Bollywood Music From The 1990s — Part 1

Many complain that the music from the Bollywood movies of 1990s was at their nadir, and that they can never compare to the melodies of the 1950s-1970s. I tend to disagree – I think that qualitatively, the amount of good music coming through has remained the same, but it’s the number of movies that are being released that has taken a quantum leap.

A year ago I had read an interview of Subash Ghai where he had correctly pointed out that the movies of the 1950s-1970s were targeted towards more towards the gentry – however from late 1970s, producers discovered that there was a mass junta who were ready to spend money to see movies, suited to their tastes – hence more and more film makers started making movies to suit mass appeal. With it, the classical qualities of music too were compromised in favor of jhatak-matak songs to please the masses.

That said, I will never agree with the assessment that music from the 1990s was its worst in Bollywood. On the contrary, if you take a comparative analysis, the decade of 1990-1999 has produced considerable amount of musical hits, majority of which can be heard even today too, somewhere on radio, or train stations, kite flying competitions or marriage parties. They have stood the test of time, and like the classics of 1950s-1970s, will do so in future.

Here is a list of the movies that I compiled from 1990s (from 1990 to 1999 precisely) of the movies in Bollywood and their music, and the musical scores I would hear today too. I had always assumed that the 1990s belonged to A. R. Rahman, however, while compiling this list, I was pleasantly surprised to know that A. R. Rahman had as many hits as Anu Malik or Nadeem Shravan in the same time frame, and couldn’t possibly have dominated the decade as I had imagined him too. What might have helped Rehman must have been his terrific form in South at the same time. Nonetheless, this is a list about just Bollywood movies, so the southern movies have been kept out.

This post is divided into two parts. Part 1 will cover 1990 to 1994.

1990
For a decade, 1990 had the least number of musical hits, but ones that were, emerged to be some of the biggest hits ever.

Ghayal: Can one forget superb rendition of Lambada into “Sochna kya jo bhi hoga dekha jaayega”? Agreed it was a lift, but the lyrics and tune were just hypnotic.

Dil: Numbers like “Mujhe Neend Na Aaye”, “Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai” and “O Piya Priya” can still heard at railway stations, bus stations and the likes.

Aashiqui: Aashiqui was without a doubt a great musical score – in fact the music lifted an otherwise dull movie with even duller actors. Everlasting numbers included “Jaanejigar Jaaneman”, “Nazar Ke Samne”.

1991
And just in opposite to 1990, 1991 had many number of musical scores which were a hit, and propelled those movies to be hits.

Saudagar: “Ilu Ilu, Ilu Ilu” says it all.

Phool Aur Kaante: Ajay Devgan’s debut had some good music for its time

Patthar Ke Phool: “Kabi tu chaliya lagtha hain” was a song to dance on at that time. A song that I listen today as well, with its other hit being “Tum se jo dekthe hi pyaar huaa” in the true SPB voice.

Lamhe: Lamhe must rank as the best alum of 1991; Shiv Hari’s brilliant combination resulted in memorable songs like “Woh Lamhe”, “Morni Baaga Ma Naache” and the eternal classic “Kabhi Main Kahoon”

Hum: Can one forget “Jumma Chumma”? Or “Bum chiki chiki bum”? But the song I listen even today in my car is “Sanam mere Sanam, Mujhe teri Kasam”.

Henna: Raj Kapoor’s final epic was known for him dying rather than is beautiful melodies including “Main hoon ek rang Henna”.

1992
Year 1992 launched Jatin Lalit into limelight with not one, but two hits in the same year and perhaps would have claimed that years to be theirs, unless the master had made his debut.

Khuda Gawah: This epic movie had some epic-length songs, but the title song – “Khuda Gawah”, “Tu Naa Je mere baadshah” were superbly done.

Khiladi: The second movie of Jatin-Lalit in this year had the hits “Khud ko kya samaj thi hain” and “Waada raha sanam”, the second of which is truly a beautiful number.

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar: And then, Jatin-Lalit came up with one of the best scores of all time in “Pehla Nasha”, “Jaha ho yaaro”, “Yaha ke hum sikandar”

Roja: Music changed after this movie; a new master was introduced – a genius, A. R. Rahman made his debut with this score in what must be one of the most amazing debuts a artist must have had – who can forget “Dil hain chota sa”, “Roja”, and scintillating “Yeh haseen vadiyan yeh khula aasman”.

Other notable mentions from this year: Deewana, with the song “Aisi Deewangi” and Beta with “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga”, famous all because of wrong reasons.

1993
Quite possibly year 1993 contained some of the most memorable music packed in a single year. 1993 belong to Anu Malik, fair and square.

Rudaali: Its still impossible to beat “Dil hoon hoon kare” and the soulful melodies of this film.

Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi: Any music lover will tell you that this album is one of Anu Malik’s finest works, with more hits than he could handle – “Tere dar par sanam”, “Shayrana si hain zindagi ki fazaa”, “Dil mein sanam ki surat”, “Badalo mein chup raha hain chaand kyu?” and “Dil deta hain roh roh duhaai” – this made-for-TV film had that many hits.

Darr : Shiv-Hari teamed up again with Yash Chopra for the last time to deliver memorable hits in “Tu mere saamne”, “Jaadu teri nazar” and more.

Baazigar : This monster hit for Shahrukh boasted of some real good numbers by Anu Malik – “Baazigar main baazigar”, “Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen”and “Ae mere humsafar” being the top of the class.

Other notable mentions from the year: Gardish with its beautiful tunes in “Hum na samjhe the” and “Ye Mera Dil Jo Paagal Hain”.

1994
Again, this year redefined the music industry all over again.

Mohra : Viju Shah jumped into limelight with Mohra, and had some scintillating hits in “Tip Tip barsa paani”, “Tu cheez badi hain mast mast”, “Kaash kahi aisa hota” and “Na Kajre ki dhaar”

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa : Who can forget this simple movie with simple music which didn’t try too hard? “Deewana, dil deewana”, “E kaash ke hum”, “Sachi yeh kahani hain” were simple, yet very hummable.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun : Yes, THE movie that changed it all. Boasting of astounding 14 songs, even though I hate the movie, I must admit it had its fair share of classics in “Maaye ni Maaye”, “Hum Aapke Hain Koun”, “Pehla pehla pyaar hain” and others.

1942: A love story : This defined the year for me – R. D. Burman’s masterpiece album before his death – nothing can beat the beauty of “Ek Ladki ko dekha”, “Kuch Na Kaho”, “Pyaar hua chup ke se”, “Rim Jhim Rim Jhim”, “Rooth na jaana” and “Yeh Safar” – They are some songs which will stay.

Other notable mentions: Yeh Dillagi, Gentleman, Andaz Apna Apna and Khuddar for its “sexy” hit.

That was years 1990 to 1994 – In my next post, I will cover 1996-1999 as this post is getting way too long.