"This song is going to bang."
Karan Johar has ingrained himself in the annals of cinema as an accomplished filmmaker.
A key component of Karan’s cinema is his gorgeously pictured songs.
Karan admits to being “obsessed with Hindi film music” in an interview.
That admiration surely reflects in the onscreen songs in his films.
Karan is undeniably a filmmaker who knows how to create great songs along with groundbreaking movies.
DESIblitz presents seven great songs that are directed by Karan Johar.
Title Song – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
This is where it all began for Karan Johar in his directorial career.
Fans love Kuch Kuch Hota Hai for its romance, story, and gentile music.
The title song of the film presents Rahul Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan), Anjali Sharma (Kajol) and Tina Malhotra (Rani Mukerji).
They are singing about falling in love. Rahul and Tina love each other, while Anjali is in love with Rahul.
The song is pictured across gorgeous locations, presenting the three leads at their very best.
With the title song of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan firmly stamps his ability in the art.
The melody of the song soon became the score of the Dharma Productions logo, highlighting its popularity and longevity.
Bole Chudiyan – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
After the stupendous success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Johar embarked on a magnum opus.
The film is none other than Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. It stars six leading actors.
These are: Amitabh Bachchan (Yashvardhan Raichand); Jaya Bachchan (Nandini Raichand); Shah Rukh Khan (Rahul Raichand); Kajol (Anjali Raichand); Hrithik Roshan (Rohan Raichand) and Kareena Kapoor Khan (Pooja ‘Poo’ Raichand).
‘Bole Chudiyan’ takes place in a grand hall as the family celebrates Karwa Chauth.
The song contains the grandeur and opulence that Karan would become famous for in later years.
This star-studded number was one of the first shoots of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Kajol revealed that Karan fainted around this time due to dehydration.
However, the song is still a beloved classic, which is a testament to Karan Johar’s perseverance and effort.
Where’s The Party Tonight – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
One of Karan’s most controversial films, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, explores extramarital love.
In the film, Dev Saran (Shah Rukh Khan) and Maya Talwar (Rani Mukerji) find love in each other.
They are already married to Rhea Saran (Preity Zinta) and Rishi Talwar (Abhishek Bachchan), respectively.
Although they hate the fact that they are cheating on their spouses, Maya and Dev cannot resist their love.
‘Where’s The Party Tonight’ takes place in a club where Rhea and Rishi dance the night away.
John Abraham makes a special appearance as a DJ.
Unbeknownst to Rishi and Rhea, Dev and Maya are in a hotel room cementing their love and physical attraction.
Breath-taking shots and wonderful choreography adorn the song.
Known for his flamboyant picturisation, Karan Johar hits the ball out of the park.
Even though the song showcases a sad display of broken and complicated relationships, one cannot resist the charm and energy of ‘Where’s The Party Tonight’.
Tere Naina – My Name Is Khan (2010)
My Name Is Khan stars Karan’s hit couple, Shah Rukh Khan (Rizwan Khan) and Kajol (Mandira Khan).
It is quite unlike previous Karan Johar dramas in that the film does not have any lip-sync songs.
However, that doesn’t mean that the numbers from the film are less enjoyable.
‘Tere Naina’ depicts Rizwan falling in love with Mandira. He sells beauty products at her salon, and she gives him a haircut.
The iconography of the haircut is done with precision and care as the camera slows down with various close-up shots of Mandira and Rizwan.
As Mandira carefully crafts Rizwan’s hair, Karan unusually imbues romance into objects, including combs and scissors.
At the end of the song, Rizwan asks Mandira: “Marry me.”
This signifies the celluloid romance that SRK and Kajol are famous for.
The Disco Song – Student of the Year (2012)
Student of the Year marks the debuts of Sidharth Malhotra (Abhimanyu Singh), Alia Bhatt (Shanaya Singhania), and Varun Dhawan (Rohan Nanda).
The film is happy, fun, and enchanting.
‘The Disco Song’ is an enthusiastic depiction which shows the three students dancing energetically.
The energy and charisma in the song are quintessential Karan Johar trademarks.
With a fast beat and cool vibes, Karan presents his skill with unmatched fervour.
At the end, ‘The Disco Song’ transitions to another number. Fans on YouTube praise this aspect.
One user wrote: “The transition from this song to ‘Ishq Wala Love’ at the very end is unarguably the best part.”
Another said: “That transition to ‘Ishq Wala Love’ at the end of the song is absolutely mesmerising.”
Student of the Year firmly put Alia, Sidharth, and Varun in the league of brilliant actors.
‘The Disco Song’ makes it easy for the audience to see why.
Channa Mereya – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
This tale of unrequited love is a landmark in Karan Johar’s career.
Various versions of ‘Channa Mereya’ appear in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
The first instance shows a heartbroken Ayan Sanger singing at Alizeh Khan’s (Anushka Sharma) wedding.
Ayan is in love with Alizeh, but she just sees him as a friend.
Karan paints a picture of pain and anguish in the song, as Ranbir’s expressions are a sight to behold.
Another version of ‘Channa Mereya’ occurs when Ayan waits on a terrace for Alizeh.
The slow movement, the majestic mystery of unrequited love, and undying friendship are all themes of the iconography.
Reviewing Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Rajeev Masand says: “I suspect you’ll be a slobbering mess when the lights come back on.
“Johar knows how to do that. It’s a skill that has stayed with him even if his grammar has changed.”
What Jhumka – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
This family drama is Karan Johar at his extravagant best.
‘What Jhumka’ shows Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt) and Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh) dancing merrily together.
The song takes place on an exuberant set, and Ranveer’s energy aids the song in becoming the chartbuster it is.
Ranveer explains: “We had 300 to 400 dancers on set, and everybody was just telling one another how this song is going to bang.”
Alia adds: “I think this is my favourite song from the film.”
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was one of the biggest Bollywood hits of 2023.
‘What Jhumka’ certainly contributed to the film’s massive success.
Karan Johar has been one of Bollywood’s biggest masterminds for over 25 years.
His courage to present larger-than-life songs and his firm grasp on what works for the audience should not be underestimated.
These numbers tick all the boxes for securing longevity and leaving a mark on the hearts of the viewers.
Karan Johar’s directorial songs deserve just as much appreciation as his movies.
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