Bollywood has undoubtedly produced some great music over the years. From the entire soundtrack of "Mughal-e-Azam" in the 1960s, to the forever iconic "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in the 90s, right down to everything that led to the "PewDiePie vs T-Series" drama, Hindi film music has really had a massive cultural impact.
But...it has also been really impacted by music from other languages. Earlier this month, Israel won the artistic gymnastics floor exercise event at the Tokyo Olympics. During the medal ceremony, Indian watchers realised that Anu Malik's song "Mera Mulk Mera Desh" from "Diljale" (1996) actually rips off the Israeli national anthem, "Hatikvah".
Here's a list of some more Hindi film songs that have been very "inspired" by other music:
1. The instantly recognisable title track of "Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya" (2001) and this music from "Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977).
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2. "Pehli Nazar" from "Race" (2008) and the Korean song "Sarang Hae Yo" (2005) by Kim Hyung Su.
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3. "Zaalima" from "Raees" (2017) and "Eyes, Nose, Lips" (2014) by Korean singer Taeyang.
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4. Seems like Bollywood music producers listen to a lot of K-Pop, because here's another — The title track of "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007) and the first few notes of "My Lecon" (2001) by JTL.
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5. Throwing it way back for this one, "Pal Pal" from "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" (2006) and Cliff Richard's "Theme For A Dream" which came about half a century before it.
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6. My all time jam, "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai" from "Woh Lamhe..." (2006) and 2005's "Tak Bisakah" by Noah (formerly called Peterpan).
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7. "Dheere Dheere" from "Aashiqui" (1990) and Joyce Sims' "Come Into My Life" from the 80s.
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8. The chorus of "Koi Mil Gaya" from one of my fav films, "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1998) and this wonderful 1980 song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Take That Look Off Your Face".
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Writing this piece is going to ruin all my favourite songs for me 😭😭
9. "Babuji Dheere Chalna" (1954) and Doris Day's "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" (itself a cover of a Spanish song "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" from the1940s) which, incidentally, recently featured in "Cruella" (2021).
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10. "Koi Yahan Naache Naache" (1982) and "Video Killed The Radio Star" (1980) by The Buggles.
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11. "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" (1956) and the macabre "Oh My Darling, Clementine", an American folk ballad from the 1800s.
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12. Another traditional American song from the 1800s, "Polly Wolly Doodle" and "Uthe Sab Ke Kadam" from "Baton Baton Mein" (1979).
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Here's a cute performance by Shirley Temple from 1935.
13. Another song from 2001's "Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya", the groovy "Kambakht Ishq" and "Afro Celt Sound System" (1999) by Eireann.
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14. The title track of "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959) and "Sugartime" by the McGuire Sisters, which came out the previous year.
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15. The peppy "Dil Mein Baji Guitar" from "Apna Sapna Money Money" (2006) and 1997's "Sheloha Shela" by the Miami Band.
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16. "Dil Na Diya" from "Krrish" (2006) and this...Turkish military march anthem called "Ceddin Deden".
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17. "Mehbooba Mehbooba" from "Sholay" (1975) and "Say You Love Me" by Demis Roussos, which released in 1974.
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18. But also..."Mehbooba Mehbooba" from "Sholay" (1975) and "Ta Rialia", a traditional Greek famously sung by Mihalis Violaris in 1973.
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So... who inspired who, exactly?
19. The very dance-able "Neend Churaayi Meri" from "Ishq" (1997) and "Sending All My Love" by Linear (1990).
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20. Ending with a role reversal — In 2002, Bappi Lahiri successfully sued Dr Dre, who had been "inspired" by the iconic "Kaliyon Ka Chaman" from 1981, featuring a part of it in one of his songs, "Addictive" by Truth Hurts.
