With the first years of the 21st century in the books, it’s time to revisit the hit Bollywood songs that made the 2000s a decade to remember. The 2000s featured songs of every rhythm, beat and flavor from melodious love songs to eye-popping, feet tapping, hip shaking numbers guaranteed to get you up from your couch and on the dance floor! From Bollywood hit films like Mohabbatein to Kal Ho Na Ho to Jab We Met, the top 10 Bollywood songs of the first decade of the 21st century feature the very best and (quite possibly) the greatest Hindi songs ever composed…..so sit back, crank up your iTunes player or get on YouTube and enjoy!
10. Race – Pehli Nazar Mein by Atif Aslam
I was never a follower of Atif Aslam until I first heard this smooth, suave romantic tune on YouTube from one of the biggest blockbusters of 2008, Race. Hooked on the saucy and upbeat vibes of Pehli Nazar, I went out to explore some of Aslam’s other hits like Tere Bin, but in my opinion, this has got to be his best song and deserves a spot among the best songs of the decade.
9: Jab We Met – Tum Se Hi by Mohit Chauhan
Oh yes, Jab We Met, quite possibly the biggest hit of 2007 that seemingly came from out of nowhere and gave Kareena Kapoor her very first Filmfare Award for Best Actress and Shahid Kapoor undoubtedly the biggest hit of his career. Albeit jam-packed with several great songs like Aao Milo Chalein, Yeh Ishq Hai and Mauja Hi Mauja, Jab We Met is most memorable for giving us Tum Se Hi and allowing us to fall in love over and over and over again. Suddenly, I have to urge to chuck my umbrella and start dancing in the rain…..
8. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik
Title track from one of the most controversial films of 2006, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, this slow and somber “goodbye” song deserves a spot on this list as the token sad song of the decade, quite possibly the best blue song delivered by Sonu Nigam to date. When I first listened to this song while watching Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, I couldn’t help becoming a little sentimental and emotional myself. Though I really wanted to include the romantic melody, Tumhi Dekho Naa, on this list of the best songs of the 2000s, there was no way I could leave out a song like this – one that stirs so many emotions and feelings inside its listeners and in spite of its somber message is still one of the most beautiful tunes of the decade. Alas, if it were a tad bit more cheerful, maybe I could have ranked it higher on the list……….
7. Veer Zaara – Aisa Des Hai Mera by Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar
Definitely the best patriotic song of the 2000s and one of the best “feel good” songs ever composed in Bollywood. This is the type of song that makes you want to jump out your seat and be exceptionally proud to say that I’m an Indian! Of course, that sentiment is best expressed by the magical combination of Udit Narayan’s cheerful and smiling melody and Lata Ji’s timeless and ethereal voice. Without question, one of the best singing duos in the business, second only to the pairing of Lata and the grandmaster of them all, Mohammad Rafi. Hmmmm, something tells me we haven’t seen the last of the Udit and Lata duo on this list…….
6. Kal Ho Na Ho – Mahive by Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik
That’s the way, o mahive! One of the most original dance tunes of the decade, Mahive also goes down as the best wedding song of the 2000s, perfect for that bhangra moment after the ceremony, where everyone gets up and just loses it – their sense of dignity, reputation and self-respect lol. But rest assured there’s 100% guaranteed mayhem and fun for people of all ages, as soon as the DJ starts pumping this hip-shaking and vivacious Mahive. Oh did I mention that the song features cameos from Kajol and Rani Mukherjee – see for yourself!
5. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham – Bole Churiyaa by Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan
The biggest dance number of one of the biggest films of the decade, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, which features an all-star cast of Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. Undoubtedly, any list of the best songs of the first decade of the new millennium would be incomplete without Bole Churiyaa. The music, the choreography, the scene, the setting are just mind-blowingly amazing! Out of this world! I wouldn’t be surprised to see this song on the list of the best songs of the 21st century on December 31, 2099……
4. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham – Suraj Hua Maddham by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik
Okay so while Bole Churiyaa might have been the best dance number of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Suraj Hua Maddham, due to its sheer sauciness and provocative aura, is unquestionably the best song of the film. Not only that but this just has be the most romantic song ever delivered by Sonu and Alka and gives another dimension to the onscreen chemistry of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. Indeed, it doesn’t get any hotter, steamier and intense than Suraj Hua Maddham. Guys take note – this is exactly how you sweep a girl off her feet!
3. Kal Ho Na Ho – Kal Ho Na Ho by Sonu Nigam
The title song of one of the biggest films of 2003, Kal Ho Na Ho – one of the biggest hits of Shahrukh Khan’s career and a film which gave Preity Zinta her first and only Filmfare award for Best Actress – can be summed in a multitude of ways. Bittersweet, romantic, somber, sentimental……..but I’m sure the overarching words we are looking for here are unreal and monumental! In my opinion, this is Sonu Nigam’s greatest hit of the decade and quite possibly the best song of his career – a song that instantly made me a Sonu fan! Kal Ho Na Ho (the song not the movie) is a celebration of life, of living life to the fullest and of living in the moment because who knows what tomorrow may bring……
2. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai – Kaho Na Pyaar Hai by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik
Wow, it is just me or are there a lot of title songs on this list? Well, rightfully so, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai is not only one of the most memorable songs of the film that made Hrithik and Amisha Patel overnight stars, one of the most romantic songs of the decade but deserves a spot on this list as the second best song of the decade. A guy and a girl on a deserted island……add Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik to the mix and you have a timeless classic that should, like Bole Churiyaa, Suraj Hua Maddham and Kal Ho Na Ho, find its place among the best songs of the 21st century…….
1. Mohabbatein – Humko Humise Churalo by Udit Narayan and Lata Mangeshkar
Yup, I did say earlier that the Udit and Lata would very soon find their way back on this list and sure enough this ethereal and timeless theme from Mohabbatein goes down as the best song, yea that’s right the best song from 2000-2009…..period! Sure, all of the songs on this list had the potential to be numero uno but Humko Humise Churalo is just on another level. Perhaps you have to have loved someone before fully appreciating this song but everyone will agree that the violin intro is just epic – a haunting, yet thoroughly sweet and angelic chord that draws you into the most romantic song of Mohabbatein, the most romantic song of 2000 and the most romantic song of the 21st century thus far. There may be a lot of strife and hate in the world and eventually we all have to leave someday but love is absolute, eternal and lives on forever…….
