The Resurgence of Raags: How Traditional Indian Music is Reviving Bollywood

The Evolution of Indian Music in Cinema

The rich tapestry of Indian music has always been intertwined with cultural heritage. As music professionals ventured into the film sector, songs began to reflect a distinctive local essence that resonated with a vast audience. There was a period when Indian music appeared to drift away from its roots, aiming to attract a wider fan base. Traditional raag-based melodies were often replaced with lively, party-centric numbers. Over time, the importance of musical numbers in films waned as directors opted for more dramatic narratives over visual spectacles. However, a revival of traditional raag-inspired songs is now evident in Hindi films, especially within action thrillers and romantic genres.

Influential Raags in Hindi Cinema

Raags that shaped Hindi cinema

The impact of Indian music, particularly Hindustani and Carnatic styles, has been pivotal in shaping cinematic expressions. Iconic songs like Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar’s Mere Naina Sawan Bhado, inspired by Raag Shivranjani, Asha Bhosle’s Inn Aankhon Ki Masti based on Raag Bhopali, and Sonu Nigam’s Saathiya title track featuring Raag Bhimpalasi, each conveyed unique emotions through specific raags. Following the early 2000s, Hindi cinema began to adopt a more Westernized musical approach.

Modern Interpretations of Raags

How new songs use raags

A notable shift occurred with the introduction of tracks like Munni Badnaam Hui from Dabangg, Halkat Jawani from Heroine, and Dil Mera Muft Ka from Agent Vinod, which celebrated the authenticity of raags such as Raag Megh, Raag Gaoti, and Raag Bhairavi. These songs have become a trend among the youth, merging styles like Raag Darbari and Ghazal in Stree 2’s popular track Aaj Ki Raat. While the early 2000s were marked by grand musical compositions, the resurgence of raags began around 2020, with Shankar Mahadevan’s Sapno Se Bhare Naina from Luck By Chance standing out as a unique piece. The classic Yeh Haseen Vadiyan (Raag Darbari) found a modern counterpart in Pardesiya by Sonu Nigam for the film Param Sundari, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra.

Bollywood's Musical Renaissance

Bollywood finds its soul back

In recent years, films like Pardesiya have enabled Bollywood to reconnect with its roots by integrating raags and classical music. Moving away from rap and Western influences, filmmakers have realized that the key to successful commercial cinema lies in traditional raags. Aditya Dhar’s recent projects, Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, are rich in musical content. Although set in Pakistan, the songs draw heavily from Indian raags. For example, Ishq Jalakar (Karvaan) is based on Raag Bhimpalasi, incorporating elements of Darbari and Kalavati, while the romantic number Gehra Hua, featuring Ranveer Singh and Sara Arjun, is set in Raag Yaman Kalyan. In Dhurandhar 2, Arijit’s song, Phir Se, is inspired by Thaat Khamaj / Raag Dwijavathi. Music composer Shashwat Sachdev has effectively utilized raags throughout the Dhurandhar series, with the complex yet melodious Jaiye Sajna derived from Raag Todi.

The Future of Bollywood Music

Return of classical music

As commerce and content converge, music plays a vital role in drawing audiences to theaters. A narrative from the Hindi heartland without meaningful music and lyrics feels incomplete. When the right lyrics align with the appropriate raag, it creates a magical experience. With upcoming Hindi films like Ramayana, traditional and classic music is set to reclaim its rightful place in the industry.