India celebrates Independence Day every August 15th, the anniversary of its freedom in 1947. As the nation approaches its 79th Independence Day, the spirit of patriotism is palpable. This day is synonymous with songs that have inspired generations. Bollywood’s contribution to the patriotic genre is significant, and these songs continue to resonate with listeners.
Throughout Hindi cinema’s history, patriotic films have resonated with audiences. These films feature songs that have achieved iconic status. As Independence Day approaches, curating a playlist of these timeless patriotic tracks is a great way to celebrate. Below are 7 of Bollywood’s most beloved patriotic songs.
‘Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein’ from the 1960 film ‘Hum Hindustani,’ which starred Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh, Sanjeev Kumar, and Joy Mukherjee. The song, performed by Sunil Dutt in the film, was sung by Mukesh.
The lyrics were penned by Prem Dhawan, and the music was composed by Usha Khanna. This was a significant patriotic film and a hit of its time.
‘Bharat Ka Rehne Wala Hoon’ from the 1970 film ‘Purab Aur Paschim,’ directed by and starring Manoj Kumar. Saira Banu co-starred, supported 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. Kalyanji Anandji composed the music, with lyrics by Indeevar.
‘Sandese Aate Hai’ from the 1997 film ‘Border,’ directed by J.P. Dutta, starring Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. The film was a major blockbuster, with a sequel planned for 2026.
‘Sandese Aate Hai,’ remains popular, was performed by Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathod, with music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
‘Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logon,’ a non-film song by the late Lata Mangeshkar. She performed it live, reportedly moving the audience to tears during its first performance.
Among those moved was the then-Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The song continues to evoke strong emotions. Lata Mangeshkar frequently sang this song in her live concerts due to popular demand.
‘I Love My India’ from the 1997 film ‘Pardes,’ directed and produced by Subhash Ghai, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Mahima Chaudhry, Apurva Agnihotri, Amrish Puri, and Alok Nath.
‘I Love My India’ is still heard with pride. The song was performed by 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 during special occasions.
‘Mera Mulk Mera Desh’ was sung by Kumar Sanu, Aditya Narayan, and Alka Yagnik. The lyrics were written 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, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, and Anupam Kher.
‘Aisa Des Hai Mera,’ is a song from the same film, performed 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 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,’ still touches the heart. The song was sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, with a 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 patriotic songs. Rahman also composed the music.
The song was performed by A.R. Rahman, with music also composed by him. Mehboob Kotwal wrote the lyrics, and the album was produced by Bharat Bala.