Last year brought us some outstanding Bollywood films and music. From Baby to Bajirao Mastani, the bigger-than-life heroes brought us tales of strength, honor, and love.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, here are five favorite songs from the past year that highlight a variety of love lessons learned.
1. "Pehli Baar"
English Translation: "The First Time"
Film: Dil Dhadakne Do
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Music by: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics by: Javed Akhtar
Singers: Sukriti Kakar, Siddharth Mahadevan
Description: While on an cruise to celebrate his parents' 30th anniversary, Kabir Mehra (Ranveer Singh) meets dancer Farah Ali (Anushka Sharma) and find the attraction too strong to ignore. As he gets to know Farah, he discovers a free spirit compatible with his own. Kabir secretly sneaks into the dance studio where Farah is practicing and they playfully confirm their mutual interest and desire to turn their friendship into a relationship.
Translated Lyrics: The first time when I laid eyes on you | Hear me, girl! This is what I made of you. | I knew meeting you is the end of me | I spoke to my heart and said baby, don't go down this road | This is not meant to be | But my heart said aloud, what has to be will be | Have no fear, good or bad | What has to be will be! | So, did you listen to your heart? | So, did you choose your path? | Yes, I heard my heart | Yes, I chose my path! | The first time when I laid eyes on you | Hear me, boy! This is what I made of you | I knew you take advice from your heart | I knew you are slightly crazy | We'll speak of love when we meet | And the things you say will be very sweet | But my heart said aloud, what has to be will be | Have no fear, good or bad | What has to be will be! | So, did you listen to your heart? | So, did you choose your path? | Yes, I heard my heart | Yes, I chose my path!
Why I Love This Story: Highlighting the great chemistry between these two characters, this bouncy, fun love song is made even more authentic because Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma choreographed the dance steps themselves. Hyper and zany, the song is a reflection of two incredibly compatible people experiencing the joy of love.
Love Lesson Learned: When you find your perfect partner, love can be a blast!
2. "Jalte Diya"
English Translation: "The Burning"
Film: Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
Director: Sooraj R. Barjatya
Music by: Himesh Reshammiya
Lyrics by: Irshad Kamil
Singers: Anweshaa, Harshdeep Kaur, Vineet Singh, Shabab Sabri
Description: After Prince Vijay Singh is badly injured, lookalike Prem Dilwale (Salman Khan) temporarily replaces Singh so the royal can recuperate. Unlike the authoritarian prince, Prem is friendly, lively and carefree. When Prem takes on the ;royal role, he can't but help step in to repair some of the dysfunction and damage surrounding the prince. Though he has been directed not to speak or act without permission by the prince's handlers, this do-gooder wants everyone around him to be happy and so soon disregards his instructions and soon sets about changing things in the royal household. When the prince's fiancée Princess Maithili Devi (Sonam Kapoor) senses changes in the flawed man she is reluctant to marry, she finds herself falling in love with Prem.
Lyrics: If tonight would be the night of our meeting | Then it would be really grand | It would be really grand | I've heard that when one falls in love, lamps start igniting | In the body, in the heart, in the eyes, lamps start igniting | Come my beloved, come my beloved | Come my beloved, only for your sake, these lamps are burning | I want to spend my life in your shade | I want to spend my life in your shade | Sometimes, sometimes due to these lamps, fires can also erupt | On clean clothes, stains are bound to come | Even the gardens of the heart can turn into barren lands | If one's dreams are decorated, lamps start igniting | Not for me, the lamp that is burning for me isn't for me | Why is the glow directed towards me, stop it please | In this strange light, for how long should one live | If there's a melody in the breath, lamps start igniting | In the tinkling of the anklets and bracelets, lamps start igniting | Come my beloved, these lamps are burning | I want to spend my life in your shade | I want to spend my life in your shade
Why I Love This Story: Prem has been a fan of Princess Maithili Devi - a humanitarian in her own right - since before he temporarily stepped into the prince's shoes. When she meets him in a garden and expresses her desire for this revised prince, Prem is confused. Maithili is literally throwing herself at him yet Prem knows he must not take advantage of the situation. He respects her too much and knows that they both would regret it if an imposter responded to her encouragements. Later, when she learns the truth about Prem, she understands his refusal and loves him even more.
Love Lessons Learned: If she/he is not meant for you, don't take advantage of her/him. True respect is an incredible aphrodisiac.
3. "Main Tujhse Pyaar Nahin Karta"
English Translation: "I Don't Love You"
Film: Baby
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Music by: MM Keeravani
Lyrics by: Manoj Muntashir
Singer: Papon
Description: Agent Ajay Singh Rajput (Akshay Kumar) and his wife Anjali (Madhurima Tuli) are happily married with two children. Ajay often travels out-of-town for "conferences" and returns with stories about the events that transpired. Anjali knows that these stories are lies told by Ajay because he cannot discuss his secret missions. To protect their hearts, they each quietly tell themselves they aren't really in love. But even though they won't admit it, you can tell this is one more lie that they choose to live with.
