Not all those who wander are lost

Fantastic Filmi Music

I love Hindi film music, also known as Bollywood music (soundtracks).

Happiness is for sharing, so here is my offering: a list of some fantastic albums – my personal favourites. The ones in bold print are my absolute favourites ♥

• Aaja Nachle
• Bachna Ae Haseeno ( — especially Khuda Jaane!)
• Billu Barber
• Bunty Aur Babli
• Devdas (2002)
• Dhoom
• Dhoom:2
• Dil Chahta Hai
• Dil Se… ♥ ( — especially Chaiyya Chaiyya!)
• Don (2006)
• Dostana
• Ghajini (2008)
• Guru ( — especially Tere Bina!)
• Hum Tum
• Jab We Met
• Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
• Jodhaa Akhbar ♥
• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
• Kal Ho Naa Ho
• Kambakkht Ishq
• Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
• Life in a… Metro
• Love Aaj Kal
• Luck By Chance
• Main  Hoon Na
• New York
• Om Shanti Om
• Omkara ( — especially Beedi!!)
• Paheli ( — especially Dheere Jalna!!)
  
• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
• Race
• Rang De Basanti
• Rock On! ♥
• Salaam Namaste
• Salaam-e-Ishq
• Slumdog Millionaire
• U Me Aur Hum

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Oh, and just to be clear – the name of the album is the same as the film it was composed for.

Some specific composers and singers you might want to check out are A R Rahman, Kailash Kher, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Pritam, Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alka Yagnik and Shreya Gosal.

Besides film songs, other India-inspired music I love would be anything by Krishna Das, Prem Joshua, Deva Premal and Snatam Kaur.
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Why This List?

I remember looking for a list just like this. I was making preparations for an exteded term trip across India and South-East Asia a few years ago, trying to find some recommendations or advice on where to start. I didn’t know anything about Indian music, but I desperately wanted to fill my mp3-player with some great songs for my upcoming trip. To make a long story short, I only managed to find one decent album: the music from the film Om Shanti Om. I ended up listening to the same album every single day for many months. Amazingly enough I still love it, but we all need a change once in a while :)

This list is only meant to give you an idea of where to start. I hope you soon find your own favourites!

Please feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments section..!