"Pappa, come back soon."
In the sacred realm of familial ties, fatherhood is a bond that is precious and irreplaceable.
Over the years, Bollywood has anchored many mesmeric songs that celebrate the glistening relationship between fathers and children.
Respect, love, and melody ooze from the dynamic lyrics and heart-touching rhythms.
Are you on the hunt for songs to dedicate to your father?
We invite you to join us on a magical journey that will introduce you to the right ones.
DESIblitz dives into the 10 best Bollywood songs that celebrate Father’s Day.
Saat Samundar Paar Se – Taqdeer (1967)
In any loving relationship, separation is the one thing that all participants fear the most.
Lata Mangeshkar, Sulakshana Pandit, and Usha Khanna come together to render this soulful track infused with the melody of Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
The song presents a maternal Sharda (Shalini) reading a letter surrounded by innocent children.
She dedicates the song to their father.
The heart is put through an emotional wringer when one child sings: “Mother doesn’t sing lullabies. We can’t get to sleep.”
Sharda then croons: “Come back home, and don’t leave us again.”
Following this, the kids sing: “Pappa, come back soon.”
A fan comments on YouTube: “Who is listening to this song in 2024?
“Who is missing their papa a lot?”
‘Saat Samundar Paar Se’ encapsulates the importance and longing for a father by his children.
Tujhe Sooraj Kahoon – Ek Phool Do Mali (1969)
Manna Dey’s gentile number is a great underliner of a father’s love towards his son.
In ‘Tujhe Sooraj Kahoon’, Kailashnath Kaushal (Balraj Sahni) plays and sings with his infant son.
A happy Somna (Sadhana Shivdasani) watches on with love shining in her eyes.
The impact a child can have on a father is sublime.
Kailashnath sings: “I have a new support for living upon meeting you.”
This line particularly highlights the joy of a growing family.
A review of Ek Phool Do Mali on IMDB praises Ravi’s composition:
“Music by Ravi is an important part of the movie. The songs were all great hits.”
Sang by an artist of Manna Sahab’s calibre, ‘Tujhe Sooraj Kahoon’ is a hit for the ages.
Maangi Thi Ek Dua – Shakti (1982)
When it comes to powerful Bollywood father-son dramas, Ramesh Sippy’s Shakti is an unmissable masterpiece.
Shakti depicts the story of the fractured relationship between DCP Ashwini Kumar (Dilip Kumar) and his son Vijay Kumar (Amitabh Bachchan).
‘Maangi Thi Ek Dua’ by Mahendra Kapoor is the anthem of Shakti.
A positive version of the song plays in the beginning.
In the picturisation, Ashwini lives a happy life with Vijay and Sheetal Kumar (Rakhee Gulzar) – Ashwini’s wife and Vijay’s mother.
Ashwini thanks his good fortune for being blessed with a son.
When the father is forced to take a devastating step in the film’s climax, a sombre rendition of the number begins with Ashwini asking:
“Who has cast the evil eye on my moon? Where did I make a mistake?”
Therefore, ‘Maangi Thi Ek Dua’ not only signifies the happiness of a father, but it also touches upon the pain of a tested parent who finds themselves in a rift with their child.
For that, the song is unforgettable and is a stand-out from Shakti.
You Are My Darling – Hum Naujawan (1985)
Just as the relationship between fathers and sons is unique, a father-daughter connection is also mystical and intangible.
Hum Naujawan stars Dev Anand as Professor Hans Raj. He also directs the movie.
The film is also a launch for Tabu, who makes her first film appearance as the teenager Priya, who is Hans’ daughter.
‘You Are My Darling’ is a charming duet between Kishore Kumar and Peenaz Masani.
It features the father and daughter singing merrily to each other, in a celebration of their love.
The number goes on to find resonance and heightened importance following a cruel twist later in the film.
In his autobiography, Romancing With Life (2007), Dev Sahab writes glowingly of Tabu’s performance:
He enthuses: “[Tabu] was a very sweet kid, and performed her role with great verve.”
This is evident in ‘You Are My Darling’, which is a number filled with fun and frolic.
Main Dil Tu Dhadkan – Adhikar (1986)
Father’s Day is all about the power of unbreakable bonds.
Adhikar paints a glorious picture of the connection between Vishal (Rajesh Khanna) and his son Lucky (Lucky).
‘Main Dil Tu Dhadkan’ plays at various points throughout the film.
However, the number sets the tone for the movie when it showcases Vishal and Lucky’s relationship over the opening credits.
Kishore Kumar’s sterling voice imbues the song with soul and emotion.
Some of the lyrics in the chorus are: “I get my life from you. I’ll break down like glass if this bond ever breaks.”
The theme of undying love seeps into the song and the film.
Due to this, it is all the more despairing when Lucky and Vishal’s relationship appears to be in danger.
Although the film did not do well at the box office, ‘Main Dil Tu Dhadkan’ remains an evergreen chartbuster.
It is therefore one of the perfect songs to celebrate Father’s Day.
Papa Kehte Hain – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
This song is where it all began for the singer Udit Narayan and Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan.
In Aamir’s first film, the actor becomes Rajveer ‘Raj’ Singh.
Raj dedicates this song to his father Dhanraj Singh (Dalip Tahil) at his college leaving party.
However, he is unaware that Dhanraj is secretly watching him and is happy to see Raj fulfilling his dreams.
