From lusty glances to loaded gulaal, these 10 Holi songs from Hindi films are about rang (colour), raga, romance, and the riot of being alive
Holi has never just been about colour. In Hindi cinema, it is a festival scored to dholaks, flutes, and synths. From the courtyards of Mathura to the clubs of Mumbai, the Bollywood Holi song has become a genre in itself. It’s where emotion bleeds into choreography, where mischief and desire frolic in gulaal-soaked air, and where the boundaries between enemies, lovers, and strangers are momentarily erased under a common beat.
Far from being just musical interludes, these songs are emotional pivot points and cinematic spectacles. Whether it’s the dry wit of Rang Barse, the hormonal chaos of Balam Pichkari, or the fevered intoxication of Ang Laga De, each track is draped in its time and yet somehow timeless. Here’s a curated playlist of 10 Holi songs in Hindi films that capture the many moods — playful, poignant, political — of the most musical of all Indian festivals.
1. Rang Barse Bhige Chunarwali (Silsila, 1981) | Lyrics: Harivansh Rai Bachchan | Music: Shiv-Hari: Few songs have achieved the status of Holi anthem quite like “Rang Barse Bhige Chunarwali,” composed in Keherwa taal (rhythm) of Hindustani classical music. Sung with mischievous ease by Amitabh Bachchan, this track is adapted from a traditional folk bhajan composed by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, his father. The rhythm of the dholak and the playful folk cadences evoke the rustic ethos of north Indian Holi celebrations, especially in places like Banaras and Allahabad.
The song’s context — set against an emotionally charged love triangle — adds delicious irony. It’s picturised on Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha; Bachchan’s onscreen chemistry with Rekha only adds to the sensual tension, turning the scene into a festival of longing cloaked in colours. Its longevity stems from this perfect fusion: classical lyricism, folk rhythms, and Bollywood drama.
2. Holi Ke Din (Sholay, 1975) | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi | Music: R.D. Burman: Sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, Holi Ke Din captures the communal joy and boisterous energy that Holi inspires in villages across India. R.D. Burman combines robust percussion with melodic folk strains, turning the track into a celebration of sound. The song is structured almost like a mini-musical, with call-and-response verses and interwoven character moments.
What makes this track unforgettable is its placement. Just before tragedy strikes in Sholay, this song offers a moment of utopian joy. The bright colours, exuberant choreography, and vibrant vocals act as a visual metaphor for harmony — a harmony about to be disrupted. It’s a brilliant example of how Holi can be used to heighten narrative stakes.
3. Aaj Na Chhodenge (Kati Patang, 1971) | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi | Music: R.D. Burman: Another gem from R.D. Burman’s formidable repertoire, this track channels a flirtatious, teasing mood that’s intrinsic to Holi. Kishore Kumar’s energetic vocals paired with Lata Mangeshkar’s sweetness create a classic man-woman repartee. The beats echo rural Holi celebrations, where folk dance and spontaneous singing take centre stage.
The song’s visual sequence adds a performative edge. Rajesh Khanna’s playfulness contrasts with Asha Parekh’s hesitance, capturing the subtext of longing that colours many romantic Holi songs. Aaj Na Chhodenge was loved for its mix of innocence and innuendo, making it one of the more subtly layered Holi tracks.
Also read: How Christmas carols became the songs of the holiday season
4. Balam Pichkari (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013) | Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya | Music: Pritam: “Balam Pichkari” is Gen-Z’s Holi anthem. With its fusion of EDM-influenced basslines, folk idioms, and youthful irreverence, the song is tailor-made for dance floors and college lawns alike. Pritam brings a modern edge while still retaining the playful, carnivalesque spirit of Holi through the use of the shehnai, dhol, and flute.
The song also plays a crucial role in the film’s emotional graph. It’s in this moment—amid colours, chaos, and movement—that Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) and Naina (Deepika Padukone) get emotionally and physically closer. The track isn’t just a Holi celebration—it’s a turning point in a coming-of-age romance.
5. Ang Se Ang Lagana (Darr, 1993) | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi | Music: Shiv-Hari: This sensual number uses Holi’s permissiveness to explore physical intimacy. The lyrics suggest merging, closeness, and blurred boundaries — apt metaphors for Holi, when even enemies take to colour. Shiv-Hari’s composition is delicate, built on classical motifs and flute strains, which createan undertone of romantic vulnerability.
