From ‘Rang Barse’ To ‘Balam Pichkari’, Bollywood Songs To Add To Your Holi 2024 Playlist
From ‘Rang Barse’ To ‘Balam Pichkari’, here are some Bollywood songs for Holi 2024 to get you in the festive mood instantly.
Holi, also known as the ‘Festival of Colours’, is one of the most popular festivals in India. A day before Holi, people mark the festival of Choti Holi or Holika Dahan. It is a significant day as it commemorates the victory of good over evil. The celebrations begin on the night before Holi, with people gathering outside their homes to light the Holika bonfire. The following day, also known as Rangwali Holi, people of all ages step out to smear each other with gulaal (coloured powders) and splash water through balloons and water guns. The streets become arenas of joy, with music, dance, and traditional delicacies being served.
A traditional Indian sweet called gujiya is a staple with savories like papdi chaat and dahi bhalle, as well as snacks like samosas and kachoris, which are also relished. No Holi party is complete without thandai, a refreshing drink made with milk, nuts, and more.
This year, Choti Holi or Holika Dahan is being marked today (March 24). Meanwhile, Holi will fall a day after on March 25. Holi also heralds the arrival of spring. No Holi celebration is ever complete without music and dance, which are an integral part of Holi, with songs that capture the essence of the celebration.
And when we think about Holi songs, Bollywood music instantly comes to mind. Bollywood movies are renowned for their extraordinary fusion of beautiful storytelling, powerful performances, and cultural richness. At the heart of Bollywood movies lie the integral role of songs, which transcend mere entertainment to become crucial narrative tools, enhancing the overall cinematic experience. These Bollywood songs, often set against visually stunning backdrops, do more than just entertain. They serve to intensify emotions, accentuate plot developments, and more.
Songs in Bollywood are a unique blend of various musical styles, incorporating elements from classical, folk, and contemporary genres, making it a rich tapestry that reflects India's diverse cultural heritage. The dance styles accompanying these songs are also equally significant, with choreography that ranges from traditional to modern styles, further showcasing the Hindi film industry's versatility.
If you are one of those hosting a Holi party or just in the mood to enjoy some songs while having fun with your loved ones at home, then creating a Holi playlist is surely amongst your top priorities. Making a Holi playlist with Bollywood songs is like capturing the essence of the festival’s joy and energy.
Here are some of the best Bollywood songs that capture the vibrant spirit of the festival and would make excellent additions to your Holi 2024 playlist:
1. Rang Barse: The classic song, sung by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, is synonymous with Holi. Its catchy tunes and festive lyrics make it a timeless choice for any Holi celebration. The Holi track features Amitabh Bachchan, drenched in colours, singing in a lively gathering. The Holi song also features Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha. Its lyrics, penned by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, capture the essence of Holi's playful spirit. The music has been composed by Shiv-Hari. ‘Rang Barse’ featured in the 1981 cult classic ‘Silsila’.
2. Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jate Hain: The iconic Bollywood movie ‘Sholay’, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan and Amjad Khan, gave us some of the most memorable songs and dialogues. ‘Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jate Hain’ from the movie is an another iconic Holi song that never gets old. Even more than five decades later, Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan's song from ‘Sholay’ remains a top favourite on every Holi playlist. RD Burman has composed the music with the track sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics for the evergreen song.
3. Aaj Na Chhodenge: This iconic song from ‘Kati Patang’ is all about just letting go and having. Now, isn’t that exactly what the festival of Holi is all about? Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar lent their voices for this upbeat Hindi song that featured Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh. The peppy number was composed by RD Burman and the 1970 movie was directed by Shakti Samanta. This old classic song is a cheerful and lively number that should definitely be on your Holi 2024 playlist as it perfectly captures the essence of the festival.
4. Jai Jai Shiv Shankar: One of the most popular songs from J. Om Prakash’s 1974 Bollywood movie ‘Aap Ki Kasam’, ‘Jai Jai Shivshankar’ has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. This song is one of the highlights of the film, featuring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar’ is known for its catchy tunes, and fun dance moves, making it one of the iconic numbers of that era. The song was composed by the R.D. Burman and the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. This song remains a favourite for Holi celebrations in India and among Bollywood music enthusiasts worldwide.
