Rang Barse Evergreen Holi Songs Of Bollywood Over 6 Decades (1953-2014)

March 6, 2015 | By Antara Nanda Mondal

From Aan in 1953 to Ram Leela in 2014, Holi songs of Bollywood have added colour,
energy, music and dance to films through the decades. From the mellow and richly
classical Holi songs in the 50s to the fun songs in the 70s, the flirtatious songs of the 80s
to the power-packed, rigorous dance sequences in the new millennium, Holi songs have
seen a gradual but marked change in style of music and picturisation.

Khelo rang hamare sang, Aan (1953)

Indias first technicolour film Aan exploited the colourful festival of Holi to fully utilize its
highly expensive use of 16mm Gevacolour (Gevacolour is a revolutionary motion picture
process that was suitable for location shooting). Jai Tilak (Dilip Kumar) plays Holi with
Mangala (Nimmi), a simple village girl. As he throws away her scarf in the melee, it
mistakenly lands on the tempestuous and arrogant princess Rajshree (Nadira) who is
touring the city on her royal elephant, making her assume something else!
Khelo Rang Hamaare Sang AajShamshad Begum, Lata Mangeshkar
Naushad
Shakeel Badayuni

Holi aayi pyaari pyaari bhar pichkari, Pooja (1954)

A beautiful Holi song sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi and composed by
Shankar Jaikishan. The rustic appeal of folk music comes through in this song.
Lyrics Shailndera.

Mat Maro Shyam Pichkari, Durgesh Nandini (1956)

A romantic Holi song composed by Hemant Kumar and picturised on the elegant Bina
Rai and the princely Pradeep Kumar. Talk about Holi compositions with a touch of the
classical and this song from Durgesh Nandini which had some great music will be
remembered for sure.
A song by Lata Mangeshkar lyrics of Rajendra Krishan.

Holi aayi re Kanhai rang barse, Mother India (1957

The iconic melodrama that became Indias first submission for the Academy Award for
Best Foreign Language Film in 1958 and was chosen as one of the five nominations for
the category, has this beautiful Holi song, sung by Shamshad Begum, one of the top
most singers of the 50s. The song captures Radha (Nargis) and Shamu (Raaj Kumar) in
their happier times before poverty engulfs them.
Music by

Naushad

The lyrics were by Shakeel Badayuni.

Are jare natkhat, Navrang (1959)

Diwakar (Mahipal) the poet who deeply loves his wife Jamuna (Sandhya) creates a
fantasy world of his own where Jamuna is his muse under the name of Mohini.
Legendary filmmaker V Shantaram cast his wife Sandhya in this unusual role where she
plays both the real and the fantasy characters. In the backdrop of Holi, this song has one
of the most remarkable solo dance sequences performed by Sandhya, where she role
plays both Radha and Shyam.
Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor
Music by

C. Ramchandra

Bharat Vyas (lyrics)

Tan rang lo ji aaj man rang lo, Kohinoor (1960)

Tragedy king Dilip Kumar and tragedy queen Meena Kumari break away from their
typical tragic roles to play a prince and princess of different kingdoms in a humorous and
light film which is full of sword fights, songs and dances and of course, this rather royal
Holi song.
Music by

Naushad

Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar

lyrics penned by Shakeel Badayuni

Holi Khelat Nandlal, Godaan (1963)

A Holi song without women and only the men dancing along the village pathways! This
song from the critically acclaimed Godaan is an unconventional Holi song rooted in the
folk music of rural India, composed by the sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. The song

is still remembered for its rustic feel and exuberance that comes through in Rafis golden
voice.
Ravi Shankar
lyrics- Anjaan
Mohammed Rafi

Layi hain hazaron rang holi, Phool Aur Patthar (1966)

Meena Kumari is back as tragedy queen in O P Ralhans superhit Phool Aur Patthar,
which catapulted Dharmendra into stardom. As the colony erupts into Holi revelry, the
deepening relationship between the abandoned widow and the vagabond find
expression in the festival of colours.
Song Lyricists: Shakeel Badayuni
Music Composer: Ravi Shankar Sharma (Ravi)
Singers: Asha Bhosle

Aaj na chhodenge, Kati Patang (1970)

Madhavi (Asha Parekh) is reluctant to join in the Holi festivities, bound by age-old
traditions that forbid widows to participate in festivities. Kamal (Rajesh Khanna), the
forest ranger who is in love with Madhavi is in no mood to listen. Anand Bakshis lyrics,
RD Burmans music and Kishore Kumars mischievous style beautifully captures the
playful mood of Holi, where the typical refrain is bura mat maano, Holi hai.

