As some of you may have noticed, I am huge Bollywood fan (shameless plug to my review blog: link ). I honestly do not even watch Hollywood movies that much anymore; Bollywood movies are so wholesome and often so beautiful that watching an American movie--full of sex, drugs, and violence--can be very jarring. That's not to say I watch ONLY Bollywood films, but for the past year, they've been my primary source of film entertainment.

Everywhere I go, I try to convert people to the Bollywood fandom, so I figured: why not EF? I've included links to a few of my favorite Bollywood songs, as well as a picture from each film (because some of it is so beautiful it has to be seen to be believed!) and, more often than not, a professional translation of the lyrics. A lot of times, the in-film subtitles are simplified for westerners' understanding; that's nice, but you really miss out on how poetic the lyrics can be!

Of course, you lose a lot of quality when you watch things over the internet, so try finding HD clips if you like these ones. I promise you, they're even more beautiful when the images are crisp and clean.

DEVDAS - "Dola Re"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit (two of the most elegant creatures we humans have ever created as a species)
About: Some people hate this movie to pieces, but most of them still like this song. Gorgeous.

DIL SE - "Chaiyya Chaiyya"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Shahrukh Khan, Malika Sharawat
About: The famous "traintop dance." Surprisingly beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL lyrics.

KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM - "Say 'Shava Shava!'"
Picture: link
Video: link
Features: Amitabh Bachchan (a legend), Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, and Jaya Bachchan
About: Just plain fun!

KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM - "Bole Chudiyan"
Picture: link
Video: link
Features: Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan
About: Hrithik Roshan is oh-so-elegant...best male dancer of the current era, I say.

MUGHAL-E-AZAM - "Mohabbat Ki Jhooti Kahani Pe Roye"
Picture: link
Video: link
Features: Madhubala (R.I.P)
About: It's probably cheating to post this, since there's no dancing, but OMFG, so melancholy and lovely!

MUGHAL-E-AZAM - "Teri Mehfil Me"
Picture: link
Video: link
Features: Madhubala and Nigar Sultana (once again, two of the most elegant creatures...)
About: If you don't like traditional Indian singing, stay away. Otherwise, this is effin' perfect.

RANGEELA - "Rangeela Re"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Urmila Matondkar (God, this woman is sexy)
About: Stupid, but in a really fun way.

MAIN HOON NA - "Tumse Milke Dilka Jo Haal"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Amrita Rao, Zayed Khan (ugh), Shahrukh Khan, Sushmita Sen
About: I promise you, this song is mildly ridiculous on purpose.

ASOKA - "Raat Ka Nasha"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Kareena Kapoor and a very sexy yet unknown item girl
About: This movie has a great--if short--soundtrack overall.

DIL HAI TUMHARA - "Dil Laga Liya"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Preity Zinta, Jimmy Shergill
About: "Meh" movie and a generally "meh" soundtrack, but this song is AMAZING.

BUNTY AUR BABLI - "Kajra Re"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan
About: This movie is super-cute and is a great introduction to Bollywood!

HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM - "Nimbooda"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Aishwarya Rai
About: One of my absolute favorites. An extremely popular movie, although I don't like it.

DIL KA RISHTA - "Dayya Dayya Re"
Picture: link
Video: link
Lyrics: link
Features: Aishwarya Rai
About: Worst movie ever, but I worship this song.



There are no lyrics for Mughal-E-Azam and K3G, because Sony seems to think that translating lyrics violates copyright. Er...okay. Nevermind that people are going to be more interested in buying the soundtrack if they KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID.


If the links die, please tell me!