoor

Year	Song	Film
1994	Sexy Sexy	Khuddar

Tabu

Year	Song	Film
1994	Ruk Ruk Ruk	Vijaypath

Ramya Krishnan

Year	Song	Film
2003	Thodhu Varumaa	Kaakha Kaakha

Amrita Arora

Year	Song	Film
2003	Dilli Ki Sardi	Zameen

Lara Dutta

Year	Song	Film
2004	Aisa Jad	Khakee

Rakhi Sawant

Year	Songs
2003	Mohabbat Hai Mirchi - Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne
2005	Ankhiyan Na Maar - Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena
2006	Kismat Se Chalti Hai - Malamaal Weekly
2008	Dekhta Hai Tu Kya - Krazzy 4
2008	Bichua - 192 (film)

Former item girls in pop songs other than films, Rakhi Sawant and Meghna Naidu, for example, are now in high demand and very popular. Today, they are even being offered lead roles in commercially successful movies. As of 2007, Mallika Sherawat has become the most expensive "Item Girl".