But what’s more interesting is the shadow that looms in the background. The film’s antagonist, obsessed with the heroine, uses the Holi setting to trespass into a moment of celebration. Thus, the song becomes layered: it’s celebratory on the surface, but laced with tension and fear, much like Holi itself — a festival that allows freedom, but not without risk.
6. Holi Aayi Re Kanhai (Mother India, 1957) | Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni | Music: Naushad: This black-and-white Holi song captures the bucolic, earthy joy of pre-Partition rural India. Naushad uses dhol, manjeera, and flute to craft a rich folk tapestry, while Shamshad Begum’s voice soars with devotional energy. It’s one of the earliest cinematic attempts to represent Holi in all its rustic glory.
In Mother India, Holi affirms community ties and brings together people despite caste and class differences. The song is crucial in establishing Radha’s rootedness in tradition, joy, and community — a stark contrast to the hardships that follow.
7. Arey Ja Re Hat Natkhat (Navrang, 1959) | Lyrics: Bharat Vyas | Music: C. Ramchandra: This poetic, semi-classical song, sung by Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor, showcases how Holi was once treated with literary elegance in Hindi cinema. The song is a lyrical duel between Radha and Krishna, brought alive with Bharat Vyas’s evocative metaphors and C. Ramchandra’s lush orchestration. It reflects a more theatrical, operatic version of Holi, rooted in Kathak and Rasleela traditions.
The choreography — performed by Sandhya, V. Shantaram’s muse — is visually stunning, merging Bharatnatyam and folk idioms. More than a Holi number, it’s a dramatisation of divine love, where the act of colour-throwing becomes a metaphor for spiritual surrender. It reminds us of the devotional lineage that runs parallel to Holi’s folk exuberance.
8. Lahu Munh Lag Gaya (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, 2013) | Lyrics: Siddharth-Garima | Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Bhansali reimagines Holi with operatic grandeur and raw sensuality in this track. The Gujarati folk beat, the heavy tabla, and the earthy tone of Shail Hada’s vocals create an intensely physical musicality. Lahu Munh Lag Gaya isn’t playful — it’s primal. The act of colour becomes an act of seduction.
In the film, this song marks the explosive first meeting between Ram and Leela. Blood, colour, desire — all merge into one. Ang Laga De is another song from the same film, sung by Aditi Paul and Shail Hada, that’s often associated with flirtation and frolic. It strips away the playful veil of colour to reveal something more carnal. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who composed the track himself, marries rustic instruments with near-operatic longing. Visually, the sequence between Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh is a fever dream of desire. Ang Laga De brings the metaphor of Holi back to its elemental core: combustion. In doing so, it shatters the template of the traditional Holi song.
9. Do Me A Favour (Let’s Play Holi), Waqt: The Race Against Time, 2005 | Lyrics: Sameer | Music: Anu Malik: This kitschy, bizarre, and oddly addictive Holi track became a guilty pleasure in the early 2000s. Sung by Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan, it borrows phrases from Hinglish party lingo, layering it with folk-inspired dhol beats. The result is pure Bollywood camp — unapologetic and fun.
Also read: Coldplay playlist: 10 most popular songs by band you can play on loop
What’s remarkable is how this song reflects Holi’s urban transformation. From rural villages and temple courtyards, Holi had now entered gated communities, NRIs, and modern dance parties. The song’s multilingual lyrics and garish visuals are a pop-culture time capsule of mid-2000s excess.
10. Balam Pichkari (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013) | Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya | Music: Pritam: Sung by Vishal Dadlani and Shalmali Kholgade, it is arguably the definitive Holi anthem of modern Bollywood. The song arrives at a crucial moment in the film — when friends reconnect, old sparks rekindle, and a burst of colour interrupts the emotional grey zones. The lyrics, written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, are playful, irreverent, and rich in desi slang, making the song instantly relatable to a younger audience. Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, dancing in wild abandon, turn the Holi celebration into both a flirtatious moment of emotional release.
The song redefines Holi for a new generation. It’s a festival of youth, freedom, and letting go. Pritam’s fusion of folk beats with electronic energy gives it a sonic versatility that works on loudspeakers, club mixes, and casual reels. It’s the soundtrack of nostalgia for millennials and an anthem for every campus Holi celebration. While older Holi songs are often played with longing or romantic tension, Balam Pichkari is pure adrenaline and joy; it captures the unapologetic messiness of friendship and attraction when colours — and feelings — get thrown around with wild abandon.