I am feeling depressed and rainy and I am gonna lean into it! Let’s listen to some sad SAD music. But that really deep powerful sadness, you know?
Am I crazy, or are there not that many torch songs in Indian film? I can think of loads of “I am falling in love!” songs, but not that many “my heart is breaking and I want to die” songs. At least, not in female voices. Maybe that is the point? Heroines don’t often get to “speak” that level of deep emotion?
Anyhoo, here are the few I could think of! Please add on as you know more.
“Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh”
Ashaji! And Umrao Jaan, is there anything SADDER?
Lataji again, and Madhubala covered in SO MANY chains, “Mohabbat Ki Jhooti Kahani”
Are these the perfect evocation of torch song misery? Or is there another one out there that is better? Or is the one I posted earlier today the best?
dontcallitbollywood 
I have a thing for Madhubala, so mohabbat ki jhooti kahani pe roye . Madhubala wore real chains for it and was bruised for weeks after.
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It is nice and sad.
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I have a weakness for this one, because it manages to be absolutely hilarious and also genuinely moving and tragic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LblLAQQV6ko
There’s also that insane one from Sharmilee that Shashi sings when he’s married. Lots of songs of Shashi looking mournful and playing the piano. I could make a whole playlist.
LOVE this song. One of my absolute favourite Hindi songs I think.
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But not female! FEMALE!!! Although of course Shashi has that non-gendered feminine vibe to him.
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 3:02 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Did he sing his own songs? Or sync?
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Sync, for sure.
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 7:03 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yeah look at him, might as well be.
You know what I can’t think of any female ones.
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I was wrong, Waheeda came through for me:
Also, this is maybe too angry but it’s great:
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I almost did the “Waqt” song from Kaagaz Ke Phool, but that is too beautiful to be JUST a torch song, it’s a whole thing about time passing and wasted lives and stuff.
On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 1:16 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Honestly I never remember the lyrics of songs I’ve listened to a lot outside of the movie so couldn’t tell you what any of these were about.
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The first thing that comes to mind when thinking “torch song” is “Pardesi, Pardesi” from “Raja Hindustani,” especially the “Har pal meri yaad” verse. It’s not Karisma’s song, though that actually makes me think more of the way that torch songs are used in Hollywood movies. . . I guess this is the equivalent of having your heart break while sitting in a hotel lounge where the chanteuse happens to be randomly singing “The Man That Got Away.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKfGl39ZJWI
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Oooooooooo! That’s a really good one. And it’s two women singing out their love for each other, so double female!
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 8:21 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Oh, oh, oh! Not a proper “torch song,” but if you are looking for a magnificently sad lost love song you can scarcely do better than “Aur Nahin, Bas, Aur Nahin”! The picturization is also amazing, but I can’t find it on YouTube. Here is the audio, sadly slightly distorted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGJo1h2gaiE “Kaun gunon ko gintaa hai, kaun dukhon ko chuntaa hai?” Augh.
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Dhadaam dhadaam is really beautiful.
Same genre: Poyisonna Posikiduven from 99 Songs
Might be cheating, but for the emotion you’re describing I always think of this moment in Cadillac Records (SPOILER alert, though, if you haven’t seen it and don’t want to know the end!). I liked that movie very much, and Beyoncé blew me away. Not fair that she can sing like that, and dance, *and* act.
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I mean, if we are bringing in Hollywood options, no one can beat Judy and “The Man That Got Away” so far as I am concerned.
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 9:07 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Spontaneously, Kareena’s song from Ra.One comes to my mind (Bhare Naina) …
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I actually think the greatest torch song in Hindi Films is by a woman – “chain se humko kabhi aap ne jeene na diya” by Asha Bhosle. Not only are the lyrics (You never let me live in peace) and Asha’s rendition exquisitely sad, but the real life context lends a whole another, epic layer of pain to the song. It was the last song Asha sang for her mentor and lover, music director O.P. Nayyar. Asha won a Filmfare award for it, OPN had the song removed from the film for which it was composed, Asha NEVER sings it (except for the video below). As I said – epic trauma.
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Oh that is LOVELY. And when I get too sad, I can remember that Burman is waiting for her 🙂
On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 7:51 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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You’re right, when I try to think of such songs, most of them are sung by men. Nevertheless, the KANK title song qualifies I think as both are lamenting lost love.
Aye Dil-e-Nadaan – haunting, all about consoling the heart and existential crisis
Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par – qualifies I think? Both male and female versions are about imploring the other to love them
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Kahan se aaye badra from Chashme Buddoor is a very wallowing in sadness/heartbreak type of song: https://youtu.be/4XfEmN4xN7c
Dil hoom hoom kare from Rudaali. I’m not entirely sure if this fits, but it’s really beautiful and makes me cry (particularly the male voice version which is also, however, picturized on Dimple Kapadia):
https://youtu.be/qxO1MN67Vtg
https://youtu.be/F10aeM9V1Ho
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Kahan Se Aaye Badra from Chashme Buddoor is a very wallowing in sadness/heartbreak type of a song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XfEmN4xN7c
I’m not sure if Dil Hoom Hoom Kare from Rudaali fits entirely but it’s very beautiful and makes me cry (especially the male voice version which is, however, also picturized on Dimple Kapadia’s character):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F10aeM9V1Ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxO1MN67Vtg
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I’m hosting an Anti-Valentine party and used two selections from this post (i.e. – Mohabbat Ki Jhooti, Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se). My co-worker provided some additional music. Mostly women though. Give it a listen: Hindi Anti-Valentine https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6mfvl8dVzd5uANu33pzSXM?si=isJtODsPQ2e_EGvMqRBHqw
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