Falling in Love

Ah, elusive love. Lucky are those who have found it, and luckier are those who are yet to find it, for nothing, but nothing, beats the ecstasy of falling in love for the very first time. And yes, I am talking about the red glass that you see the world through, the sudden warmth in the breeze that until yesterday you hadn’t even noticed, the good that you see in everyone and everything around you, and well, the song that happens to play inside your head again and again, without even you having to listen to it. That’s where I come to my point, the music. Especially this time of the year, when it’s all about the red and the pink in the air, and it just isn’t complete without the quintessential love songs. Presenting fourteen songs, (yes, we love the significance of the number fourteen), that’ll make you drown and come alive to the feeling that is love. And it doesn’t matter whether you have someone specific in your mind or not. We all know what it is to dream about the perfect “one”. So here’s the perfect companion to help you dream on.

Abhi Kuch Dino Se (Dil Toh Bacha Hain Ji) : I start with this one, because this song is about how it starts, about when it first hits you; about that light spring in the step, and the happy feeling of being ignorant of everything else that’s happening around when you fall in love; about that sweet battle between the mind and the heart and about how the mind gives in. I love the way the song begins, and it is bound to bring a smile to your face like it did to mine. One of the few “light” Mohit Chauhan numbers that combines his honeyed voice with the crisp strums of the guitar.

Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi): Another light number which is actually about hope that love brings. Because that’s what love does. Make you believe in things you wouldn’t otherwise. About your love slowly wooing your somewhat unrelenting soulmate. “Haule Haule Ho Jayega Pyar” (Love will happen, slow but sure) just about sums it up all. Sukhwinder Singh’s convincing sincere voice is the cherry on top of the cake. Plus, thinking about the extremely adorable protagonist in the movie (played by Shahrukh Khan) raises this song to a whole different level of likeable.

Aaj Din Chadeya (Love Aaj Kal): Bring in the whole multitude of emotions that you attach with falling in love, mash them up, add in loads of soul and what you get is this song. Although this song is about pleading the One above to help you get the love of your life, you can almost feel the amount of desperation that one feels when you give away everything you have for love, and hope that it gives you something back in return. I especially love the way the chorus starts; the wholesome symphony that makes you wonder what must have gone into making a song as beautiful as this.

Iktara (Wake Up Sid): This song, is essentially all about the unheard song that I mentioned before. That one song that keeps playing in your heart again and again when you give in to love. “Iktara” paints the perfect picture of how love is musical, and how it makes you look forward to what lies ahead, even though it is unknown. Musically, this is one song that you will want to keep humming to yourself. With the perfectly blended vocals and the guitar, this will is definitely food for the romantic soul in you.

Yeh Tumhari Meri Baatein (Rock On): Apart from the fact that I absolutely dig the way this song starts, and how it captures a key moment in the movie, this song brilliantly sums up how love is about the talking and the sharing, and how love inspires music, more than the other way round. Dominique’s silky voice glides over your heart, and wraps it with warmth. This is the kind of song, that’ll make you want to pick up the phone and talk to your other half, no matter how many times in the day you have talked before.

O Meri Jaan (Life In A Metro): An out and out declaration of love, this song simply says it all. About how life changes by a simple touch of love. About how love turns night into day, and day into night. Another song with a great intro, you kind of want to let yourself loose, and let the overwhelming harmony take over you, till you are one with it. With KK pouring part of his soul into this song, this is a definite must listen if you want to drown in velvety mush, because that’s what KK’s voice does to you.

Tu Bin Bataye (Rang De Basanti): Forgive me the candid confession, but I tend to sigh a lot each time I listen to this song. Because this is all about surrender. About how when you are in love, it doesn’t matter where you are, and how you are, as long as you are with the one you love. About how your happiness lies in the happiness of the other and that is all that matters. Acoustically, this song is nothing but a feast for the tired ears, a respite from all the mayhem surrounding you.

Guncha (Main Meri Patni Aur Woh): Yet another Mohit Chauhan number, this ghazal portrays a whole different dimension of love. Just like love makes you feel like you’re drunk on bliss, this song would make you feel drunk in love. This slow mellow number is the ultimate when it comes to dipping your soul wholly into that drunk feeling. With lyrics that make you want to salute the inspiration behind it, this song definitely is a must-hear for the already drowning!!

Maahiya (Kyon Duriyan): Although this song is not from a conventional Bollywood movie, I have slipped this one into this list because if you are in love, you have to listen to this. By Shafqat Amanat Ali, and in Punjabi rather than Hindi, this song is more like the whole feast and fare when it comes to love. With different elements that will make you happy and yet sad at the same time, this song makes me think of love that is so potent it brings you pain, which is weird since this is not really a sad song.

Main Jahaan Rahoon (Namastey London): Ah, the pain of separation.This wholesome number by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, is all about how when you are in love, it doesn’t matter if you are actually together or not. Your thoughts will always be occupied by the one you love. Even in a crowd, when the whole world seems to be with you, you think of the only one in your heart. With notes that touch a raw nerve hidden somewhere in your conscious, this song helps you heal the wound as much as it makes you realize how painful it really is to be away from the only one you want to be with.

Bekaraan (Saat Khoon Maaf): This must be the latest addition to my list of all time favorite love songs. Although this song might not appear to be an out and out love song, maybe because it is a little blue in the edges, it is more about being restless in love than anything else. “Doobne lage hain hum, saans lene dije na” is all about immersing yourself fully in love, and then begging for some respite from all of the intensity. Vishal Bharadwaj at his absolute soulful in this one, I would definitely recommend this with good earphones!

Saiyaan (Kailasa): Again, not from a Bollywood movie, but more of a Sufi song, anybody who’s ever been in love must hold this song close to their heart. In Kailash Kher’s voice, that is as expressive as the song itself, Saiyaan is all about giving your everything, and then some more, for love. It is about love being above everything material, everything worldly. Saiyaan is the ideal portrait of how love transcends the ordinary and the mundane, and how sometimes, it is just about a single touch that can change everything.

Tere Bin (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan): Now this again, is one of my personal favorites… one of those songs than can sometimes make your heart ache from all the love inside it. The king of Sufi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, has this amazing way of tugging at your heart strings, with his immortal voice. Lyrically and musically one of the most poignant songs anyone can think of, Tere Bin is just what you need to get in touch with your most romantic side.

Splitsvilla 4 Theme Track (Agnee): The last song in this list, this is not really a song, and I would ask you not to go by the reality show that showcased this piece, but I tend to romanticize everything when I listen to this song, and thought it would be apt to put this into this compilation. Sometimes, you see, it is not about the words. Sometimes it is all about the feeling, and not even knowing for sure what it is. I dedicate this one to all those who are in love, who are not in love, and who are in love and yet don’t know that they are. And I wrap this whole playlist with this one just because this is a summation of all that love is about.

Cheers to love, cheers to music, and cheers to all the happiness in the world that love and music combined can bring!!

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