Just a twist of music, lyrics and touch of the 20th century, folk songs are roaring
If there is one incredible thing Bollywood music industry has done so far is the adaption of Indian folk songs giving it a wider platform and love it deserves. Be it Dilip Kumar's Nain Lad Jaihe from the movie Ganga Jamuna, or Vyjayantimala's ‘Chadh Gayo Papi Bichhua’ from the film Madhumati to AishwaryaRai’s Nimboda Nimboda from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, all are merges of folk music like the Assamese Bihu or Rajasthani folk music.
Dilbaro This song from the film Raazi is based on the Kashmiri folk wedding song. The opening lyrics to this song ‘Bacha sai khaanmajhor duo mainu ruksaat myaan bai Jano’ which means ‘I am the darling daughter, bid me farewell, my brother’, is usually sung when the daughter is bidding farewell after the wedding. Another Bollywood song having opening lyrics from Kashmiri folk song is Bhumbro from the film Mission Kashmir.
Engine Ki Seeti This super energetic hip song form Sonam Kapoor-Fawad Khan starrer Khoobsurat is an adaption of a popular Rajasthani folk song, Anjan ki seeti. The only difference being, original words like ‘mann dole’ have been twisted and made to ‘bum dole’ for the zest and undeniably the Rajasthani folk beats make this song a party special.
Navrai Majhi From the movie English Vinglish, this one is a traditional Marathi wedding folk song, usually sung by the bride's family to praise the bride’s beauty and talk about the bride’s hopes and dreams. Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Swanand Kirkire, Natalie Di Luccio, and Neelambari Kirkire, the song has been and continues to be a wedding favourite especially with the late Sridevi grooving to it. The film went to be shortlisted as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards.
Jugni Originally a Pakistani Punjabi folk song, Jugni over the years has had various versions in Bollywood films. Of the several versions, one of the hit renditions was from the film Cocktail picturized on Deepika Padukone. Having sung by Arif Lohar and HarshdeepKaur, the song gives you goosebumps.
Genda Phool A popular folk or field song sung in Chhattisgarh, made way to the streets of the national capital, thanks to the film Delhi-6. The song is an adaption of ‘Dadaria’, basically, songs that are popular and part of folklore that are sung by villagers while harvesting or during leisure.
The beauty of these folk songs is that though they are from an ancient time but still fit well with the times of today. Some other hit folk songs part of Bollywood music are Morni Bagama Bole from Lamhe and Ambarsariya from Fukrey.
