‘Humma Humma’, ‘Tamma Tamma’, ‘Tan Tana Tan Tan Tan Tara,’ ‘Hawa Hawai’ – no, these are not weird sounds. These are some of the remixes that sort of became earworms in 2017 which can easily be called the year of remixes. Some worked, some didn’t but the overall verdict was that may be some of the yesteryear chartbusters are best left untouched. There were of course some really nice original numbers that added the much-needed pizzazz to an otherwise average film.
Here’s a list of some of Bollywood’s best numbers in 2017, in no particular order.
‘Haareya’ – Meri Pyaari Bindu
Singers: Arijit Singh
Composer: Sachin-Jigar
Lyrics: Priya Saraiya
For a film that heavily relies on music, cassettes, and tape recorders, Meri Pyaari Bindu‘s music has lyrics and beats that validate the nostalgia in the film. Arijit Singh, surprisingly, sounds more restrained here, letting the lyrics flow. But that needn’t be a bad thing really, because not only does it suit the lead actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s state of mind, it also becomes one of the memorable, slow songs from the film.
‘Twist Kamariya’ – Bareilly Ki Barfi
Singers: Harshdeep Kaur, Yasser Desai, Tanishk Bagchi, Altamash Faridi
Composer: Tanishk Bagchi, Vayu
Lyrics: Tanishk Bagchi, Vayu
Amid all the ‘cool’ numbers in 2017, this song is quirky in many ways, an earworm when you least expect it, and actually makes you want to do as the lyrics say – ‘twist your kamariya’. It also doesn’t feel out of place, considering the film has its own brand of quirkiness.
‘Tamma Tamma Again’ – Badrinath Ki Dulhania
Singers: Bappi Lahiri, Anuradha Paudwal, Badshah
Composers: Bappi Lahiri, Tanishk Bagchi
Lyrics: Indeevar, Badshah
Recommended
Given that remixes have been quite popular this year, what with Golmaal Again remixing ‘Neend Churayi Meri’ from Ishq, or ‘Oonchi Hai Building’ from Judwaa 2, ‘Tamma Tamma Again’ is perhaps the most unexpected, and frankly the funner remix of an original 90s song.
The song is twistier version of ‘Tamma Tamma Loge’ from the 1990 film Thanedaar, that had Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt’s dance resemble your weekend Zumba workout. Nevertheless, the song, with lyrics that don’t really make sense, is so catchy and so 90s. And with a script that may as well have been from the 90s, Badrinath Ki Dulhania uses this song well.
‘Ban Ja Rani’ – Tumhari Sulu
Singers: Guru Randhawa
Composers: Guru Randhawa, Rajat Nagpal
Lyrics: Guru Randhawa
There’s not a dull moment in this film. That pretty much applies to the songs as well. It’s not flashy nor does it have funky instruments to back it. The song is so in tune with the video, and lyrics that perfectly infuses the much-needed spark and sets the mood for the foreplay. Singer Guru Randhawa, who has sung in Hindi Medium and Simran, keeps it engaging with a voice that sounds beyond his age (he’s only 26) and yet manages to not sound too nasal.
‘Din Shagna Da’ – Phillauri
Singers: Jasleen Royal
Composers: Shashwat Sachdev with Jasleen Royal
Lyrics: Neeraj Rajawat
Jasleen Royal’s voice is something to look out for. An indie artist, there’s something very earthy about her voice that’s so rooted in Punjab, much like the story of this film. And when it’s not her voice, it’s the instruments. The mellifluous tunes of the piano, sarangi and the guitar weaved together narrates a poignant tale of a young woman getting ready for her wedding, pining to be with her beloved.