Every year on August 15th, India commemorates its independence gained on August 15, 1947, as Independence Day. As India gears up for its 79th Independence Day, the nation is filled with patriotic fervor. This day is marked by the playing of songs that have been a source of inspiration for generations. Bollywood has produced numerous patriotic movies, and their soundtracks continue to resonate with listeners.
Throughout Hindi cinema’s history, films with patriotic themes have deeply moved audiences. These movies feature songs that have become incredibly popular. As Independence Day approaches, creating a playlist featuring these timeless patriotic songs is a great idea. Here are 7 of Bollywood’s most beloved patriotic tracks.
‘Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein’ from the 1960 film ‘Hum Hindustani,’ starring Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh, Sanjeev Kumar, and Joy Mukherjee. This song, performed on screen by Sunil Dutt, was sung by Mukesh.
The lyrics for the song were written by Prem Dhawan, and the music was created by Usha Khanna. The movie was a notable patriotic film and a success of the year.
‘Bharat Ka Rehne Wala Hoon’ from the 1970 film ‘Purab Aur Paschim,’ directed by and starring Manoj Kumar. Saira Banu played opposite him, with supporting roles by Pran, Ashok Kumar, Nirupa Roy, and Prem Chopra.
‘Bharat Ka Rehne Wala Hoon’ is an enduring song, sung by Mahendra Kapoor and filmed on Manoj Kumar. The music was composed by Kalyanji Anandji, with lyrics by Indeevar.
‘Sandese Aate Hai’ from the 1997 film ‘Border,’ directed by J.P. Dutta, featuring Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. The film was a blockbuster, with a sequel planned for 2026.
‘Sandese Aate Hai,’ still cherished today, was performed by Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathod, with music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
‘Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logon,’ is a non-film song by the late Lata Mangeshkar. She performed it live, and it is said to have brought tears to the audience’s eyes during her first performance.
Among those moved was the then-Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The song continues to evoke emotion. Lata Mangeshkar frequently performed this song at live concerts due to public demand.
‘I Love My India’ from the 1997 film ‘Pardes,’ directed and produced by Subhash Ghai, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Mahima Chaudhry, Apurva Agnihotri, Amrish Puri, and Alok Nath.
‘I Love My India’ is from this film and is still heard with pride. The song features Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan, and Aditya Narayan, with music by Nadeem-Shravan and lyrics by Anand Bakshi.
‘Mera Mulk Mera Desh’ from the 1996 film ‘Diljale,’ directed by Harry Baweja, starring Ajay Devgn and Sonali Bendre. The song appears three times in the film and is still played on special occasions.
‘Mera Mulk Mera Desh,’ features Kumar Sanu, Aditya Narayan, and Alka Yagnik. The lyrics were penned by Javed Akhtar, and the music was composed by Anu Malik.
‘Aisa Des Hai Mera’ from the 2004 film ‘Veer-Zaara,’ directed and produced by Yash Chopra, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, and Anupam Kher.
‘Aisa Des Hai Mera,’ is also from this film, and was sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, Gurdas Maan, and Pritha Majumdar. The lyrics are by Javed Akhtar, and the music director was the late Madan Mohan.
‘Teri Mitti’ from the 2019 film ‘Kesari,’ directed by Anurag Singh, starring Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra. The film was a patriotic success.
‘Teri Mitti’ is from this film, performed by B Praak, with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir. The song is known for its emotional impact.
‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ from the 2018 film ‘Raazi,’ directed by Meghna Gulzar, starring Alia Bhatt and featuring Vicky Kaushal.
‘Ae Watan Mere Watan,’ is from the film, and is still touching to the heart. The song was sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, with an alternative male version by Arijit Singh. Gulzar wrote the lyrics, and Shankar Ehsaan Loy composed the music.
‘Vande Mataram’ from A.R. Rahman’s 1997 album, featuring several patriotic songs. Rahman also composed the music.
The song was performed by A.R. Rahman himself, with music also composed by him. Mehboob Kotwal wrote the lyrics, and the album was produced by Bharat Bala.