These past few years Bollywood changed a lot regarding the picturisation of songs. A lot of songs were used in the background describing the situation while the video showed you every emotion that goes with the song. This year Bollywood went back to the big, beautiful, and mesmerising picturisations that this industry is known for.
Just take a look at some of the songs that have left an everlasting impression …
Nagada Sang Dhol – Goliyon ki Raasleela Ram-Leela
Bollywood is known for its larger than life dance sequences and with a director like Sanjay Leela Bhansali at the head of Ram-Leela one can only expect nothing less. Nagada Sang Dhol, featuring Deepika Padukone, is a song that belongs in the larger than life category.
The grandeur of the song with the huge sets, color coordinated clothes and the folk madness captures the essences of the rich Gujarati culture on the big screen perfectly. Choreographers Samir and Harsh Tanna trained Deepika Padukone to match steps with the fast beats and the end result is outstanding. The video is a visual treat and you emerge in a totally different world altogether. In 2013, we celebrated Navratri en danced Garba in complete Sanjay Leela Bhansali style.
Balam Pichkari – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Bollywood didn’t only put the spotlight on Navratri with Nagada Sang Dhol this year, but also celebrated Holi in several films. Holi is one of the biggest & most colorful festivities in India and Balam Pichkari just gives us the feeling of Holi and it makes you want to join in.
The video that goes with the song is about enjoying life and making a new start and that is where the Holi festival stands for. If you analyze the moment of the song, Deepika’s character Naina was a bit of a ‘nerd’ but slowly became her own and turned around with this song. She started enjoying life and realized that she needed to live life!
Malang – Dhoom:3
One of the most expensive songs even made in the history or Indian Cinema and the money was well spend as this song was one of the highlights of Dhoom:3.
The makers left no stone unturned for this one as trainers from Cirque De Soleil were roped in to transform Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif into professional acrobats. Both actors worked hard for a few weeks and performed all the stunts you see in the video.
Malang became a spectacular video filled with a lot of show elements, acrobatic stunts, magic and of course lots of dance.
Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari – Chennai Express
Who doesn’t love to travel? Lots of Bollywood movies these days are shot in London, New York or some other foreign city. This year, director Rohit Shetty showed us the beauty of our own country through his film Chennai Express.
The song Kashmir Main Tu KanyaKumari takes us to South India driving past mountains, hills and tea plantations. Besides that, SRK and Deepika also pull over to learn some basic Kathakali and Bharat Natyam moves and of course they also end up doing the lungi dance.
Choreographed by Farah Khan, this was a great way to see a part of India not everyone gets to see.
Saawan Bairi – Commando
A dream sequence often gets really cheesy in Bollywood, but this is one dream sequences that simply mesmerizes you with its beauty. Shot in the desert, Saawan Bairi, features Vidyut Jamwal and Pooja Chopra. There are lots of slow-motion shots, which are seductive yet delicate. The use of the space of the desert and the sky create an enchanting atmosphere. The chemistry between the main leads superb!
This love song in the voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan makes you believe in everlasting love.
Zinda – Lootera
One of the most loved and visually films of the year, Lootera tells the story of a thief who falls in love with a girl of a place he has to rob. But when the attraction between him and the girl grows into this deep love, he is forced to choose between her and his past.
The song Zinda comes at the climax where the main lead is in a particular stage in his life where there is nothing more to ask from life. He is thinking that the fact that he is alive is enough.
The song is supported by a lovely location in the mountains with lots of snow at Kalatop in Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh which gives you the chills, not only because it’s cold, but also because Ranveer’s character is cold…not only from the outside but also from inside. He has absolutely nothing anymore and the thought of that makes a person feel empty inside.
Zinda – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, starring Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh, is one of the best films to have come out this year. The track Zinda is legendary and works well as a inspirational track when working out in the gym but we’ll go over to the picturasation of the song.
The video shows the struggle the young Milkha has gone through. The humiliation that this kid had to face made him do things he wasn’t proud of but there was no other way to stay alive. He had to go something, and by doing something he created a determination in his head that he could achieve anything.
The film tells the inspirational journey of Milkha Singh and taught us all that nothing is impossible, if you put your mind to it.
Gulabi – Shuddh Desi Romance
Known as The Pink city, Jaipur looks very charming in the apt song titled Gulabi (pink) from the film Shuddh Desi Romance.
While with Chennai Express we took a tour down south, here Sushant Singh Rajput and Vaani Kapoor give us a tour through this gorgeous city and show us Jaipur from tinted pink glasses to puppets to cotton candies and flowers. Besides that, we also get to see Amber Fort and other historic places. Gulabi is sweetly naughty and infuses a strong cultural fervor.
Chahun Main Ya Na – Aashiqui 2
The songs of Aashiqui 2 are a rage that continues even now. One of the best picturasations in the film is the song Chahun Main Ya Naa. The chemistry between Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor was outstanding.
This video shows Rahul preparing Arohi for her musical career while he slowly falls in love with her. This development of love is noticeable through the moments the main leads spend together, the different looks they give each other and with this song it was enough just to have them in the same frame together. It is this kind of love that we don’t get to see often these days so Aashiqui gave us a love we’ll remember.
Bezubaan – Any Body Can Dance
This song was compared to one of the dance sequences from Step Up 3D. But while that one was purely about dance and competition, this video has a deeper meaning as well.
If you listen carefully to this song it tells you of an inner struggle, a struggle lots of kids go through. There is always a pressure to make your parents happy by doing what they want you to do, which can mean crushing your own dreams. Kids are often forced to study something they don’t want to, find a job that doesn’t make them happy, get married and lead a steady life. Most parents have struggled a lot and don’t want their kids to go through the same process while they can have a good life. But when a kid is talented and he knows he is would want to struggle to achieve his dreams.
This song puts the insecurity of parents opposite the confident of their kids. The video shows that a parents should be proud of a child that is talented and knows what he wants to do in life. When you realize that this is the thing that makes your child the happiest, and when you see your child being happy, you as a parent will become happy. It won’t be easy, but when you have talent and you work hard you can definitely make your dream come true.
Cheers to 2014 and let’s hope 2014 brings us even bigger and better picturasations!
