Gaana Khazana: Kaafi Nayaa, Kuchh Puraana! Top favourite 15 filmy songs of 2023

By Chaitanya Padukone

The musical year ‘2023’ will possibly be chronicled in Bollywood cinematic history for its ‘merry-mix’ of old-recreated retro tunes versus original filmy melodies.

‘Jamaloo jamal bodo’ (the correct word is ‘Bodo’) This popular traditional Iranian-Bandari wedding song reinterpreted by music maverick Harshavardhan Rameshwar. This 60-year-old plus traditional song marks debonair ‘Lord’ Bobby (Abrar) Deol’s dramatic entry in the mega-hit movie ‘Animal’ directed by Sandeep Vanga Reddy.. What is incredible, is that although the Indian cinema-theatre audiences and YouTube viewers may not have understood the meaning of the alien Iranian lyrics– this well-picturized wedding chorus-and-rhythmic-claps traditional song ‘Jamal Jamaloo’ became infectiously viral. Like a cult national filmy anthem! Foot-tapping rhythmic melody sometimes knows ‘no-language’.

What jhumka? – Viral and trending from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (RARKPK) — it was director Karan Johar’s and composer Pritam’s tribute-homage to the original folksy retro song (movie ‘Mera Saaya’-1966) by Asha Bhosle composed by legendary Madan Mohan. Sung by Arijit Singh and Jonita Gandhi with rap-verse by Ranveer Singh song also had crisp lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Main nikla gaddi leke – from mega-hit Gadar 2 – the original peppy rhythmic chartbuster song from the prequel ( 2001) was recreated by composer Mithoon with vocals by Udit Narayan, Aditya Narayan and Mithoon himself. Of course, talented Mithoon has also composed multiple ‘original’ soulful melodies in ‘Gadar-2’.

Now for 12 Original 2023 Hit Filmy Melodies:

Tu hai toh mujhe, phir aur kya chaahiye – the talented duo Sachin-Jigar brought back award-worthy pure-melody into film music in director Laxman Utekar’s Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (ZHZB) with award-worthy lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Tere vaaste (also from ZHZB) had a catchy clap-chorus qawwali-meter tune with a pulsating rhythm. The confident composer Sachin told me in advance that “our marvelous songs of ‘ZHZB’ with such audio-visual grandeur deserve only the big-screen viewing in theatres”.

Composer Sachin (of Sachin-Jigar) with ( right) film-journalist Chaitanya Padukone

Tere pyaar mein – from Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi composer Pritam’s amazing melody and with repeat-value picturisation on Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor movie directed by Luv Ranjan.

Jhoome jo Pathaan from blockbuster Pathaan marvellously picturised on ‘Badshah’-macho rejuvenated Shah Rukh Khan and sultry sensuous Deepika Padukone was the initial national filmy anthem in the first half of 2023 Thanks to its infectious sharp-rhythmic Arabic flavor composed by Vishal-Shekhar under the banner YRF Spy Universe and directed by Siddharth Anand.

Besharam rang track also from Pathaan — rhythmic song sung sensuously by Shilpa Rao and Caralisa Monteiro awesome picturisation added to its visual repeat value.

Tum kya mile – from RARKPK well picturised snowy locales haunting melody by Arijit–Shreya composer Pritam. Also 9-A. Dhindora Baaje Re – again from RARKPK folksy song very well-choreographed and beautifully sung by Bhoomi Trivedi and Darshan Raval.

Challeya – heart-tugging hummable lyrical melody from SRK starrer mega-hit movie Jawan- sung by Arijit Singh and Shilpa Rao and composed by amazing composer Anirudh Ravi Chander.

Lutt putt gaya — from movie ‘Dunki’ singer Arijit Singh foot-tapping chatpatta folksy song –composed by Pritam.

Satranga-aadha ishq—sentimental lyric-rich soothing relief-break from volatile violence-packed in movie Animal—singer Arijit Singh—composer Shreyas Puranik

Le Ke Prabhu Ka Naam track from movie ‘Tiger 3’ brilliantly picturised on macho superstar Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif with exotic heritage backdrops is highly mass-appealing. Composed by genius Pritam with Arabic rhythmic vibes and sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi the song has an instant audience-connect and recall-value.

Paagal Parindey. It’s from the ‘realistic’ Adah Sharma starrer movie ‘The Kerala Story’ produced by movie-mogul Vipul Shah and directed by gutsy maverick Sudipto Sen. The meaningful lyrical hard-hitting melody track sung by versatile Sunidhi Chauhan and co-composer Bishakh Jyoti and its visuals is bound to arouse your heartfelt sympathy.

(The writer Chaitanya Padukone is a Phalke Academy award-recipient eminent senior entertainment journalist and author of best-seller memoirs book R D BurMania)