"It is a motivational number sung with gusto"
Modes of transport can be an imperative component in the showcase of Bollywood songs.
Across decades, Bollywood filmmakers have used cars, trains, and more to add emotion, colour, and brashness to their tracks.
A speeding train or a rolling car can aid the actors in conveying romance and drama.
This can also influence audiences, making them appreciative of the things that make them mobile.
When viewers see their favourite stars dancing and singing in trains or wagons, it can increase the value of transport.
Delving into tracks for which it is a key player, we present 12 beautiful Bollywood songs featuring vehicles of all kinds.
Jiya O Jiya (Male) – Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961)
This peppy pop song from Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai is sung by musical legend Mohammad Rafi.
It features Dev Anand (Sundeer/Monto) and Asha Parekh (Nisha R Singh).
Monto belts out ‘Jiya O Jiya’ atop the roof of a car to Nisha, who is swooning in a train.
The lyrics mellifluously flow out of Rafi Sahab, who nails the number at just the right pitch and range.
The additions of the car and train can relate to the upbeat tempo of the song. ‘Jiya O Jiya’ remains a classic number which definitely contributes to the success of the film.
A female version, sung by Lata Mangeshkar also exists in the film. However, it is Rafi Sahab’s version that remains the most popular.
In a ‘WildFilmsIndia’ interview, Dev Sahab is asked about ‘Jiya O Jiya.’ He says he related strongly to the mood of the song:
“I just gave the shot the way the shots had to be given. You know the mood and you go with the mood.”
This song would not be the same without its transport and if Dev Sahab had just acted on foot.
Such a fast, entertaining track deserves something fitting to the mood. The car and train certainly makes it stand out.
O Mehbooba – Sangam (1964)
Sangam is a classic of Indian cinema. This film stars Raj Kapoor (Sundar Khanna), Vyjayanthimala (Radha Mehra/Radha Sundar Khanna) and Rajendra Kumar (Gopal Verma).
‘O Mehbooba’ follows a catchy tune. It is brought to life by Mukesh, in his famous nasal tone.
Though known for his melancholic numbers, Mukesh Ji proves that he can sing happy Bollywood songs with equal finesse and talent.
The breezy number shows Radha and Gopal in a boat, while Sundar follows in a canoe. He dances freely before pulling Radha into the canoe with him.
They then cruise across the water, with Sundar serenading Radha, while Gopal gleefully watches on.
‘O Mehbooba’ remains a popular song from the glistening album of Sangam. A YouTube comment praises the song and the vocals, stating:
“What a nice song and what a beautiful voice of great Mukesh Ji.”
Sangam is the first ever Bollywood film to be shot in locations abroad. Raj Sahab was also the director of the movie.
The gorgeous locations perhaps enabled us to picturise the song in a manner that transported Indian viewers to a different world.
During a live concert in Trinidad & Tobago, Mukesh Ji performed this song to waves of thunderous applause. Thus signifying the magic of ‘O Mehbooba.’
Aasman Se Aaya Farishta – An Evening in Paris (1967)
When it comes to song picturisation in Bollywood, this groovy number is a first.
It is one of the first songs that featured a helicopter.
Mohammad Rafi splendidly renders the track as viewers enjoy breathtaking aerial shots over the ocean.
In ‘Aasman Se Aaya Farishta’, Shammi Kapoor (Shyam Kumar/Sam) lands on a boat from a helicopter.
In typical Shammi style, he whips his limbs as he sings to Sharmila Tagore (Deepa Malik/Roopa “Suzy” Malik).
The helicopter is a source of great visual entertainment. It correlates well with Shammi Sahab’s wonderful flamboyance.
At the end of the song, he lifts Sharmila into his arms and back into the helicopter. The iconography perfectly encapsulates the power of love.
Shammi Sahab narrates a funny anecdote about the song. He explains that he was scared of heights and used alcohol to combat his fear:
“I can’t stand heights. I drank two large pegs of cognac. The brandy helped me combat the height.”
Shammi Sahab also delves into how director Shakti Samanta helped him perform the song from such a height:
“I made our director just flag me his handkerchief to the beat. I had that song within me.”
That is evident by how Shammi Sahab terrifically acts in the song. The helicopter, mixed with his eccentricity, is a stroke of genius.
Mere Sapno Ki Rani – Aradhana (1969)
This colourful song introduces the inimitable actor-singer combination of Rajesh Khanna and Kishore Kumar.
Aradhana opens with ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’. The song presents a fresh-faced Rajesh (Arun Verma) along with Sujit Kumar (Madan Verma) in a jeep.
He croons this song to Vandana Verma (Sharmila Tagore).
Kishore Da effortlessly adapts his voice to match Rajesh’s onscreen persona. Furthermore, the mouth instrumentation in the composition illustrates the modes of transport.
Rajesh has fun in turning the wheel of the jeep, while Sharmila cheekily gazes out the train window. ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’ became an anthem of the ’60s.
