One of the biggest festivals of India, Holi will be upon us soon – literally and in every other way. Holi is all about the colour, the music, the dancing, the food… it is especially about the music! Thanks to Bollywood, there is an excellent selection of holi songs to choose from – holi is always the occasion that gives the hero and heroine the opportunity to get up close and personal; a little touchy-feely, so there have been many, many holi songs made over the years:
This is the quintessential holi song – song, dance, colour, religious harmony and a remastered colour print to boot! There is even subtle social comment - upon a custom that excludes widows from celebrations.
If the holi song from Sholay is the timeless classic, this one is a more modern version: here holi is a great big party, including bhang, uninhibited dancing, vigorous dunkings, and strange mentions of a neighbour’s ‘lattu’ sister-in-law.
Maybe this is not a holi song, but it has bhaang and dancing! Plus it is one of the most fun, catchy and dance-worthy songs ever! A must for that holi playlist.
OK, so this may seem like an old fashioned song and you may, like me, find Sandhya difficult to swallow at the best of times, but this is a classic holi song.
This is the original ‘chhed-chhad’ song where people are willy-nilly pulled into the holi melee. The end also features a taboo-breaking white-clad (supposed) widow being pulled into the celebration.
So it isn’t the song with the big booming beat, but what a simply ravishing song – part of arguably one of the greatest Hindi movie albums ever made!
Only a part of the song has to do with holi, but it is a beautiful song; an excellent composition, very well sung, and well worth adding to the holi playlist.
Now Baghbaan may be that original guilt-trip movie, but it is still remembered for its music... including this holi song.
A melodious, well sung, sensuous song. Even if you discount the visuals – the gorgeous lead pair, stunning outfits, the graceful, suggestive dance and the lavish sets, this is still a lovely song.
Rousing, fun, upbeat, joyful, completely danceable! What a song this is – from an iconic movie with music to match!
The movie Thakshak happens to be one of A R Rahman's more underrated albums. This song about colour is just one of the excellent compositions from an excellent album.
No, I hadn’t forgotten this one. But it is like the holi anthem; the song I have woken up to each holi morning for years now! So I thought I would add this at the end and not at the beginning of the essential holi playlist. Enjoy holi – and the music!
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