1997-2007 - 10 years of Bollywood - 10 years of RadioSargam

Top 10 Soundtracks 1997-2007

The most distinctive feature of Indian Cinema is its music. Infact, Bollywood differs from Hollywood kind of cinema because of its song and dance routines. We, at Radiosargam, have always tried to make a constant effort to give you the most critiqued and detailed music reviews of various soundtracks. This time again, Radiosargam brings for you the top 10 soundtracks from 1997 to 2006 while predicting the best soundtrack for the year 2007.

Year 1997 – Dil To Pagal Hai
Dil To Pagal Hai is a Yash Raj musical and it has Uttam Singh aligning himself to Yash Raj Banners kind of music. The album was a chartbuster all throughout the year of 1997 and the following year too. The songs were filled with the sweetness of melody and simple yet exhilarating lyrics. Dil To Pagal had enough credits to go beyond the likes of Border and Pardes.

Year 1998 – Dil Se
Mani Ratnam’s first Hindi venture saw the industry’s best giving the best music for him. A.R.Rehman and Gulzar saab joined hands and churned out a powerful album which turned out to be a landmark in true style. From the dance number ‘Chaiya Chaiya’ to the heartwhemling ‘Jiya Jale’, to the narrative ‘Ae Ajnabi’, to the energetic ‘Satrangi Re’ and the innovative ‘Dil Se’, the soundtrack has it all.

Year 1999 – Taal
The album of Taal had more than just the titillating posters of Aishwarya Rai in a nude pose. Subhash Ghai had claimed that Taal had the best music compared to all his films. And why not, A.R. Rehman set the melody in accordance with the poetic words penned by Anand Bakshi saab. Rahman has once again proved that he’s the most creative music director of today’s times.

Year 2000 – Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai
Papa Rakesh Roshan joined hands with uncle Rajesh Roshan to create a magnetic soundtrack for his son Hrithik’s launchpad, Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai. The movie went to become a superhit, a credit of which also goes to the youthful songs of the album. From a dance number to a melodious number, the album has it all.

Year 2001 – Lagaan
I believe if one has an ear for music then he will definitely love the music of Lagaan. A.R Rehman’s saga continues with the poetry of Javed Akhtar. The album creates a magical web in the minds of its listeners. The soundtrack is a blend of Indian classical, folk, and Western classical music.

Year 2002 – Devdas
The music rights for Devdas were brought by Universal at a price of 12 crores. After the grand success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ismail Durbar again come together to give the best soundtrack of the year. Nusrat Badr’s lyrics describe the ambience of the film and by just hearing the track, one feels that he is watching the film. Excellent blend of poetic glory and musical appeal.

Year 2003 – Kal Ho Naa Ho
Dharma Productions Kal Ho Naa Ho drew high expectations as the previous films Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham gave some fantastic music which were loved by people of all ages. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy arrived with a big bang after the success of Dil Chahta Hai. The lyrics of Javed Akhtar honoured the album which was a complete mix of poetic and energetic feel.

Year 2004 – Veer Zaara
Veer Zaara is a classic from the Yash Raj camp. The music was appreciated all over the world and the sales records speak for that. The album is a mark of brilliance by the late music director Madan Mohan. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics just add more than a name in its records. The sound of Veer Zaara is classic yet refreshing.

Year 2005 – Bunty Aur Babli
Gulzar Saab with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy come out with a musical enterprise with Yash Raj Banners to give a rocking album named Bunty Aur Babli. The music took some time to grow on the ears of the people but once the film released it shattered all the records at one go – Kajra Re. The number is still played in all the discotheques around the country and has become the most popular number over a long time. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy churn out a beauty of an album with different voices for each track and a different feel in each track.

Year 2006 – Rang De Basanti
Loose Control…The king of all music albums is here…Rang De Basanti. The soundtrack of Rang De Basanti is a heart warming journey which has the brialliant A.R Rehman and the poetic Prasoon Joshi giving an impressive soundtrack. The composition saw versatile singers like, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohit Chauhan, Daler Mehndi, Chitra, Madhushree, and A.R.Rehman himself coming together to give one of the best compositions till date.

Year 2007 – Prediction wise ‘Saawariya’
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next release Saawariya will feature Monty Singh as a music composer, who has worked really hard to give 12 tracks for the multistarrer. The film is a love story and stars big names like Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir and Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam.

Top 10 Soundtracks 1997-2006
Rank 1 – Rang De Basanti
Rank 2 – Dil Se
Rank 3 – Veer Zaara
Rank 4 – Lagaan
Rank 5 – Taal
Rank 6 - Devdas
Rank 7 – Bunty Aur Babli
Rank 8 – Dil To Pagal Hai
Rank 9 – Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai
Rank 10 – Kal Ho Naa Ho

Hanumant Bhansali