In a soundtrack review of Aradhana, writer Dr Shail comments on the romance of the song:
“This scene is one of the most iconic romantic scenes of all time and has been recreated many times.”
He also divulges the influence of ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’ upon the youth of that time:
“Who hasn’t seen the video of Sujit Kumar driving a jeep with Rajesh Khanna singing this song to woo a charming Sharmila seated in Darjeeling’s famous Toy train?
“When the movie was released, every girl and woman wanted to be wooed like Sharmila, and every guy dreamt of singing this song to his loved one like Rajesh.”
‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’ remains an audience favourite. That is clear by the trends it set during its time.
Phoolon Ke Rang Se – Prem Pujari (1970)
Prem Pujari marks the directorial debut of evergreen star Dev Anand. He also stars in the film as Ramdev Bakshi/Peter Andrews/Yoo Thok.
Unfortunately, the movie itself was a box-office failure.
However, over the years, it has become a cult classic, and the songs are loved by millions.
One of these gorgeous numbers is ‘Phoolon Ke Rang Se’, sung majestically by Kishore Kumar.
In the picturisation of the first verse, Ramdev sits in a train, singing about love.
The lyrics metaphorically link it to the material pleasures of the world.
The train is important, as it zooms past all the things that Ramdev is thinking about. This suggests that all these concrete things do not last forever, and that love knows no bounds.
An IMDB review praises the song:
“Kishore Kumar’s ‘Phoolon Ke Rang Se, Dil Ki Kalam Se,’ was another excellent number.”
There is no denying that this melodious number is a jewel among Indian music aficionados.
Comfort inside a train is sometimes underestimated. ‘Phoolon Ke Rang Se’ beautifully expresses the calmness one can receive by just watching life pass by.
Yeh Dosti – Sholay (1975)
When many fans discuss Bollywood songs about friendship and bonding, this track is unmissable.
‘Yeh Dosti’ depicts Dharmendra (Veeru) and Amitabh Bachchan (Jaidev ‘Jai’) crooning about their undying friendship. They ride a motorcycle and sidecar.
Ace playback singers Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey lend their voices to the actors.
In a hilarious scene, Veeru and Jai lose control of their motorcycle. This causes the sidecar to break away.
This song is memorable for this iconography. The whole song took over 20 days to film.
When Amitabh had Dharmendra as his guest on Kaun Banega Crorepati, they reminisced about the motorcycle shots.
Dharmendra also playfully recites the registration number of the transport, drawing laughs from the audience.
Shalini Dore, from Variety, writes about ‘Yeh Dosti.’ She reveals the impact of the song on the LGBTQ+ community:
“While portrayed as platonic at the time, has been taken by the gay community as theirs since then and ‘Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Chodhengay’ as their anthem.”
‘Yeh Dosti’ surely makes for a cool song portraying friendship and loyalty. The iconic motorcycle aids the song in becoming ingrained in the minds of viewers.
Do Mastane – Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
Fans regard Andaz Apna Apna as one of the best comedies ever to come out of Bollywood.
Interestingly, it didn’t fare too well in 1994. However, fans vastly appreciate it now and the music is also widely popular.
One of the songs is ‘Do Mastane’ which takes place on a bus.
The groovy number features Aamir Khan (Amar Manohar) and Salman Khan (Prem Bhopali) singing about their dreams.
They dance inside the bus and prance around on top of it.
The rest of the passengers join in, highlighting the intimate setting a bus can provide.
‘Do Mastane’ includes the first meeting of Amar and Prem. This kicks off a marvellous chemistry and onscreen relationship that headlines the rest of the film.
Pramit Chatterjee, from ‘Mashable India’ opines that it is this chemistry that strengthens Andaz Apna Apna:
“Why the f*ck does Andaz Apna Apna work? In my opinion, it’s because of the chemistry between Aamir and Salman.”
If ‘Do Mastane’ was not picturised well, audiences would not have got an appropriate taste of this chemistry.
Modes of transport, intertwined with good choreography make ‘Do Mastane’ fulfill its purpose.
Chaiyya Chaiyya – Dil Se (1998)
‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ is one of the most iconic Bollywood songs, from Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se.
It portrays Shah Rukh Khan (Amarkant ‘Amar’ Varma) and Malaika Arora (as herself) dancing on top of a train. A whole entourage of passengers and dancers join in.
The train is like a character in itself. It acts as a stage for these energetic characters to perform.
The choreography involves a lot of limb-shaking and eccentric movement. Shah Rukh and Malaika perform this song with natural ease.
The train also heightens the song’s authentic nature as it goes past lush greenery and foggy valleys.
‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ has found its place within world culture as well. On October 3, 2010, the song was played at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
In Canada, this song is a staple in IKEA commercials.
All of these interesting anecdotes underscore the effect ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ has had since its release.
Discussing the song, Asmita from ‘ScoopWhoop’ praises the performances of SRK and Malaika:
“Filmed on a moving train, Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika gave one of the most memorable performances of their respective careers in this song.”
