Delicate, gossamer wings of imagination. Review on Ten Best Hindi Songs of 2004

Yes, I know that 2004 has not ended yet. Hey, what's a few days plus or minus? Anyway, I have a writer’s license, so please forgive me. And here is my review anyway.

1. Kyon Hawa(Veer Zaara) Sonu Nigam and Lata Mangeshkar

Poetry translated into the most heart warming, soul stirring melody. This song starts with poignant narration in the voice of none other than Yash Chopra. Close your eyes, and listen to this song and I can promise you that you will be transported to another world swathed in swirling mists with your dreams flowing in the breeze and forgotten desires and  passions beckoning you. It will make you believe in a place where your dreams live, under shadows of flowers, in quiet resignation, waiting to be realized one day.

2. Jeene ke ishaare mil gaye(Phir Milenge) Shankar Mahadevan

Running through a seemingly endless dark tunnel, what do you feel when you see a ray of light? Lost in a sea of apprehension and disquiet, how do you feel when happiness finally knocks on your door? The relief, the happiness that fills you. Home coming and the quiet, joyful moments that follow.  Rich lyrics expertly rendered by Shankar Mahadevan, this songs soothes your anxieties and speaks of happy days after going through adversities and hard, lonely times.

3. Hum Tum(Hum Tum) Alka Yagnik and Babul Supriyo

Finally, a Bollywood song on love-making which is not sleazy. It’s sentimental and romantic. Emotional bonding that gets translated into an intense need to get physically close to the person you love. The tone is neither frothy nor heavy- it strikes just the right balance. Mercifully, it treats lovemaking in a dignified manner, a quiet surrender of the mind, heart and soul which is inevitable and undeniable.

4. Tere liye(Veer Zaara) Lata Mangeshkar and Roop Kumar Rathore

This song is the purest, most sacred song ever to be made on love. It treats love as a sacrosanct, blessed emotion that is akin to worship. The tone is sad but there is a quiet strength that flows from this song. It’s delicate as a feather and yet hits you with such a force that will make you believe in love all over again. To make it even more dreamy, the picturization  is absolutely heavenly. Time seems to stop as Veer and Zaara see each other after ages with this lilting melody in the background.

5. Lakshya(Lakshya) Shankar Mahadevan

This song starts with the sound of a chopper in the background and takes you to new heights from there. It will appeal to anybody with a goal in their lives or with a dream in their eyes. It speaks of courage, determination and focus. It’s a pity that it did not the recognition that it deserved and faded in front of the crazy sounding ‘Main aisa kyon hoon’ which frankly, sounded too madcap and hocus-pocus to me.

6. Mann ki lagan(Paap) Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Though the title of this movie is misleading(How can loving be a sin?) this song is simply divine. It’s unconventional(for Bollywood standards), deep and classical. It describes the   feeling of submission in loveand the need to be with that someone special forever. The instruments used are so unlike the usual Bollywood orchestras that it comes like  a breath of fresh air. Kudos to Pooja Bhatt for being different!

7. Main hoon na(Main Hoon na) Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal

I finally found my song, the song that describes my attitude towards my loved ones. Taking care of my friends and family members is as natural to me as breathing.  Yet, I was never able to formulate this in words and this song has done it for me. So now as I go about my business of ‘Don’t worry. I am here for you’, I’d rather sing ‘Main hoon na’.  

8. Yeh rishta(Meenaxi) Reena Bhardwaj

Can’t give a name to those mysterious feelings that overpower you? Do you find thinking about someone constantly and yet are afraid to call it ‘love’? Well, don’t call it love yet. Love is too deep and too powerful. Call it attraction, infatuation, fascination….whatever.Or just go about singing ‘Ye rishta kya kehlata hai?’ Ponder, wonder, think, have fun. A.R. Rehman has created this masterpiece just for you.

9. Do pal(Veer Zaara) Lata Mangeshkar and Sonu Nigam

Some songs are close to your heart. Some songs make you smile. Yet, the ones that are most special to you are the ones which move you to tears. And this song can melt the hardest of heats and change the most cynical of visions.How could today’s music get so pure and touching? Oh, obviously. It’s been composed by the maestro of yesteryears, the late Madan Mohan. Sonu Nigam has done a commendable job and not once, you feel that Mohammad Rafi would have been better. And check the picturization at your own risk. Those embarrassing tears will flow unchecked.

10. Aao na(Kyun? Ho gaya na) Sadhana Sargam and Udit Narayan

Finally, a gem of a song by Sadhana Sargam, the most underrated female playback singer of Bollywood. Melody unplugged and beautiful notes unbridled.Unfortunately, this movie flopped and hence, this song could not touch the heights it deserved. Yet, it remains the most oft played song in my PC. It’s amazingly calming and soothing and will make you want to do a slow ball dance, all by yourself.

A few more that were on my list: Yunhi Chala Chal(Swades), Main Yahaan hoon(Veer Zaara), Kandhon se Kandhe(Lakshya), Tumhe jo maine dekha(Main hoon na)….