5. Soni Soni: This song from the multi-starrer ‘Mohabbatein’, which released in 2000, literally raised my expectations for a Holi party. The dhol, people having fun, and colours flying in the air, it had everything. And having this groovy Bollywood number on your Holi 2024 playlist is totally worth it! ‘Soni Soni’ featured Shah Rukh Khan, Uday Chopra, Anupam Kher and several others dancing to the catchy beats of the song. One of the standout tracks from the movie, ‘Soni Soni’ was composed by the renowned duo Jatin-Lalit, with lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. Udit Narayan, Jaspinder Narula, Udbhav, Manohar Shetty, Ishaan, Shweta Pandit, Sonali Bhatawdekar and Pritha Mazumdar lent their voices to the popular Holi song.
6. Hori Khele Raghuveera: This evergreen song from the 2003 Bollywood movie ‘Baghban’ became the Holi anthem for many, after ‘Rang Barse’. And the crackling chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini in ‘Hori Khele Raghuveera’ still holds a special place in our hearts. The song, composed by Aadesh Shrivastava, was sung by Amitabh Bachchan, Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh and Udit Narayan. The cheerful lyrics were penned by Sameer. In ‘Hori Khele Raghuveera’, the characters engage in the traditional Holi celebrations, where people play with colours, dance and enjoy festive music.
7. Do Me A Favour Lets Play Holi: This is the perfect song to play if you want to ask your crush or your beau to play Holi with you. The groovy Bollywood song, from the 2005 Hindi movie ‘Waqt: The Race Against Time’, features Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ looking absolutely stunning while playing Holi, drenched in colours. Their insane chemistry takes the vibe of the song to a whole new level. The track has been sung by Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan. Sameer wrote the lyrics for the song, while Anu Malik composed the Holi dance number.
8. Balam Pichkari: This is hands-down the modern generation’s Holi anthem! This blockbuster Bollywood song takes the Holi vibe to a whole new level. Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin featured in the music video of ‘Balam Pichkari’ from their hit 2013 movie ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, directed by Ayan Mukerji. The track has been sung by Vishal Dadlani and Shalmali Kholgade. Pritam Chakraborty composed the music for the Holi dance number, while Amitabh Bhattacharya penned the playful lyrics. The song, which has become a favourite during Holi celebrations across India, is popular for its catchy beats, engaging lyrics and lively music video, which captures the essence of Holi's fun and frolic.
9. Badri Ki Dulhania: This new-age song is such a fun number that it will make you groove instantly. Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, who gave us one of the grooviest Holi songs ever, feature in stunning traditional attires as they dance to the catchy beats of ‘Balam Pichkari’. The upbeat track is from their 2017 film ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’, which was a follow-up to their 2014 film ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’. With lyrics penned by Shabbir Ahmed and music composed by Tanishk Bagchi, the song features voices of Dev Nagi, Neha Kakkar, Monali Thakur and Ikka.
10. Khadke Glassy: I grew up listening to the OG ‘Khadke Glassy’ but this rendition is just as good as the old one. The upbeat music will definitely make you want to groove and have fun while chugging down a glass of thandai or your favourite beverage with your family and friends. ‘Khadke Glassy’, from the 2019 Bollywood movie ‘Jabariya Jodi’, features Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra dancing to the peppy beats of the song with a stunning, vibrant view in the backdrop. With colours flying in the air and the energetic feel of the song, this one should definitely be on your Holi 2024 playlist. The song has been sung by Honey Singh, Ashok Mastie and Jyotica Tangri. The music has been composed by Tanishk Bagchi and Ashok Mastie with lyrics penned by Tanishk Bagchi and Channi Rakhala.
There are several other Holi songs like ‘Ang Se Ang Lagana’ from ‘Darr’, ‘Jai Jai Shivshankar’ from ‘War’, ‘Gori Tu Latth Maar’ from ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Mind Na Kariyo Holi Hai’ from ‘Milan Talkies’ and ‘Gali Gali’ from ‘Pataakha’.
Happy Holi!
