Let’s go back a little in time. Imagine the year is 2006; it is Sunday. You have no school or extra classes today. Your mom is cooking chicken curry in the kitchen. Or maybe, your favorite dish.
You sit beside your mom or play outside the kitchen. And suddenly someone turns on the radio. The voice playing is of Kishore Kumar. Your mother hums to the song along with the best male playback singer of her time.
Those were the days.
Music is arguably the best social tool in this world. A wonderful song connects us. A song depicts our emotions, the setting, and our music taste. Such is the power of classic hindi songs as well.
The songs produced during the 80s to 90s are evergreen. They never go out of style. Whether that be the soulful sound of Umesh or a catchy Rajesh Khanna song.
If someone plays one of these songs in this time period, we’d definitely dance to it.
So buckle up your belts and get ready with our Spotify as we curate a playlist full of iconic old Bollywood songs that give us immense nostalgia.
Old Bollywood Songs That Are Evergreen
Old Bollywood saw its peak in music and song history. Bollywood offered us one gem after the other from singers like Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. We can hardly compare the song’s love and feel in Old Bollywood with other eras.
This genre of evergreen Hindi songs never seemed to disappear. Songs from the 70s, 80s, and the ’90s are widely popular today.
People listen to these songs almost all the time with that constant love in mind. Let’s jump into this list of the best retro Bollywood songs.
1. Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein (1976)
An exotic love song that expresses the love in someone’s heart. Famous playback singer Umesh performed this song. They widely acclaimed him in the music industry. They feature this song in the famous 1976 Bollywood film Kabhie Kabhie.
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha perform in the scene where the song is played. They express their immense love for each other as the film’s characters.
It is hard for you not to listen to this evergreen song once in your life. The song is so soulful and heart-rendering. It won 3 Filmfare awards.
One for best music, the best lyricist, and the best male playback singer.
![Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein - Amitabh Bachchan - Mukesh - Kabhi Kabhie [1976]](https://icytales.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/BB6KvXQx090-hqdefault.jpg)
2. Lag Jaa Gale (1964)
This beautiful song comes from the voice of a living nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar. A few mere words won’t be able to describe the grace in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice.
The writer behind the touching words of this song is Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. He wrote this song for the 1964 film Woh Kaun Thi?
The song features the performance of the late actor, Sadhna. This is one of those classic Hindi Bollywood songs, especially for lovers and people who know love. When we talk about Old Hindi songs, this strikes the list.
Here is a YouTube link to the song.
https://youtu.be/rp1GKSkdizA
3. Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (1973)
Kishore Kumar is one of the best male playback singers in Bollywood. And he proves that with this song.
This song was such a super hit that it remains a classic Hindi song. It got featured in the 1973 film, Blackmail.
The song is a rendition of a man’s everlasting love that he would remember his women in every moment and second. Even if the person goes far away from him.
With the longing message of the song and Kishore Kumar’s powerful voice, this has been one of the best compositions in Bollywood.
If you haven’t yet heard this song, head over to YouTube right now.
4. Yeh Dosti (1975)
This friendship anthem comes from the Blockbuster film of the 70s, Sholay. Once again sung by the star Kishore Kumar, with a lead of Manna Dey. This is arguably one of the oldest yaari songs of Bollywood music.
The song featured Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra as diaper buddies Jai and Veeru. The song is the memory of their close bond.
This song raises the siren of nostalgia as soon as you hear it. Check the song today on YouTube, if you haven’t already.
The lyrics are one of the finest ones Bollywood has seen for a while.
5. Gulabi Aankhen (1970)
This is a party banger to this date. A jamming session with your friends goes futile if this song doesn’t make it to the list once.
A love song that features the evergreen Rajesh Khanna and Nanda. This remains the most amazing old Hindi romantic song and vintage Bollywood tune ever. None other but Mohammed Rafi sings the song.
The song is a part of the Bollywood thriller Train. This song received great praise for its lyrics, and rightly so!
Here is a YouTube link for this woozy romantic song.
6. Ek Ajnabee Haseena Se (1974)
From the charting film of 1974, Ajnabee. Maestro R.D. Burman and the gorgeous voice of Kishore Kumar created this beautiful song.
The lyrics of this song are unparalleled and still leave us feeling good. The song narrates the encounter between a man and a woman and their love story.
This is a gem among Old Hindi songs. Hearing the song leaves you in a loop and makes you daydream of your haseena.
If you haven’t had a chance to ever listen to this song, do it today on YouTube.
7. My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves (1977)
A comedic song about a pining lover, played by Amitabh Bachchan, trying to get close to his love interest, played by Parveen Babi.
Kishore Kumar again performed this melodic, fun, and groovy song. It is from the 1977 film Amar Akbar Anthony. Amitabh Bachchan plays the character of Anthony.
The song plays in a reception scene where Anthony performs for his love interest, Jenny. All while her bodyguard tries to keep him at bay.
There are hardly any people who have missed out on this Bollywood track. But if you think you might have, check it out on YouTube now.
