World Music Day: The soundtracks that have transformed Bollywood over the years

Hindi cinema and music have been synonymous since the start of the walkie-talkie era decades ago. Unlike its western counterpart, Bollywood does not have a separate genre called musicals. Almost every major Hindi movie over the years has had multiple songs intertwined in the narrative. It gave listeners several memorable songs. And once in a while comes an album or a movie soundtrack, which is the complete package. Read also : Starring AR Rahman, Coke Studio, Riz Ahmed and Jalebi Baby, Ms. Marvel Brings Desi Music to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

On World Music Day, we take a look at some of the best Bollywood soundtracks over the years that changed the way music was directed and orchestrated in the film industry.

Barsat (1949)

The Raj Kapoor and Nargis star had music by Shankar-Jaikishan with lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri, Shailendra, Ramesh Shastri and Jalal Mahilabadi. The album contained some of the most memorable songs of all time, including classics like Hawa Mein Udta Jaaye and Patli Kamar Hai. The film also gave young Lata Mangeshkar a breakthrough, paving the way for her dominance over the next three decades.

Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

Possibly the greatest Indian film ever made, Mughal-e-Azam also needed great music. The period drama saw composer Naushad at his best as he lent music to Shakeel Badayuni’s lyrics. Most of the songs from the movies have survived the test of time with tracks like Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Teri Mehfil Mein and Mohabbat Ki Jhooti Kahani considered all-time classics. The soundtrack also included two songs by legendary classical singer Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in his only performance for a film.

Guide (1965)

Considered the most comprehensive Bollywood soundtrack by many musicians in the Hindi film industry, Guide had music by SD Burman with lyrics by Shailendra. It has often been noted that every song in the film is a classic, be it the energetic Gaata Rahe Mera Dil to the tragic Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya, and even the classic Piya Tose Naina Laage Re. Interestingly, in the song Saiyaan Beimaan, famous santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma played the tabla.

Aradana (1969)

Aradhana was a turning point for Bollywood music as SD Burman collaborated with his son RD Burman, who had hitherto been in his shadow. And the rest, as they say, is history. The songs were written by Anand Bakshi and the film introduced a new type of sound to listeners with tracks like Mere Sapno Ki Rani and Roop Tera Mastana. With Mohammed Rafi on tour, Kishore Kumar sang all the songs in the film, which transformed his career and made him the preeminent singer in the industry.

Disco Dancer (1982)

Disco came to the West in the 1970s, but it took India a decade to catch disco fever. And in the end, it was Bappi Lahiri who introduced this genre to India through one of the best selling albums India has seen. The songs, written by Anjaan and Faruk Kaiser, became charts around the world, launching the careers of singers like Usha Uthup and Suresh Wadkar.

Dil Se (1997)

AR Rahman had already proven himself in the south with amazing soundtracks like Roja and Bombay. He had also given Rangeela in the Hindi film industry but Dil Se was when he really showed the world his genius. In a soundtrack of just six albums, Rahman was able to deliver songs as diverse as Chhaiyya Chhaiyya and Ae Ajnabi. Gulzars lyrics and Rahmans melody made the soundtrack memorable. The album also bucked the established trend of songwriters using one singer for most songs, as Rahman used 14 singers on five songs. This trend for variety in singing is something that has continued to this day.

Wasseypur Gangs (2012)

No recent Bollywood soundtrack has been as as this project by Sneha Khanwalkar on Anurag Kashyaps’ two-part cult classic. Sneha used folk singers, chutney music experts, and even a girl who sang on trains to lend the earthly authenticity the story needed. The result was a funky album that became part of pop culture. Tracks like Keh Ke Lunga, Womaniya and Kaala Rey have become favorites across India. The songs, written by Varun Grover and Piyush Mishra, might not have been as melodious or even as popular as some of the others from the last decade, but they showed songwriters how to experiment and take the beaten path.