The Best Ever Bollywood Songs

The rich five thousand years old musical tradition of India was brought to the world stage for the first time by the charismatic Indian Music Composer, A. R. Rahman, who created history by winning two Grammies and two Oscars in 2010 for his music in Slumdog Millionaire. Those who follow Indian music and Bollywood know that his music in Slumdog Millionaire was far from his best. In fact, in spite of the fact that Rahman ranks today as one of the all time great composers of Bollywood, his songs are yet to find place among the best of Bollywood.

Here is a list of ten best ever songs produced by Bollywood in its history.

At the top of the list is this scintillating number from the movie Anand (1970), which is the story of an ailing man suffering from incurable cancer and the victory of his positive human spirit over the tragedy faced by him. This eternal number, sung by the great Mukesh, was written by another great of Bollywood, Gulzar and composed by Salil Chaudhary. Listen to it, absorb it and you will never feel human misery again.

A soul touching number like this could only be sung by the great Mohammad Rafi, arguably the greatest male playback singer in Bollywood's history. It is said he could act with his voice, and if you do not believe it, just listen to this song and try to appreciate the effect his voice has generated. An all time favorite emotional number of Bollywood romance, it was composed by the great S D Burman for the movie Guide (1965), which is the story of elevation of a simple human being through romance to spirituality.

If Bollywood music is about elevating your spirits, mixing them in a fascinating mix of emotion and taking them to unforeseen heights, then this is the song that represents that facet. Sung by the great Kishore Kumar, for the movie Sharmeelee (1971), this is another great composition of S D Burman, often sited as the greatest music composer of Bollywood. Kishore's voice and Burman's music takes you to a trip to heaven. Close your eyes and enjoy the divine experience.

This great number was again sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar and composed by Bappi Lahiri, for the movie Sharaabi (1984). It takes you to the depths of an ailing soul, in a manner that all forms of art and music aspire to achieve. Humanity is all about being able to feel the pain some one else has, and this number succeeds in bringing out the best of that quality. No amount of knowledge, money, wealth, religious sermons or science can do what this number can do to you. Try it if you don't believe me.

The only number produced in this century that finds a place in this list was actually composed by the great Madan Mohan many decades before it was rediscovered and used for the movie Veer-Zaara (2004). The music stands out by its virtuosity and riches of vibrations that perfectly depict the platonic love of two birds unfortunately caught in the vicious destruction of nationalism and religion, who chose to pay with their life long suffering rather than give up their feelings. Written by Javed Akhtar and sung by Udit Narayan, the two living legends of Bollywood.

This song is great not just because of its music but also because of the way in which it was filmed by the great Guru Dutt, one of the greatest and most original Directors of Bollywood. The number depicts ironic tragedies of human life and has a haunting quality that pierces deep in to your heart. If you have never experienced pain in real life, just listen to this number to understand what that would mean. Sung by Geeta Dutt, and composed by S D Burman, for the movie Kagaz ke Phool (1959), such magic could never be recreated again in Bollywood.

Another great song by the great Mohammad Rafi for the movie Dulari in 1949. It was composed by another legend Naushad. The number composed with limited background instruments and support in the late forties, remains one of the best ever produced by Bollywood, because of its simple soft sounds and their astonishing impact. One of its great strengths is its lyrics written by Shakeel Badayuni.

This amazingly out of this world number was sung by Lata Mageshkar, the greatest legend of Bollywood Music for the movie Woh Kaun Thi (1964). The music was composed by Madan Mohan, who is said to have invariably reserved his best for Lata. It has great lyrics written by Raja Mehndi Ali khan, which together with music and Lata's voice render an extra-ordinary combination of love and emotions with a haunting quality that befitted the horror tale of this movie. Listen to it to experience the sweet but haunting world of paranormal.

This number is the the best depiction of the strong classical vocal tradition of Indian music. It was sung by the legendary Manna Dey, one of the greatest exponent of classical in Bollywood for the movie Dil Hi To Hai (1963). Written by Sahir Ludhianavi and composed by Roshan, the number owes its greatness largely to its perfect rendering by Manna Dey. It is a song without which the list of greatest Bollywood songs can never be completed.

This number, a duet by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mageshkar, two great legends of Bollywood makes you fly in the air, taking you above the clouds and even farther ... letting you experience how music can transgress the boundaries of time and space. It has great lyrics written by Gulzar and its music was composed by R D Burman, another of musical greats of Bollywood for the movie Aandhi (1975).