We are in 2008 & Bollywood has come a long way in last 2 decades, whether it’s story telling, cinematography or the music. Coming to music we had lot of new talent that came up in last 20 yrs, some faded, some succeeded and some are on their way to become Legends. I personally think A R Rehman & Shankar Ehsaan Loy are doing a great job out there. Lets start the journey.
2008
I know there so many songs still waiting to be unleashed before the year end, but still from what ever I have heard so far, inspite of extermely good music in "Jodha Akbar" and "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na" by A R Rahman, the song that really gets me going is from Race.
Race - Pehli Nazar Mein( Pritam)
2007
There was so much good music in 2007 like "Jab We Met", "Saawariya", "Om Shanti Om", but the simple down to earth song sung by Shakar Mahadevan hit me so hard that it had to be my song of the year.
Taare Zameen Par - Maa( Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
2006
This year according to me was blessed with great movies more than music. We had Patrotic Message in a youthful movie "Rang De Basanti", Gandhiji’s message in a fun filled ride "Lage Raho Munnabhai", William Shakespeare’s Othello’s beautiful adaption as "Omkara", We got our super hero "Krrish" and a pinch of family value in a drama that unfolds before "Vivaah". The good cinema came with lot of good music, but the song that I felt extremely close to was from a movie not in this list. It was .
Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna - Mitwa( Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
2005
Nadeem Shravan came back after a long gap this year with Bewafa, while Shankar Ehsaan Loy were going places with Bunty and Babli(read "Kajra Re"). Parineeta’s soulful music was like a fresh breath of air. We had good music from "Rog", "Zeher", "Lucky" and "Kaal". "Kalyug" was more like music band "Jal" rearranged. Anyway, in the midst of all this one song that made it to top this year and still remains one of my top 10 all time favorite was.
My Brother Nikhil - Le Chale( Sandesh Shandilya)
2004
Now, this year had a interesting mix of music wherein we had Madan Mohan magic remastered as Veer Zaara and A R Rahman was at his youthful best in "Yuva"."Main Hoon Na" and "Murder" were busting the charts while "Meenaxi" and "Morning Raaga" had some interesting music. I can be little partial when it comes to Shankar Ehsaan Loy, but I thought "Lakshya" had very good music. Still my favorite song of the year was once again from A R Rahman
Swadesh - Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera
2003
Now, we come to the year that had a song that made not only to the top of this year list but will always be among my all time top 3 favorites. Before we go to that song a little more on 2003. Destiny’s child Himesh Reshamiyya made his debut with "Tere Naam". Shreya Ghoshal with "Jism" and Sunidhi Chavan with "Chameli" took a big leap in playback singing. "Ishq Vishk" and "Baghban" music was all over FM but I was more connected to "Pinjar" and "Jogger’s Park". Coming to that special song of the year, it had to be .
Kal Ho Na Ho - Kal Ho Na Ho( Shakar Ehsaan Loy)
2002
There wasn’t much happening this year on the music scene. With reference to great music we probably had just "Devdas" and “Saathiya”. We did have "Deewangee", "Mujhse Dosti Karoge", "Humraaz" and "Dil Hai Tumhara" which were not bad, along with experimental "Kaante" and soft "Sur". My favorite comes from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s "Devdas". I didn’t think much of the movie.but Ismail Darbar’s music was a winner.
Devdas - Maar Dala
2001
This was a big year in many ways. We had Aamir Khan’s home production “Lagaan” and Shahrukh Khan’s home production “Asoka”. Karan Johar came back with “Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham” after “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, but the music didn’t live up to the expectations. Farhan Akhtar made his debut with “Dil Chahta Hai” and Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music had a immediate connection with everyone who heard it. "Lagaan" and "Dil Chahat Hai" were the top 2 music albums for me, but it was “Tanhai” from “Dil Chahta Hai” that would be the song of the year for me.
Dil Chahta Hai - Tanhai
2000
“Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” director Aditya Chopra finally decided to come back with “Mohhabbatein” this year. Another big news of the year was Bachchan, Kapoor and Roshan next gen Abhishek, Kareena and Hrithik making their debut with “Refugee” and “Kaho Na Pyar Hai”. We had “Pukar” my favorite Anil-Madhuri movie along with “Fiza”, “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega”, ”Mission Kashmir”, ”Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani”, ”Dhadkan” and “Josh”.Lot of good music to choose from but again it was A R Rahman’s “Piya Haji Ali” that just refuses to get off the top spot.
Fiza - Piya Hali Ali
1999
This was clearly a Jatin Lalit year with gems like “Sarfarosh”, “Sangharsh”, “Dillagi”, ”Khoobsurat”, “Dil Kya Kare” and many more. While A R Rahman and Ismail Darbar registered at the top 3 position this year with “Taal” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” . Rahman also had “Thakshak” and “1947 Earth” which didn’t click with the masses. We had soulful “Kaache Dhaage” from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the usual “Biwi No.1” and “Hello Brother” kind of stuff. I am almost feeling guilty to say it’s again A R Rahman song that was my favorite. When I put together all good songs I liked this year, this one stands out and I will have to go with it.
Taal - Nahin Samne Ye Alag Baat Hai
1998
Bollywood bubblies Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee scored their first hit at box office with “Dil Se” and “Ghulam”. Music wise it was once again Jatin Lalit year all the way. We had “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Pyar To Hona Hi Tha”, “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya”, ”Ghulam” and ”Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai” all in one year. A R Rahman, Vishal Bhardwaj and M M Kreem’s exceptional contribution to this year was “Dil Se”, “Satya” and “Zakhm” respectively. The connection between “Dil Se” and “Satya” was great Gulzar, who penned songs for both movies. It was tough to pick one song. I nailed it down to two songs, I felt really connected .”Jab Kisi Ki Taraf” from “Pyar To Hona Hi Tha” and “Padh Likh Ke Bada Hoke” from Zakhm and the winner was.
Pyar To Hona Hi Tha - Jab Kisi Ki Taraf(Jatin Lalit)
1997
Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan blessed bollywood with “Aur Pyar Ho Gaya” this year. It was also the debut film for Miss World Aishwariya Rai. My favorite actor Akshaye Khanna made his debut with “Himalayputra”, unfortunately neither the music nor the movie clicked. We had Uttam Singh’s “Dil To Pagal Hai” which for most of the year ruled the charts. Then there was uncoventional “Gupt” from Viju Shah and experimental “Daud” from A R Rahman. “Mrityudand”, “Ishq”, ”Koyla” had good music and we had quick to rise and quick to fall “Hero No.1” and “Judwaa” kind of music. But albums that stood out were “Viraasat”, “Pardes” & “Yes Boss”. My pick of the year .
Border - Sandese Aate Hai( Anu Malik)
, Continued in the Comments Section .