With just few days remaining to bid adieu to 2023, we list down 20 of our favourite Hindi songs from this year which left us mighty impressed.
Whether you are happy or sad, nothing lights up your mood like Hindi songs! Like Danish author Hans Christian Andersen says, “Where words fail, music speaks.” The year 2023 brought us some amazing soundtracks that also turned up as our plus one; be it when letting our hair down at parties, nursing a broken heart or as a quick shot of energy on a drab day.
Time to hit the play button as we list down our 20 most favourite Hindi songs from this year (Note: These tracks are not in a particular order).
‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’ (Pathaan)
Singers: Arijit Singh, Sukriti Kakar, Vishal and Shekhar
Lyrics: Kumaar
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
‘Hunar hai yeh bhi ishq ka, Kisi kisi ko aata hai’ and who better than Shah Rukh Khan to tell us that! With the viral hook-step in this Vishal-Shekhar dance number, he and his co-star Deepika Padukone zig-zag their way straight into our hearts.
O Bedardeya (Tum Jhoothi Main Makkaar)
Singers: Arijit Singh
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Music: Pritam
After the impassionate ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ title track in 2016, the Arijit Singh-Ranbir Kapoor combo once again makes us reach for our tissues with the melancholic ‘O Bedardeya’ in Luv Ranjan’s rom-com Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.
Tere Vaaste (Zara Hatke Zara Bachke)
Singers: Varun Jain, Sachin-Jigar, Shadab Faridi, Altamash Faridi
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Music: Sachin-Jigar
In the age of ‘hook-up tu kar lena‘, our hearts couldn’t resist falling for someone who talked about ‘tere vaaste falak se mein chand launga‘. A fun yet light love song which makes us rewind back to those days when love was much simpler.
‘Phir Aur Kya Chahiye’ (Zara Hatke Zara Bachke)
Singers: Arijit Singh
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Music: Sachin-Jigar
“And in the midst of chaos, there was you.” Amitabh Bhattacharya aptly captures this feeling with his lyrics in this soft romantic number. Want to make your beloved one feel special? Dedicate this song to him/her right away!
‘Aaj Ke Baad’ (Satyaprem Ki Katha)
Singers: Manan Bhardwaj, Tulsi Kumar
Lyrics: Manan Bhardwaj
Music: Manan Bhardwaj
Of promises and forever love, Kartik Aaryan-Kiara Advani’s romantic melody from Satyaprem Ki Katha celebrates new beginnings in a mushy way.
‘What Jhumka?’ (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
Singers: Arijit Singh, Jonita Gandhi, Ranveer Singh (rap)
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan (original lyrics), Amitabh Bhattacharya (additional lyrics and rap)
Music: Pritam, Madan Mohan
Pritam gives Asha Bhonsle’s classic ‘Jhumka Jire Re’ a funky twist with Ranveer Singh lending his vocals for the additional rap portion. Of course, we went ‘aaye haaye‘ over this song and how.
Tum Kya Mile (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
Singers: Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Music: Pritam
‘Berange the din, berangi shaamein, aayi hain tum se rangeeniyan.’ That moment when you finally feel at home with the right one. Draped in dreamy chiffon sarees, Rani (Alia Bhatt) echoes this sentiment and sets our screens on fire with her sizzling chemistry with Ranveer Singh.
Kudmayi (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
Singers: Shahid Mallya
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Music: Pritam
Be ready to get misty-eyed when you hear this ‘vidaai’ song from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Besides the wondrous visuals, some of them breaking stereotypes, the song also leaves a lasting impact with Amitabh Bhattacharya’s simple but effective lyrics.
‘Chal Tere Ishq Mein’ (Gadar 2)
Singers: Neeti Mohan, Vishal Mishra
Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri
Music: Mithoon
Neeti Mohan brings back the season of old-school love and makes you go ‘chal tere ishq mein pad jaate hain‘ with her melliferous voice.
‘Chaleya’ (Jawan)
Singers: Arijit Singh, Shilpa Rao
Lyrics: Kumaar
Music: Aniruddh Ravichander
Right from the piano piece that plays at the beginning, you find your heart ‘chaleya‘ towards Shah Rukh Khan’s charismatic dance moves and Arijit Singh-Shilpa Rao’s smooth jugalbandi.