8. Inteha Ho Gayi Intezaar Ki (1984)
Who said Hindi songs couldn’t do desire? This song talks about desire and love in the most subtle way. It is a story about a lover yearning for their other half. The song features in the film Sharabi.
With two powerful voices of Bollywood, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, joining hands, this song and lyrics stay as a masterpiece.
Asha Bhosle adds life to each song that she sings. And as the name serves, they also sang the same sultry, almost slurred and dizzy way.
In the scene, we find the beautiful Jaya Prada and Amitabh Bachchan. The singer also won the 7th Film Fare award for this iconic old Bollywood song.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
9. Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua (1955)
This song is a hymn for everyone in love. If you ever plan on confessing to your crush, you could consider doing that in Raj Kapoor style, in the rain, and under an umbrella.
The song has the legendary voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey.
The song got quite popular on release and for the right reasons. The song depicts the blooming love story between Raj Kapoor and Nargis in Shree 420. It is hard not to immerse in the chemistry of the co-actors and the rhythm.
Rush to YouTube right now to relieve the evergreen nostalgia of this – https://youtu.be/XecGV_HmdPk
10. Mera Joota Hain Japaani (1955)
The song from Shree 420 became quite popular because of its nationalistic lyrics. Everybody appreciates an excellent patriotic mood.
The playback singer Umesh and actor Raj Kapoor are a combination nobody can beat.
During the early years of independence, this music struck a nerve. It came as a patriotic pledge to everyone. It was a jab at everyone that called themselves a part of their motherland yet wore foreign material.
These are old Hindi songs that evoke a nerve in our motherland.
Here is a YouTube link to it.
https://youtu.be/5wjGc1zGWBc
Best Male Playback Singer of Old Bollywood Songs
We know by now that Bollywood has its finest music gems from the Golden era. It also gave us a few of the greatest playback singers of all time.
The rise of Bollywood and gripping lyrics began with the emergence of these artists. Making music back in those days was challenging and a work of art.
These musicians and singers sang with a live orchestra. There was no room for mistakes. To call them extraordinary is an understatement.
1. Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi, who was affectionately called Rafi Sahab, is a living example of the golden singer. It is said that during his emerging years, a wandering fakir from his village, who made soulful folklore music, moved him.
His determination made him reach Mumbai, and now he is one of the finest known singers Bollywood has witnessed.
His remarkable tunes are Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe, Khush Rahe Tu Sada, Sar Jo Tera Chakraye and more.
2. Kishore Kumar
The most versatile and known singer from the Golden Age of Bollywood is Kishore Kumar. He introduced the distinct yodeling technique of singing in Bollywood. He has an unbroken record of Filmfare awards for Best Male Playback singer.
The most shocking and amazing part about the singer is that he was not trained. Some of his remarkable music is Mere Mehboob Qayamat, Aanewala Pal, Chala Jaata Hun and Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge.
He is one of the most distinct voices to have ever existed. His songs had a sense and flowed in them. They are so catchy and soulful that they are still relevant to our generation.
Hearing him on the train, on the radio, instantly invokes a feeling of nostalgia.
3. Mukesh
He has been one of the finest singers in the Bollywood industry. He is the recipient of 4 Filmfare awards for his music. He started singing in his native village and later came to Mumbai with a dream in his eyes.
However, Mumbai demands competition. Slowly but steadily, he became the playback for none other than Raj Kapoor.
Their combined force gave Bollywood jewels like Aware Hun, Bol Radha Bol, Dost Dost Na Raha, and more.
He has also sung the evergreen and soul-carving music of Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein. It is one of the most nostalgic, evergreen iconic tunes in history.
All these Old Hindi songs are one YouTube click away.
4. Manna Dey
Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen is still a very notable qawwali song in Bollywood. He is a legend in the Bollywood Industry. He has a vivacious vocal rage crisp voice texture and is one of the most unique voices.
He made a unique blend of classical music and qawwali to his audience.
He sang tunes that remain memorable and nostalgic in each and every heart to this point. Tunes like Laga Chunnari Mein Daag, Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli Hai, Yaari Hai Imaam Mera being a few among them.
Among eminent names of these men, it would be a shame not to cite a few more. Voices such as Jagjit Singh, Hemant Kumar, K.J. Yesudas are other distinct singers of this Golden Era.
Indeed decades might pass, and music will keep strengthening. But the legacy left behind by these artists create pillars of musical history.
These artists brought into Bollywood the evolution of music. Hence it would be safe to say that they are the creators of the genre of Old Bollywood songs.
Yes, we will get more party anthems and EDM music. But on a rainy day, over a Sunday evening, while having your mother’s chicken curry or feeling the loss of childhood, this is the music that will bring us a wave of nostalgia, a rush of memories.
And once again, we would wish that the year was suddenly 2006. These are just tunes that never go out of style!
So, which of these Bollywood classics is your favorite? Do tell.
Last Updated on by Steffy Michael