Hindi songs with lyrics are a treasure chest of golden melodies that speak to the soul. When the raga reverberates within you, there’s no arguing that it was meant to be heard. Here are some of the best Hindi songs with lyrics written and performed by the legendary Indian musicians. Let the melodic voices transport you away, and sing along if you feel so moved.
Mere Angne Mein Hai
When Bollywood heart-throb and musician Sachin Dayal heard this song, it was added to his already illustrious discography. This timeless classic is about a man who is unable to commit to a woman because of his work. It was originally released in 1974 and remains one of the most popular and beloved songs of all time. The lyrics are simple yet so relatable:
- “Mere angne mein hai, tujh mein kiya hai, tujhe pasand ne ka mulaqaat se kar ke diajiye.
- “Har koi na jaana kar sakta hai, tujhe parivahan ne ka mulaqaat se kar ke diajiye.
- “Aankhon mein hai, kaafi hai aankhon mein hai, tujhe parivahan ne ka mulaqaat se kar ke diajiye.
- “Mere angne mein hai, tujhe pasand ne ka mulaqaat se kar ke diajiye. (Hindi lyrics)
Humne Dekho Bina
This 1978 song by the legendary Ali Akbar Khan is one of the most beautiful melodies ever. Its lyrics speak of unrequited love and yearning. You may know it as the ‘Ode to Love’ because it has become such a popular love song:
- “Humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekho bina, humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekh bina, humne dekh bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekho bina, humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekh bina, humne dekh bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Humne dekho bina, humne dekho bina. (Hindi lyrics)
It’s been covered numerous times by Bollywood and non-Bollywood singers alike. One of the more recent notable covers is by American singer-songwriter Justin Bieber, whose version was used in the 2017 movie Baby Boy. The singer has also covered this beautiful song live, most notably at the VEVO Awards in 2016.
Tu Nahin Mein Mulaqaat Baat Hai
This 1979 song by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most popular and well-known songs in the world. According to legend, it was first performed at the wedding of Indian musicologist Madan Mohan. Mohan was responsible for recording and preserving hundreds of classic Indian songs in his lifetime. This is one of the most well-known songs of all time because of its widespread popularity and its memorable lyrics, which talk about the joys and sorrows of a wedding day:
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Tu nahin mein mulaqaat baat hai. (Hindi lyrics)
The song was inspired by Mohan’s own nuptials. He later explained:
“I performed ‘Mulaqaat’, which is an old Punjabi song, at my wedding in April 1979. After the ceremony, my wife and I went for a walk. Since this was my first marriage and there were no children, this was to be the most important day of my life…It is said that even today, when I go back to Kalka, the place of my birth, or when I go to Agra, my favorite city, I still feel that ‘Mulaqaat’ is resonating in my head.”
Waqt-e-Hemmat Bina
Another beautiful song by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, this time from 1979. It’s been described as “a longing for the beloved, only in this case for a daughter rather than a son”. It is a beautiful, romantic song about a mother’s desire to see her children get married:
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Waqt-e-hemmat bina, waqt-e-hemmat bina. (Hindi lyrics)
It was also the last song performed by legendary playback singer Ustad Al-Sabah. His wife, Asma, died during the recording of the song. In 2015, he recorded a duet with Mika titled “Maula Jholum” (Mother India). Though it was a bittersweet moment, it was also a cathartic one for the octogenarian who had recorded hundreds of songs all his life.
Kaun Banega Mukesh
This 1989 song by the legendary K.J. Yesudas was inspired by the poet and songwriter Saroj Kumar Awasthi’s tragic death. Kumar Awasthi was only 27 years old when he died in a car accident in 1988. Shortly after the tragedy, Yesudas wrote this song to pay tribute to the young man who had influenced his work and inspired his writing:
- “Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)
- “Kaun Banega mukesh, Kaun Banega mukesh. (Hindi lyrics)