‘Zinda Banda’ (Jawan)
Singers: Aniruddh Ravichander, Mandli, Shah Rukh Khan
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil, Wasim Barelvi
Music: Aniruddh Ravichander
This Aniruddh Ravichander number exudes electrifying energy right from the word go and makes you feel ‘zinda’ with its every single beat. Of course, Shah Rukh Khan and his gang of girls make the song more enjoyable with their ‘jabardast‘ dance moves.
‘Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ (Jawan)
Singers: Aniruddh Ravichander, Vishal Dadlani, Shilpa Rao
Lyrics: Kumaar
Music: Aniruddh Ravichander
Two Shah Rukh Khans, twice the fun! This banger of a number has enough energy to make sure you shake away all your ‘fikr’ when you hit the dance floor.
‘Arjan Vailly’ (Animal)
Singers: Bhupinder Babbal
Lyrics: Bhupinder Babbal
Music: Manan Bhardwaj
Rooted in Sikh warrior history, this song is the only arm that you need when you are low on inspiration and energy. You find blood rushing through your veins every time you hear ‘Ho Khade Vich Dang Khadke, Othe Ho Gayi Ladayi Bhari’ in Bhipender Babbal’s vocals.
‘Hua Main’ (Animal)
Singers: Raghav Chaitanya
Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir
Music: JAM8
‘Hua Main’ faintly reminds you of ‘Teliseney na Nuvve’ from Arjun Reddy (also a Sandeep Reddy Vanga outing) in terms of its musical arrangement. Raghav Chaitanya’s breezy vocals coupled with Manoj Muntashir’s fervid lyrics leaves you high on passionate love.
‘Satranga’ (Animal)
Singers: Arijit Singh
Lyrics: Siddharth-Garima
Music: Shreyas Puranik
‘Badrang mein satranga hai ye ishq re… jogi main aur ganga hai ye ishq re’. Lyricist-duo Siddharth-Garima add a touch of Sufism to their words to convey the ups and downs of a love story.
‘Pehle Bhi Main’ (Animal)
Singers: Vishal Mishra
Lyrics: Raj Shekhar
Music: Harshavardhan Rameshwar
With minimalistic music, Vishal Mishra’s vocals capture the intoxicating feeling of being infatuated in such a beautiful way that you hit the play button again and again. Like a part of the lyrics goes, ‘toone chhua zakhmon ko mere, marham marham dil pe laga.’
‘Jamal Kudu’ (Animal)
Singers: Sounik, Harshita, Keerthana, Vagdevi, Meghanaa Naidu, Sabiha, Aishwarya Dasari, Abhikhya
Lyrics: Traditional Iranian Bandari music
Music: Harshavardhan Rameshwar
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself placing a glass on your head and grooving ala Lord Bobby style when this song plays out at any wedding or party! After all, vibe hi aisi hain. Well, it has already taken the Instagram reels by storm as netizens can’t get enough of it.
‘Vo Tere Mere Ishq Ka’ (Jubilee)
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyrics: Kausar Munir
Music: Amit Trivedi
Sunidhi Chauhan who is generally associated with high-energetic songs, pulls off a pleasant surprise with ‘Vo Tere Mera Ishq Ka’. The track comes across as a tribute to Khayyam’s ghazal-infused work in the past and lends a certain ‘sukoon’ to its listeners.
‘Mat Aana’ (Khufiya)
Singers: Rekha Bhardwaj, Niladri Kumar (Sitar)
Lyrics: Vishal Bhardwaj,
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj
A haunting melody of love and loss, ‘Mat Aana’ from Khufiya is a lover’s plea which leaves you in stillness and deep thoughts for a long time.
‘Heeriye’
Singers: Arijit Singh, Jasleen Royal
Lyrics: Aditya Sharma
Music: Jasleen Royal
The only non-film/series track in our list, Jasleen Royal’s ‘Heeriye’ featuring the handsome Dulquer Salmaan and herself reminds us of the famous quote, ‘Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.’ Together with Arijit Singh, the singer-composer encapsulates how true love triumphs against all odds and leaves us with a big smile.
