In celebration of Lord Shiva’s Maha Shivratri, one of the most prominent festivals of the Hindu calendar, we bring you some of our favourite Lord Shiva related Bollywood songs.
As we explore a few of the different shades that Bollywood has celebrated Lord Shiva through, we take you on a very quick journey beginning in 1950, with the song “Bhole nath se nirala” to end with Koyla’s (1997) mischievous “Bhang Ke Nashe Mein”.
Known by at least 1008 different names, including “Kailas” (One who bestows Peace), “Shambu” (Source of everything) and “Hari” (Sustainer and Destroyer), Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvarti on Maha Shivratri. Other readings of Hinduism state that Maha Shivratri is the night on which Shiva performed “Tandava” – the dance that led to the creation, conservation and destruction of the Universe.
Maha Shivratri is also known as Lord Shiva’s favourite day.
However you may be celebrating this auspicious day of Maha Shivratri, we hope that you have a blessed day!
Happy Maha Shivratri!
Film: Har Har Mahadev (1950)
Director: Jayant Desai
Cast Including: Trilok Kapoor; Nirupa Roy
Song: Bhole nath se nirala
Singer(s): Geeta Roy Dutt Song Extract:
“Unka damru dam dam bole
Agman gam ke bhed khole
Aaisa bhakton ka rakhwala
Koi aur nahi”
Translation:
“Lord Shiva’s drum keeps on beating
All the secrets of the world He keeps revealing –
There is no protector of devotees
Such as you”
Film: Aap Ki Kasam (1974)
Director: J. Om Prakash
Cast Including: Rajesh Khanna; Mumtaz; Sanjeev Kumar
Song: Jai Jai Shiv Shankar
Singer(s): Kishore Kumar; Lata Mangeshkar
Song Extract:
“Jai Jai Shiv Shankar
Kaanta lage na kankar
Ke pyaala tere naam kaa piyaa –
Hoo gir jaaungi, main mar jaaungi
Jo toone mujhe thaam na liyaa –
Ho sau Rab dii”
Translation:
“Hail Lord Shiva!
Protect us from any mishaps –
We’ve drunk (this cup) on your name
I’m going to stumble and fall
Unless you hold me –
I swear on God”
Film: Karz (1980)
Director: Subhash Ghai
Cast Including: Rishi Kapoor; Tina Munim; Simi Garewal
Song: Om Shanti Om
Singer(s): Kishore Kumar
Song Extract:
“Pyar Se Badhkar Nahee Hai,
Badhkar Nahee Hai Rog Koyee
Chalta Nahee Hai Dil Deke Yaro,
Iss Dil Pe Jor Koyee
Chalta Nahee Hai Dil Deke Yaro,
Iss Dil Pe Jor Koyee
Iss Rog Kaa Nahee Hai Ilaj,
Duneeya Me Aur Koyee
Toh Gao Om Shantee Om, Shantee Shantee Om”
Translation:
“There is no other madness in the world as powerful as love
You can’t control your heart –
Give it a go by falling in love.
There is no treatment for this madness
Keep singing:
Om Shanti Om (Peace amongst all creations)”
Film: Himalay Putra (1997)
Director: Pankaj Parashar
Cast Including: Vinod Khanna; Akshaye Khanna; Hema Malini
Song: Bam Bam Bhole
Singer(s): Kavita Krisshnamurthy; Shankar Mahadevan; Udit Narayan
Song Extract:
“Gangadhar shiv shankar har har
sharan main teri aaya
Soch raha hoon kya maangu main
bin maange sab paaya”
Translation:
“Oh Lord Shiva
I have come to you.
I had been thinking of what to ask from you –
But you have given me all I want without my asking”
Film: Koyla (1997)
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Cast Including: Shah Rukh Khan; Madhuri Dixit; Amrish Puri
Song: Bhang Ke Nashe
Singer(s): Alka Yagnik
Song Extract:
“Aasmaan sar pe uthaayenge
Naachke sab ko nachaayenge
Rok na paayega koi
Hanse to hanste hi jaayenge”
Translation:
“We will turn the world upside down
We will dance and make others dance too\
We cannot be stopped by anyone
If we burst out laughing – we will not stop”
