Oh my goodness, such an important birthday! Almost as important as Courtney’s birthday last weekend! Let’s celebrate with songs!
Nationalism, yuch! Jingoism, double yuch!!!! But there is a way to acknowledge what is unique about your home country without saying it is necessarily better than other countries. So, let’s put up some nice Indian songs about the things that are cool about India!
First, obviously, the original “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani”. Released in the first decade after independence, an announcement of the new Indian identity which may be based on European structures, but at heart is still Indian.
And then the new age version! SRK being all cheerful with kids, showing how you could choose the multinational signs of wealth, but remember at heart you are Indian.
Going old school for a second, does anyone else remember this INSANE anti-globalization music video? “Made in India”
Speaking of insane, some old-school 90s tight pants Salman! “East Or West India is the Best”
Okay, I’ll do one straight up normal patriotic song! But in the lightest silliest way possible. “Vande Mataram” (K3G version)
dontcallitbollywood 
So as I was watching the Raj Kapoor video I was having a hard time grasping the mentality behind having a hobo singing a patriotic song (I didn’t know what he was singing, just that it was patriotic). It wasn’t till over halfway through the video I realized he was loving India in a way very similar to SRK’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. And I love SRK’s song. It captures the energy and enthusiasm that draws me into Indian movies. I can’t explain it well in words, but even when he is essentially insulting India he is loving it. A zest for life whatever it may bring.
Not speaking Hindi, the anti-globalization video was not that interesting.
And the Salmon video is TERRIBLE. Or really it is the song. It doesn’t matter how well they dance or what they look like when the song is that bad.
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Exactly! The “hobo” idea is that he is like India, a poor struggler with patches and pieces from other countries trying to make it, but it’s okay, your heart is still Indian, you can smile.
Yes! The Salman song is TERRIBLE. And it’s from Judwaa where basically every other song is a classic. There’s an interesting statement on patriotism, the patriotic song they felt forced to add is the one where they don’t really care.
On Mon, Aug 16, 2021 at 8:14 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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