Like most people, I have very few tangible memories before the age of 4. Included in this limited collection of memories lies my brother’s birth, my first Disneyland trip, and most importantly, dancing in my living room to Bollywood’s infamous song “Kajra Re.” I would dance without a care in the world, with the music video blaring at full volume on my 2000s TV, hoping to personify Aishwarya’s captivating energy and perform the choreography to perfection. To this day, anytime “Kajra Re” starts playing within the vicinity of my family and me, we cannot help but laugh and start dancing. Bollywood music has played an integral part in my upbringing and identity as an Indian and has shaped me as a dancer and art-enjoyer. As an ode to an iconic element of the world’s entertainment industry, here are a few of my favorite Bollywood songs.
Kajra Re
Starting with the previously mentioned “Kajra Re,” this creation by Shankar-Ehsaan-Roy and Gulza was one that quickly became popular among the masses. It begins with a sweet solo of our heroine singing about her heart becoming a mess. Shortly after, our female voice is met with that of a man’s, paired with a catchy tabla beat in the background. The core of the song entails a tabla beat that surrounds the main chorus, which chants “Kajra re, kajra re, tere kare kare naina,” meaning “your kohl lined eyes.” I think the root of my infatuation with this song from a young age can be traced back to Aishwarya Rai. No one does it quite like Aishwarya. Within this 8-minute song, she manages to encapsulate the essence of an early 2000s Bollywood actress, serving the audience with a piece of art that we can still enjoy 20 years later. To this day, this song, and Aishwarya of course, are a defining element of Bollywood in the 2000s.
Mauja Hi Mauja
An underrated party song, “Mauja Hi Mauja” is from the extremely popular movie Jab We Met. I feel this is one of the many songs in Bollywood that gives justice to the grandeur and extravagance of Indian weddings since the song itself is used during a montage and transitions into a wedding scene during the film. The main chorus includes a chanting of the phrase “Mauja Hi Mauja,” which literally translates to “fun and joy.” We can see Shahid playing the character of the lost, hopeless, and angsty young man who is met with Kareena, the ditzy, adventurous girl; the two match each other’s energy and grow closer in just one song. The chanting of the phrase “Mauja Hi Mauja” almost makes you feel as if you are attending the wedding from Jab We Met in your own sequined set, dancing along with the characters of this scene. Every time this song is played, everyone belts along to the phrase, and not a single soul remains seated.
Chammak Challo
Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor, Bollywood’s favorite faces, “Chammak Challo” has everyone hooked from the first listen. Not only does this song contain lyrics in three different languages, but we are also blessed with a feature from Akon on this track. This feature contributed to this song’s quick rise in popularity in the Western world. My friends and I would jokingly sing along to this song, asking one another to be each other’s “chammak challos.” I even recall watching this music video during my 10th-grade AP World History class. I remember being obsessed with the green sets that the background dancers wore, and the obsession only intensified with the seemingly perfect Bollywood choreography. They simply do not put out Bollywood songs like this anymore.
Deewani Mastani
I can’t write about beautiful Bollywood pieces without mentioning the movie Bajirao Mastani. he movie takes place in historical Pune, the city both of my parents grew up and married in, and depicts the story of Bajirao and his lovers. This song not only portrays the dramatic tension between the three but also depicts the beauty of Indian empires during the 1700s. The song is set in a golden palace with the actors serving face and emoting in every single shot. The release of this song was groundbreaking for many, including myself, as I had spent most of my listening experiences up until this time enjoying the more traditional party-dance songs of Bollywood. This song remains one of my favorites because of the cultural richness it holds, housing many beautiful voices, costumes, choreography, and representation of one of India’s most famous royal stories.
I could write an unlimited number of articles about my love for India and it still wouldn’t convey how much I cherish my culture. Bollywood music has not only shaped the world’s entertainment industry but my opinions on music as a whole. One of my greatest joys in life is listening to music, especially Bollywood, and I cannot wait to experience the boundless future that Bollywood holds.