Top 12 Bollywood Songs of 2011

As I looked back at all my favorite songs of 2011, I ended up have more than 10 I liked. Being greedy I’m pushing the limit to 12, an even dozen. These are the songs I enjoyed all year…

Patiala House was not an impressive movie, but “Laungda Lashkara” is a song I still love and dance too. Anushka Sharma was a stunner in the video and Akshay has now hit the prime of his career.

Having studied Spanish for 7 years now, I have been exposed to all the culture and music and love it! Mainstream music has also created a space for Latin artists to thrive. I think for all these reasons, “Mehki Mehki,” from the film Game, is a song I love to drive to. My only problem is that the song has an obvious Latin flair, but they throw in the Arabic word “Habibi.” #crossculture #confusion

“Character Dheela” is Zarine Khan’s item song in Salman Khan’s movie Ready. The song is not only great to listen to and dance to, it is also a lot of fun to watch. The clip recreated classic Bollywood scenes which byword buffs would recognize.

I admit it, “Jalebi Bai,” of Double Dhamaal, is a song I sing along to. Mallika Sherawat looks great in the video and the wardrobe is stunning. Those are probably the two factors that drew me in and then the song would get stuck in my head.

Aarakshan is a film that made little impact on the scene; however, the mellow song “Accha Lagta Hai” was a permanent fixture on my iPod. The vocalist bring a great charisma to the song making it one of my favorites.

Rock meets girl power in “Dhunki,” from the film Mere Brother ki Dulhan. Add a raspier Bollywood vocalist and this song is perfection! The production, lyrics, and vocals sell this track, I often forget it’s picturized on Katrina Kaif who is far from rocker…she’s a Barbie after all.

I am Punjabi, I attend all the weddings in my community, and we sit around singing classic songs by a dholki, This has got to be the reason Mausam’s “Sajh Dhaj Ke” will forever be on my iPod. The nod to classic Punjabi songs made me smile and introduces the songs to a new generation.

Not a Bollywood romantic, “Rab Rakha” made me melt! The song is from the movie Love, Breakups and Zindagi and I LOVE IT! The four voices, one sentiment, many different parts…the song is amazing, nothing else to say here.

“Hey Na Na Shabana” is a cheesy Bollywood song from Hum Tum Aur Shabana, but because it is Raghav’s Bollywood debut, it holds a soft spot in my heart, Raghav is the pioneer of Urban Desi fusion music and every time I have met with him, he is polite and well-versed. In support of Raghav, “Hey Na Na Shabana” makes my list.

Having become the Editor-in-Chief of DesiHipHop.com, I pay more attention to Desi Hip-Hop as a genre as well has get exposed to more of the artists. When I heard “Shake it Saiyyan” from Rascals, the beat immediately caught my attention. The volume on my speakers can never seem to get loud enough for the song. Add Haji Springer, a Hip-Hop artist, and the song symbolizes a movement to me.

Shahrukh Khan got Akon in the studio with composers Vishal and Shekhar for Ra.One‘s and they created “Chammak Challo.” Get Sanjoy Deb behind his laptop and we get a “Chammak Challo Remix” which stopped me in my tracks. The seamless blend of top 40 records and Hindi favorites seemed to good to be true. Thanks to Sanjoy, I can’t listen to the lackluster original edition of “Chammak Challo.”

Ladies vs Ricky Bahl unites Anushka Sharma with Ranveer Singh after their hit Band Baaja Baraat. With big expectation from all aspects of he film, the music has me in love! “Thug Le” is an upbeat song, great music video, and he perfect way to end the year.