Independence Day is just around the corner and patriotism is running high. But what further augments the patriotic fervor are the songs that eloquently portray the love for the nation. These songs that are a part of Bollywood movies or have been sung for some special occasion depict various aspects such as the freedom struggle, the heroes of the wars that India fought with Pakistan and China, India’s achievements in the sporting events etc. These patriotic songs not only instill patriotism in us, but also propel us to do something spectacular for our nation.
Here are some of the evergreen patriotic songs that one must definitely hear this Independence Day:
Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo
You must have heard this melodious song umpteen times, still never get tired of hearing it again and again. A true classic, the non-Bollywood song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar as an ode to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. Penned by Kavi Pradeep, the beautiful song is a must-listen.
Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawano Ka – Naya Daur
Naya Daur, which was released in 1957 and starred Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala, was a huge commercial hit. Released some ten years after India’s independence, the movie was about the growing industrialization in India. The movie teemed with numerous melodious songs and Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawano Ka is probably the best of the lot. Though it has been 60 years since the movie was released, however, the song has not lost its appeal. The song was sung by two acclaimed singers – Mohammed Rafi and Balbir.
Mere Desh ki Dharti – Upkar
Patriotism oozes from each and every word of the memorable song Mere Desh ki Dharti. From the movie Upkar, which was released in 1967 and starred Manoj Kumar, the song can be heard at events commemorating national days. The song was sung by the legendary singer Mahendra Kapoor.
Maa Tujhe Salaam – Vande Mataram
Maa Tujhe Salaam is the title track of AR Rahman’s 1997 studio album Vande Matram. The album has earned the distinction of being the largest non-film album. One of the most popular song and sung by AR Rahman in his melodious voice, Maa Tujhe Salaam emphasizesthe diversity of the country and instills patriotism as well as unityamong the people.
Aye Watan Tere Liye – Karma
One of the most patriotic songs from the 1986 blockbuster Karma, Aye Watan Tere Liye, is a melodious and energetic song. The movie supports a long star cast which includes Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Sri Devi, Poonam Dhillon and Anupam Kher. The song has been sung by Mohammad Aziz and Kavita Krishnamurthy.
Chak De! India – Chak De! India
Chak De! India from the 2007 blockbuster Chak De! India is a heart thumping song and has virtually become a sports anthem. Though the movie, which starred Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, depicted the role of the disgraced hockey star who plays a stellar role as the coach of the Indian Women Hockey team enabling it to reach the top and win the cup. The song has been sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Salim-Sulaiman, and Marianne D’Cruz.
Rang De Basanti – Rang De Basanti
A carefree group of five friends, who’re mostly a-political, changes its course due to the tragic death of a friend ascribed to government’s negligence. This 2006 Indian drama by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra infused patriotic sentiments and emotions for the country in the ordinary citizens. The film has a lot of patriotic numbers. However, the title track is exceptionally good. The soundtrack has been sung by Daler Mehndi and K. S. Chithra and composed by A. R. Rahman.
I Love My India – Pardes
The 1997 drama by Subhash Ghai was a hit not only commercially but due to its music as well. The film is about cultural values and how Indians are deeply rooted to their tradition. The song I Love My India represents just that emotion. It has been sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan and Aditya Narayan. The song was written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Nadeem-Shravan.
Ae Watan – Raazi
Raazi is a 2018 spy thriller about a young college student Sehmat who is married into a Pakistani family so that she can find out some valuable and secretive information for India. Ae Watan represents that sentiment in the film. The song has both male and female version sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh, written by Gulzar and composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
Insaaf Ki Dagar Pe – Gunga Jumna
Starring Dilip Kumar, this film was a 1961 Indian crime drama and is one of the most critically acclaimed films of that era. The film is about two brothers; one is boisterous and the other is bookish and how these two oppugnant brothers confront each other as enemies. Amongst various other songs, Insaaf Ki Dagar Pe (“on the path of justice”) is one of the classic patriotic songs of the nation. Sung by Hemant Kumar, this song is an optimistic representation of Indian Independence.
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