From 1950s to 2010s, remixing the history of Bollywood songs

The evolution of Bollywood numbers through the decades

The Bollywood industry is an entity of its own. The songs and dance numbers serve as an integral part of most Indian films. From running around trees to remixing classics, Bollywood films have set a trend of their own.

Compiled from The Indian Express, here is a list of Bollywood songs by the decade and how their inclusion breathed life into many films.

1. 1950s - Extreme close-ups

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Pictured in black and white, these songs were shot in a static frame while emotions were displayed through the actors' eyes and eyebrows. Zoomed in shots of the moon and flowers added to the dynamics of the actors' romance.

2. 1960s - Pure dance

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Clad in saris and dancing to pleasant melodies, Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha and Vyjayanthimala looked stunning in their films. Songs such as Honton Mein Aisi Baat and Piya Tose Naina Laage Re didn't just resonate the beauty of the divas but also maintained the sanctity of the era.

3. 1970s - Enchanting eyes

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Usually a cabaret or a disco number, these songs emphasised on the plot of a film. Happening at the antagonist's hide-out or adding thrill to the climax, the party songs showed beautiful women such as Helen and Bindu, hypnotising the crowd with their body movements and piercing eyes. Close-up shots of the hips and the face didn't look odd.


Termed as the 'Golden Era' of Bollywood, songs such as Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Chadti Jawani still hold a place in people's playlists.

4. 1980s - Growing romance

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Intimately connected to the storyline, songs from the 1980s featured the female leads romancing with the actors instead of the cabaret dancers. Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi leading the playlist with Pyar Mein Dil Pe Maar De Goli and Pyar Karne Wale and faces of Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor made for a perfect combination.


The last half of the decade produced songs such as Pehla Nasha, Ae Mere Humsafar and Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin made people believe in love.

5. 1990s - Celebration

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This decade introduced audiences to the three Khans of Bollywood - Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. Open flirting as the girls and boys broke into dance numbers on the most bizarre locations screamed fearlessness. Romantic numbers maintained their presence but celebratory songs added soul to many of these Bollywood films as well.


Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayengay featured a party song, a shaadi song and a romantic number in the cornfields. In manners of picturisation, there was more proximity between the actors so close-up shots weren't a necessity anymore.

6. 2000s - Quick moves

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While the Khan's kept the romance alive, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai were introduced as brilliant dancers. No film was complete without their presence *cue Ek Pal Ka Jeena*


Songs such as Aati Kya Khandala became an instant hit but films like Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham catered to an audience of its own - making sure one doesn't affect the other. Sometimes the grandiosity of a 'happily ever after' was signified songs produced on exorbitant levels.

7. 2010s - Objectification

PHOTO: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Munni Badnaam Hui and Sheila Ki Jawani were the hit songs of the decade. Termed as "item numbers" the visuals showed close-ups of torsos and bellies while women danced away. Romance wasn't essential for these songs however, film-makers highly depended on the face of their item number to cash in on numbers. Now, Laila O Laila doesn't remind people of Zeenat Aman but of Sunny Leone in Raees instead.


On the other hand, the likes of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma dancing under the scrouching sun without breaking a sweat emphasised their chiselled appearances.


With the evolution of Bollywood songs has morphed many classics into revamped numbers. The memories of some of the most iconics songs of Bollywood cinema are now being replaced with new faces without a shelf life guarantee.

This article originally appeared in The Indian Express.

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