10 Best Hindi Songs Of All Time

With the Bollywood films genre rise in popularity, this list of the 10 best Hindi songs of all time will get you in the mood to enjoy some of these film classics. Hindi refers to the language of the song. Most of these songs include use of Persian terms and other Indian languages, while more modern Hindi songs include the use of some English terms as well.

1. "Chaiyya Chaiyya" by Gulzar. This song was made famous as the opening and closing song of the 1998 movie “Inside Man”. This song is recognized as either a worldly love song or a song for the beloved lord. This song is one of the most popular songs in India and is used often at festive events.
2. "Hawa Mein Udta Jaye" by Ramesh Shastri. This female sung love song was made famous by the 1949 movie “Barsaat”. This movie has been regarded as the beginning of the golden age of Bollywood. A Hindi/English version of this song was recorded in 1990 by Bombay Vikings.
3. "Aye Mere Pyaare Vatan" by Prem Dhawan. A song that is considered a song of patriotism, this classic was featured in the 1961 movie “Kabuliwala”. The sentiment of this song hit strongly with Indians located overseas, as the song expresses the longing for homeland by someone who has been away a very long time.
4. "Phuulon Ke Rang Se" by Neeraj. A classic love song with the theme of a lover who just can’t forget his beloved. This song appeared in the 1969 movie “Prem Pujari”. This song is composed of simple Hindi and references a notorious devotional hymn by Bhatka Raidas.
5. "Papa Kahte Hain" by Majrooh Sultanpuri. This is a song that depicts the epic struggle between the ambitions of two generations. The 1988 movie “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” features this song which is said to have launched the careers of both the writer and lead actor in the movie.
6. "Man re, tu kaahe na dheer dhare" by Sahir Ludhianvi. Featured in the 1964 movie “Chitralekha,” this song speaks of the philosophy of life. The meaning of this song touches on the very modern ideas of chasing materialistic gains sacrificing morals and ethics completely.
7. "Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi" by Javed Akhtar. A modern classic from the 2003 movie “Kal ho naa ho,” this song speaks of love and making sure you take advantage of today because there may be no tomorrow. Javed Akhtar won an IIFA Award for best lyricist for this song and other work completed on the movie’s soundtrack.
8. "Jai Ho" by A.R Rahman. Made famous by the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, this composition won an Academy Award for best original song and a Grammy Award for best song written for a motion picture. Jai Ho translates to mean victory to you, and the song was meant to represent a vision of the whole world celebrating in victory.
9. "Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko baabul" by Bandini. This song was featured in the 1963 movie Bandini and is popular for use during the raksha-bandhan festival. This is a festival that celebrates the bond between a brother and sister, one who vows to protect the vulnerable one.
10. "Chandan saa badan, chanchal chitavan" by Indeevar. Featured in the 1968 movie “Saraswati Chandra,” this song is mostly in standard Hindi with some folk terminology throughout. In Hindi poetry one of the most erotic forms of flirting is exchanging glances and this song is among a nice collection of compositions with the theme of eyes.