For as long as modern Hindi cinema has been around, music is one aspect which can take immense pride in having been seen in almost all of its films. Be it in the genres of friendship, romance, melancholy or dance, they’re all watched and loved. Keeping this in mind, I’ve narrowed down a list of five songs which I believe have changed Bollywood over the many years.
1. Yeh Dosti—Sholay
With lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi, music composed by the legendary R.D. Burman, and sung by Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey, I would be lying if I said this track wasn’t an anthem that paved the way for many more dosti songs in future films. While the film went on to become one of the industry’s most iconic films till date, the same can be said for this song and the onscreen friendship of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.
2. Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh—Dil Apne Aur Preet Parai
As far as old Hindi film songs go, there’s no denying that Lata Mangeshkar had a big part to play in making them what they still are: melodious and poetic. Thus, this list would be incomplete without one of the songs that led her to immediate fame in the 1960s. Composed by Shankar-Jaikishan and lyrics written by Shailendra, this remains one of the singer’s most renowned tracks. Personally, this is also one of my favourite songs of all time.
3. Tujhe Dekha Toh—Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge
I dare you to find an Indian girl who doesn’t dream of a man like ‘Raj’ in an iconic film like this one, as unrealistic as it may well be. With music by Jatin-Lalit and lyrics by Anand Bakshi, the soundtrack as well as the film went on to become a huge success, and is still playing in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir. From the mustard field to the banjo, this song epitomizes a Bollywood romance in every true sense of the term, a feat that could be accomplished only by the late Yash Chopra.
4. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai—Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Okay so I cheated a bit; I put in two romantic songs in this list, but I couldn’t choose between them. While one perfectly presents the chemistry of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, this one…well, also does just that. I like to think this was inspired by the former; it may well be so considering the latter was also composed by Jatin-Lalit. With lyrics by Sameer, and sung flawlessly by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, I believe a certain magic was re-created not only by the onscreen couple, but by the composer duo as well.
5. Bole Chudiyan—Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
An Indian wedding is incomplete without a sangeet, and a sangeet is incomplete without its music. Thus, I believe this track established the creation of so many more dance-filled numbers to follow. The thumkas, the latka-jhatkas and the otherwise brilliant choreography not only inspired future composers to follow suit, but also choreographers with innovative dance moves. Three Jatin-Lalit songs in row? I promise I’m not biased. I guess they were just the trendsetters we never realised existed.