Lyrics: I don’t love you | I don’t love you | But there is no such evening when I, in my loneliness, don’t wait for you | I don’t love you | So I keep saying to my heart | But hiding in your breaths, I keep breathing - that I don’t deny | I don’t love you | I don’t remember a thing, when the day passed, and when it was night | It just happened yesterday, that I talked to walls for hours | The little sense that still remains in me it seems, I'm about to lose | There is a rumor among my friends that I am about to go mad | I don’t love you...
Why I Love This Story: Even though this video song didn't make the final cut of the film, a female version sung from Anjali's perspective was included and this version is part of the soundtrack. This video highlights the strong relationship between Ajay and Anjali which we see depicted in other scenes in Baby. Ajay and Anjali have managed to build a strong life together despite the many secrets that Ajay must keep from Anjali. It is the marvelous authenticity in how they interact - the complete honesty that Ajay and Anjali share on a personal level - that provides the strong foundation for this relationship.
Love Lesson Learned: Honesty and authenticity can overcome any obstacle.
4. "Janam Janam"
English Translation: "Every Lifetime"
Film: Dilwale
Director: Rohit Shetty
Music by: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics by: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singers: Arijit Singh, Antara Mitra
Description: After 15 years of separation, Raj Randhir Bakshi (Shah Rukh Khan), a.k.a. Kaali, and Meera Dev Malik (Kajol) meet once again. Raj's hope for reconciliation is vehemently refused by Meera. But Raj never stops loving Meera because he understands the source of her animosity. When they meet on a deserted lane in the rain, he must choose whether to stop and help or keep on driving. As he begins working on the car, his feelings for her rise to the surface as he imagines Meera finally accepting him. As the scene turns from color to grayscale, Raj and Meera are transported to a time and place where they can openly declare their love for one another.
Lyrics: In every lifetime walk with me | Promise me you'll meet me right here | We're two bodies but one soul | Be mine forever, never say goodbye | You're my breaking dawn, you are my nightfall | You're the balmy pain and you're my comfort | There's only one prayer that leaves my lips | Be mine forever, never say goodbye | Both my worlds lie in your arms | My heaven is where you are | Desires are burning in both our hearts | Let them continue burning is all I pray for | You're my desire, I am your love | You're my poem, I am your music | You, you, you, you are the one I crave for | Keep flowing in my veins like a never ending intoxication | Repay my love in this manner | Be mine forever, never say goodbye
Why I Love This Story: Former romantic soul mates, Raj and Meera still have feelings for each other. But they keep those feelings hidden. Now that Raj has finally found Meera, he wants to show her that he holds no ill will toward her despite the tragic events of their past. He wants Meera to become part of his life, to never leave him again. But, in the end, reality sets in and Raj stands alone in the rain, watching Meera drive away.
Love Lesson Learned: Dreams about your soul mate can encourage. But real life love takes work.
5. Tu Jo Mila
English Translation: "Since We Met"
Film: Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Director: Kabir Khan
Music by: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics by: Kausar Munir
Sung by: KK
Description: When Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi (Salman Khan), a.k.a. Bajrangi, discovers a lost and mute six-year-old girl, he seeks to reunite her with her family. Unfortunately, his attempts to do so not only put her in jeopardy, but highlight how dedicated he is to the protection of "Munna". They are connected in an unexpected bond of love forged through friendship and trust. Bajrangi realizes he must personally make the trip from India to Pakistan with Munna to ensure that she finds her way home.
Translated Lyrics: You let go of my hand | I am no longer in your company | I've lost myself looking for you | Why does my heart beat so slowly? | Why are my eyes filled with tears? | What have I become for you? | Since we met, I feel capable | Since we met, I achieved everything | With great difficulty the destination became easy | Because you're the heartbeat and I am the heart | The way you would get upset and I would console you | While looking for your smile I found happiness | Every time you drifted apart and I brought us close | While looking for your footsteps I found myself | Since we met, I found my destination | Since we met, I found my shore | Since we met, my destination became easy | Because you're the heartbeat and I am the heart.
Why I Love This Story: Sensing he is someone who can be trusted, little Munna comes to completely depend on Bajrangi. Bajrangi doesn't realize how closely he is connected to Munna until that connection is almost lost. Fortunately for Munna and Bajrangi, their new-found friendship is strong enough to weather every challenge they face in their incredible journey.
Love Lesson Learned: Love borne out of friendship and trust is a powerful thing.
The following playlist features each of these video songs. This Valentine's Day remember the love you share with everyone in your life and pass it on!
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