The thoughts of Asmita also include the train, which shows its impact on the song. When one pictures the song, the train is unforgettable.
Kandhon Se Milte Hai – Lakshya (2004)
Lakshya is a coming-of-age war drama starring Hrithik Roshan as Lt. Karan Shergill.
The film is a moving tribute to the Indian army and is a classic of Indian cinema.
‘Kandhon Se Milte Hai’ imbues melody with patriotism. It shows Karan and his fellow soldiers marching on. The lyrics are spirited, rousing, and motivating.
As they travel in their jeeps and cars, one gets a real sense of the harsh conditions of army life.
In a shot of the song, they halt next to a dilapidated jeep. This belongs to their comrades, who have been killed.
As they stare at the bombed vehicle, they realise the importance of what they have ahead of them.
The jeeps are their protective cages. Without them, army life would be next to impossible.
Meena Sundaram from ‘Lokvani’ marvels at the motivation and power of the song:
“It is a motivational number sung with gusto by all as the soldiers head for war leaving their loved ones behind, facing uncertainty, disability, and death.”
The choreography includes the soldiers leaning their bodies out of the vehicles. On the other hand, they sometimes rest their elbows on them.
The modes of transport underline the support that their vehicles can give them.
Yun Hi Chala Chal – Swades (2004)
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades is counted among Shah Rukh Khan’s best films and performances.
In the movie, he plays homesick NASA scientist Mohan Bhargav, who travels back to India to meet his loved ones.
On the way to the village, he rides in a recreational vehicle.
He drives along with a traveller (Makrand Deshpande), who shows him the way.
In a serene shot, the traveller sings on top of the van. This gives him a sense of importance and belonging.
Udit Narayan, Hariharan, and Kailash Kher skillfully render this song. The lyrics of the song encapsulate the itinerant nature of travellers:
“Just keep going, traveller. This world is so beautiful.”
A music review by Syed Firdaus Ashraf on ‘Rediff’ declares this song as the best from the film:
“The best number is ‘Yun Hi Chala Chal’ sung by Udit Narayan, Hariharan, and Kailash Kher. Kailash sounds excellent.”
‘Yun Hi Chala Chal’ is a perfect ode to travel and captures the journey of Swades in an original manner.
Audiences are sucked into its world, rooting for the story and the characters.
Kasto Mazza – Parineeta (2005)
Parineeta is a film that gave the industry a blue-chip actress in the form of Vidya Balan. Fans love it for its vividly imaginative story and lovely music.
‘Kasto Mazza’ is a lilting duet by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal.
In a train, passionate musician Shekhar Roy (Saif Ali Khan) and singer Lalita Roy (Vidya Balan) express their love.
A group of cute children assist them as the chorus.
They happily wave and laugh to the beats of the song as the train puffs through foliage and high mountains.
‘Kasto Mazza’ paints a beautiful environmental picture.
It is one that transports the audience into that world, enticing them with the lovely scenery and fresh smoke.
S Sahaya Ranjit, from India Today gushes about the effortlessness shown in ‘Kasto Mazza’:
“In ‘Kasto Mazza’, the chorus by children is chirpy and Nigam and Ghoshal once again effortlessly carry the happy song.”
These generous words suggest the happiness fans can extract from the song.
The train also adds an exceptional quality of sightseeing and spectacular views.
‘Kasto Mazza’ makes for a wonderful, scenic watch, creating empathy and compassion for the characters.
Sapne Re – Secret Superstar (2017)
Advait Chandan’s Secret Superstar is a salute to young dreams and motherhood.
The film tells the story of Insia ‘Insu’ Malik (Zaira Wasim) who longs to become a singer.
Trapped in a world of restrictions and domestic violence, she achieves online sensation.
Secret Superstar is adorned with harmonious songs and it opens with ‘Sapne Re.’
Sung tunefully by Meghna Mishra, Insu is on a train with her classmates. She plays this song on her guitar, asking her dreams to come true.
Other passengers smile and beam at Insu’s talent, humming to the notes streaming out of her guitar.
Joginder Tuteja, from ‘Bollywood Hungama’ positively reflects on ‘Sapne Re’. He is appreciative of its pleasantness, likening it to Jaya Bhaduri’s classic image:
“This one has a traditional ‘pahadi‘ feel to it. Eventually, it turns out to be a pleasant hear.
“Overall, the song has a 60s/70s feel to it and somehow you remember Jaya Bhaduri from the days of Mili (1975) and Guddi (1971).”
The train hosts a wonderful song, presenting youngsters at their finest.
Modes of transport are iconic in the picturisation of Bollywood songs.
They make the numbers stand out and allow actors to take their performances to interesting levels.
If audiences struggle to remember the names of their favourite songs, the transport makes an impression.
In essence, the modes of transport can be as significant to the songs as the musical elements.
For that, transport in Bollywood songs should be admired and appreciated.
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