‘Papa Kehte Hain’ is a tribute to paternal aspirations, and underscores the emotion of a father wanting what is best for his children.
The chartbuster finds a new meaning at the end of the film when tragedy strikes.
‘Papa Kehte Hain’ became the most successful song of the film, which itself had a key unique selling point in the form of its soundtrack.
The song was recreated in Rajkummar Rao’s Srikanth (2024).
Aamir and Udit both recalled fond emotions at an event for Srikanth.
The actor says: “Even after 35-36 years, this song touches our hearts and evokes wonderful emotions in us.”
Meanwhile, Udit remarks: “This song and music left a mark on everyone’s heart.”
This mark is indelible and memorable for Father’s Day.
Tu Mera Dil – Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)
Continuing with the unbeatable actor-singer combination of Aamir Khan and Udit Narayan, we come to this lovely song from Akele Hum Akele Tum.
At first, the aspiring singer Rohit Kumar (played by Aamir) foists the responsibilities of their son Sunil ‘Sonu’ Kumar (Adil Rizvi) onto his wife Kiran Kumar’s (Manisha Koirala) overwhelmed shoulders.
Kiran later walks out on them both, leaving Rohit and Sonu to forge a relationship, which becomes loving and tender.
‘Tu Mera Dil’ echoes as they cement their newly found bond via amusement parks and cricket matches.
The song is beautifully sung by Udit. In a hugely relatable move, Sonu’s lines are rendered innocently by Udit’s real-life son Aditya Narayan.
During one verse, in a reflective mood, Rohit sings: “Supposing the world abandons me tomorrow, who is my companion?”
Sonu playfully answers: “I am, Daddy!”
Later in the film, a turbulent court case threatens to separate Sonu and Rohit, invoking a more despondent version of the song.
It was original for viewers at the time to see Aamir Khan as a young, single father.
Due to this, director Mansoor Khan initially envisioned Anil Kapoor as Rohit.
However, via ‘Tu Mera Dil,’ the chemistry between Rohit and Sonu ticks all the right boxes, thereby proving that Aamir was the right choice for the role all along.
Papa Ki Pari – Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003)
Sooraj R Barjatya’s 2003 romance is built on the foundation of pure love and relationships.
Sanjana Satyaprakash (Kareena Kapoor Khan) is a vivacious and sprightly young woman who loves performing onstage.
Sunidhi Chauhan belts out ‘Papa Ki Pari’ as Sanjana performs in college.
As Sanjana energetically grooves to the infectious beat, her father Suraj Satyaprakash (Pankaj Kapoor) applauds and dances in the audience.
Concerning the song, a viewer remarks: “No one can love a daughter more than her father.”
Although Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon faced criticism for the apparent over-acting in the film, nobody can deny the intention and sentiment behind ‘Papa Ki Pari’.
It is a great choice for daughters who wish to put a smile on the faces of their dads on Father’s Day.
Papa Mere Papa – Main Aisa Hi Hoon (2005)
Main Aisa Hi Hoon intertwines fatherhood with mental disabilities.
The film tells the story of Indraneel ‘Neel’ Mohan Thakur (Ajay Devgn) who has the mental age of a seven-year-old.
He is the father to Gungun Thakur (Rucha Vaidya) and loves her unconditionally.
‘Papa Mere Papa’ is what Gungun sings when Advocate Niti Vikram Chahal (Sushmita Sen) asks her to tell her something about her father.
The lyrics contain the words: “Who is the loveliest of all? Papa, my papa.”
Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, and Baby Aparna commit themselves to the song, adorning it with sweetness.
Although her father is her mental age, the young Gungun adores him.
Disability is not an obstacle in the path of love.
‘Papa Mere Papa’ is an ode to that idea.
Papa Meri Jaan – Animal (2023)
Scores of Bollywood fans were mightily impressed with Ranbir Kapoor’s enthralling saga Animal.
The blockbuster narrates the story of Ranvijay ‘Vijay’ Singh (Ranbir Kapoor).
The young man goes to extreme lengths to protect and preserve his devotion to his father Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor).
Two renditions of ‘Papa Meri Jaan’ exist in the film. The first is by RP Krishaang which plays over the opening credits, showing a young Vijay (Ahmad Ibn Umar).
On the other hand, Sonu Nigam croons the second version during the ending credits.
Praising Sonu’s version, Umesh Punwani from Koimoi writes:
“I don’t know how to explain it, but this immediately took me back to the melancholic world of Sapna Jahan (Brothers), and much of it is because of Sonu’s voice, which passes through your broken soul.
“Though the lyrics by Raj Shekhar lie mainly in the ‘happy/aspirational’ zone, Harshavardhan’s music maintains the melancholy throughout.”
While accepting his Filmfare ‘Best Actor’ award for Animal in 2024, Ranbir quoted this song when thanking his late father Rishi Kapoor.
‘Papa Meri Jaan’ is undoubtedly a tribute to the unshakeable bond between fathers and children.
As we try to reforge and refresh familial bonds in times when social media is raging, Father’s Day is an essential celebration.
Bollywood thrives on themes of love and family and these ideas are represented beautifully in its music.
Fatherhood is incomplete without these songs. They carry love and emotion in spades.
So, this Father’s Day, compile these chartbusters together and celebrate your old man like never before.
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