Holi aayi re, Holi Aayi Re (1970)

This is the title song of the film which was also named Holi Aayi Re. Sung by Mahendra
Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Khanna, the song is picturized on Mala Sinha. The film
is a social drama with a tight, eventful script and some very good songs.
Music by

Kalyanji Anandji

Holi Re Holi Rango Ki Holi, Paraya Dhan (1971)

Paraya Dhan, set in rural India, starred Balraj Sahni, Hema Malini, Rakesh Roshan and
Ajit Khan and had a couple of memorable songs. This popular song has the village

people chasing a girl through the woods to throw colour on her, signifying the huddang
of Holi.
Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey
Rahul Dev Burman
Singer(s): Manna Dey
Music By: R D Burman
Lyricist(s): Anand Bakshi

Phagun aayo re, Phagun (1973)

Shanta Damle (Waheeda Rehman) dances with joyous abandon, reflecting the festive
mood of Holi. In the midst of all this masti and colour, she is careful not to let her new
expensive sari get damaged, which is a gift from her rich father. Her penniless writer
husband, Gopal (Dharmendra), unaware that the sari is not to be drenched with colour,
fires the pichkari on his surprised wife.
Lata Mangeshkar sings this beautiful SD Burmans composition that sets to tune
Majrooh Sultanpuris mast lyrics.

Nadiya se dariya, Namak Haraam (1973)

Chander (Rajesh Khanna) guzzles bhaang and breaks into a rather thoughtful Holi
number which has deeper poetry (written by Anand Bakshi) hidden in the garb of a fun
and frivolous song. Giving him company is an equally sloshed Dhondu (Asrani). Kishore
Kumar sings this superhit R D Burman composition.

Holi ke din, Sholay (1975)

The biggest blockbuster and arguably one of the greatest Bollywood films Sholay has an
incredibly vibrant and energetic Holi song. You have Gabbar Singh growling, Holi kab
hai.. kab hai Holi!!! And the shot cuts to gulal and pichkaris being sprayed in the air, as
the dancing village belles come skipping into the frame. Veeru (Dharmendra) and
Basanti (Hema Malini) rock the scene while Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Radha (Jaya
Bhaduri) exchange meaningful glances across the hill top.
Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar lead the enthusiastic chorus in R D Burmans foot
tapping music.
lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi.

Holi aayi re mastano ki toli, Zakhmee (1975)

Zakhmee Dilo Ka Badla Chukane; ... aali re aali re holi aali re aali re aali re aali are aali
re aali re mastano ki toli tufan dil me liye ... tufan dil me liye he holi ke rang me dil ka
lahu ye kisne mila diya aayi bahar ...
A rather dark Holi song where Ananda (Sunil Dutt) drums on his dafli and swears
vengeance against those who have wronged him. Though he is among the Holi revelers
he is very much alone in his world of anger and pain.
Music by

Bappi Lahiri

\Kishore Kumar
lyrics- Gauhar Kanpuri

Kar gayi mast mujhe, Dillagi (1978)

This fun Holi song from the Basu Chatterji directed romantic comedy Dillagi is
understated as compared to the typically lively and exuberant Holi songs of Bollywood,
which have scores of people dancing in tandem with the lead actors. Dillagis Holi song
sung by Kishore Kumar and Suman Kalyanpur becomes an expression of the love
between a constantly feuding professor of science and a professor of Sanskrit.
Song Lyricists: Yogesh Gaud
Music Composer: Rajesh Roshan
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan

Rang barse bheege chunarwali, Silsila (1981)

By far one of the most famous Holi songs of all times, this song has the leisurely drawl
that comes when you consume bhaang in abandon and go tipsy. Drunk on bhaang, Amit
(Amitabh Bachchan) breaks all codes and flirts openly with his old flame Chandni
(Rekha), forgetting that his own wife Shobha (Jaya Bachchan) and Chandnis husband
Dr. V.K. Anand (Sanjeev Kumar) are watching, dismayed.
Rang barses lyrics were written by poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Shiv Hari gave
its music the folk music flavor of North India. Amitabh Bachchans histrionics as well as
his music talent is on display in full measure in this iconic song.

Bhagi re bhagi brij bala, Rajput (1982)

This fun song transports you into the land of the Rajputs as they enact the age-old
Radha Krishna Holi with Manu (Dharmendra) and Bhanu (Vinod Khanna) playfully
chasing their respective love interests Janki (Hema Malini) and Kamli (Ranjeeta) through
the colourful streets. Laxmikant-Pyarelal scored music for this multi-starrer.
Music : Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar (Laxmikant Pyarelal), Pyarelal Ramprasad
Sharma (Laxmikant Pyarelal)
Lyrics : Anand Bakshi
Singers : Asha Bhosle, Dhiraj Kaur, Mahendra Kapoor

Mal de gulaal mohe aayi holi aayi re, Kaamchor (1982)

A love story with a difference, Kaamchor, directed by K Vishwanath is a remake of his
own Telugu film Subhodayam. Starring Rakesh Roshan, Jaya Prada, Tanuja, Sujit
Kumar, Suresh Oberoi, Shreeram Lagoo and Bhagwan Dada, the film and its music
composed by Raajesh Roshan became a hit.
Singer(s): Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music By: Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist(s): Indeevar

Holi aayi, Holi aayi, Mashaal (1984)

This song captures the mood of Holi celebrations among simple, lower middle class folks
who live in the chawls and bastis of the big city of Mumbai. Raja (Anil Kapoor) leads the
gang of Holi revelers in Dongarbatti, a rundown locality comprising mostly of small
houses, junkyards and shanties. Other than enjoying Holi, his objective is to impress
Geeta (Rati Agnihotri), an aspiring journalist and an assistant in Vinod Kumars (Dilip
Kumar) newspaper. Hridayanath Mangeshkar sets to tune Javed Akhtars lyrics in this
mast song sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mahendra Kapoor.
Singer(s): Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar Music By: Hridayanath
Mangeshkar

Saat rang main khel, Akhir Kyon (1985)

Nisha (Smita Patil) is married to Kabir (Rakesh Roshan). But on Holi, as the merriment
goes full throttle, the realization slowly dawns on Nisha that there is something brewing

between Kabir and her rich cousin Indu (Tina Munim). Amit Kumar & Anuradha Paudwal
sing to Indivars lyrics set to R D Burmans peppy music.
Singer : Mohammad Aziz, Anuradha Paudwal, Amit Kumar
Musician : Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist : Indeevar

Ang se ang lagana, Darr (1993)

On the face of it this song is a rocking Holi number. Yet, under the exuberance and fun,
fear lurks in the form of the stalker who uses the colours of Holi to camouflage his real
identity and get near his prey. In Yash Chopras Darr, fear is the ultimate expression of
passion, obsession and sacrifice.
Music : Shiv Hari
Lyrics : Anand Bakshi
Singers : Devaki Pandit, Alka Yagnik, Suresh Wadkar, Vinod Rathod

Soni soni, Mohabbatein (2000)

Breaking away from the old and rigid rules of Gurukul, the students led by their friendly
music teacher and mentor Raj Aryan (Shah Rukh Khan) come out to play Holi with the
townsfolk. The music of Mohabbatein was composed by Jatin Lalit while lyrics were
penned by Anand Bakshi.

Holi khele Raghuveera Awadh mein, Baghban (2003)

Raj Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan), his wife Pooja (Hema Malini) and their four sons with
their families celebrate Holi in this large family and community get together. Amitabh
Bachchan shines in his trademark dance style and the gorgeous Hema Malini is the
cynosure of all eyes, making all the other younger women in the scene fade away.
Aadesh Shrivastav scores music for this song and gets Amitabh Bachchan, Alka Yagnik,
Sukhwinder Singh and Udit Narayan to sing together.
Music : Aadesh Shrivastava
Lyrics : Sameer
Singers : Amitabh Bachchan, Sukwinder Singh, Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan

Dekho aayi Holi, Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)

Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) plays Holi with Heera (Rani Mukerji) and the rest of the
village folk in this period drama, which looks at the life of Mangal Pandey who sparked
the first Indian uprising against the imperial British rulers in 1857.
Rang Layi HoliAamir Khan, Chinmayee, Madhushree, Srinivas, Udit Narayan
A R Rahman
Javed Akhtar

Do me a favour lets play Holi, Waqt The Race Against Time (2005)
Shot on a grand scale, this song starring Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra captures
the Holi mood perfectly, through a haze of pink gulaal.
Anu Malik,
Sunidhi Chauhan

Anu Malik

Aatish Kapadia

Balam pichkari, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh bole re zamana kharabi ho gayi
Mere ang raja, jo tera rang laga
Toh seedhi-saadi chhori sharabi ho gayi
A fun song with rocking music, fast beats and hip breaking jigs. Vishal Dadlani and
Shalmali Kholgade sing to Pritam Chakrabortys tune as Naina (Deepika Padukone)
drags Kabir Bunny Thapar (Ranbir Kapoor) and Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur) into the Holi
revelry, complete with clouds of gulal, bhaang and water pipes spraying water instead of
pichkaris.
Singers: Shalmali Kholgade, Vishal Dadlani
Music: Pritam
Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya

Lahu munh lag gaya, Ram Leela (2014)

Holi song suggested by Shakun R Narang of Moviemaniacs Group
Garba is part of any festivities in Gujarat. So enjoy Holi the Gujarati way with this rocking
number from Sanjay Leela Bhansalis superhit film.
Singer: Shail Hada
Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Lyrics: Siddharth Garima