Well, I’ll admit it. I was eagerly awaiting Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati in 2017. Not because the period drama was mired in needless controversies, but because Bhansali’s musical sensibilities are second to none. After the film’s postponement, I revisited the year’s Hindi film soundtracks and was pleasantly surprised to discover that Bollywood music in 2017 wasn’t nearly as poor as mainstream discourse often made it out to be.
Established composers and an exciting crop of newcomers delivered a diverse range of albums. Unfortunately, some exceptional soundtracks were let down by the films they were attached to, with Jab Harry Met Sejal and Begum Jaan as prime examples. Nevertheless, here are the Top 10 Bollywood Soundtracks of 2017.
10. Jab Harry Met Sejal
For me, Jab Harry Met Sejal doesn’t entirely work as a film. Viewed in the context of the narrative, the songs lose some of their magic as well. Tracks like “Beech Beech Mein” and “Safar”, which shine on the album, never quite transcend the ordinary when picturised. Perhaps I was subconsciously comparing them to the benchmark Imtiaz Ali had set with the music in his earlier films, making that expectation a little unfair.
Even so, Jab Harry Met Sejal works far better as an audio experience than as a cinematic one, with “Hawayein” remaining my undisputed favourite.
9. Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana
Staying true to Bollywood’s recent trend of employing more composers than principal cast members, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana features music by Anand Raj Anand, JAM8, Arko, Zain-Saim-Raees and Rashid Khan, with lyrics by Kumaar, Shakeel Azmi, Gaurav Krishna Bansal, Arko and Kunal Verma.
Before those names overwhelm you, let me assure you that the soundtrack is far better than its crowded credits suggest. Whether it’s Arko’s soothing “Jogi”, easily the album’s standout track, or Asit Tripathy’s wonderfully ’90s-flavoured “Tu Banja Gali Banaras Ki”, the music captures the warmth and simplicity of the film’s small-town setting.
8. Bareilly Ki Barfi
Set once again in the charming town of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Bareilly Ki Barfi stays remarkably faithful to its milieu. Its music embraces the region’s flavour with effortless authenticity, and nowhere is that more evident than in lyrics like these:
“Sweety tera drama macha de hungama
Ladayein jo nazaraiya julam ho gaya
Haan tere hain deewane Tu maane ya na maane
Arey sun le gujariya balam hoyi gawa…”
7. Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by RS Prasanna, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan comfortably earns its place among the Top 10 Bollywood Soundtracks of 2017, wisely placing its faith in the composer duo Tanishk-Vayu instead of assembling a long list of musicians.
Just like the film itself, the songs are witty, conversational and packed with personality, complementing the narrative perfectly. The lone exception is the semi-classical “Kanha”, a soulful composition that beautifully echoes the film’s earthy background score, enriched by the sounds of the flute, veena and other Indian instruments. What an absolute delight.
6. Rangoon
We often forget that Vishal Bhardwaj was a musician long before he became a filmmaker. Rangoon is among his finest musical works in recent years.
The soundtrack is melodious, richly textured and immensely rewarding, offering everything from haunting ballads to foot-tapping numbers. What deserves even greater appreciation, however, is how authentically Bhardwaj recreates the musical sensibilities of the pre-1950s era. Through carefully chosen instrumentation and beautifully matched vocalists, every song feels like a natural extension of its period setting. Enhanced further by Shajith Koyeri’s magnificent sound design, the songs become even more immersive on the big screen.
5. Begum Jaan
The soundtrack of Begum Jaan feels like Anu Malik’s emphatic reminder of just how gifted a composer he is.
Featuring eight songs rooted in the Partition era, the album offers remarkable variety while remaining faithful to its historical backdrop, reaffirming Malik’s place among Hindi cinema’s finest composers. Although largely dominated by slow-burning, emotionally resonant compositions, the soundtrack also experiments with livelier arrangements whenever the narrative demands it. Shreya Ghoshal and Anmoll Malik’s spirited “Holi Khelein” and Arijit Singh’s soulful “Murshida” are among its standout moments.
4. A Gentleman – Sundar, Susheel, Risky
For starters, there isn’t a single ordinary song in this Sachin-Jigar soundtrack, which comfortably ranks among the Top 10 Bollywood Soundtracks of 2017.
Although awkwardly placed within the film, “Laagi Na Choote” features Shreya Ghoshal singing in a lower octave, instantly reminding me of last year’s “Rehnuma” from Rocky Handsome. “Disco Disco” stands out as an unabashedly original club anthem, groovy from the very first beat. That same sense of freshness runs through “Baat Ban Jaaye”, elevated further by the distinctive vocals of Siddharth Basrur and Priya Saraiya.
“Chandralekha” could easily have turned into yet another rehash of a beloved classic, but filmmakers Raj & DK and composers Sachin-Jigar wisely choose a different path, crafting something that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Last but certainly not least, the trippy “Bandook Meri Laila” is easily the standout track of the album. Take a bow, Sachin-Jigar.
3. Meri Pyaari Bindu
Recreating the sound of the ’90s and early 2000s is no easy feat, particularly the latter. After all, our musical sensibilities haven’t evolved as dramatically over the past two decades as we often imagine, apart from technological advancements that the average listener rarely notices.
Meri Pyaari Bindu beautifully mirrors its shifting timelines as its characters move across cities, change with age and gradually evolve into more complex individuals. The soundtrack opens with the exuberant Bappi Lahiri-inspired “Yeh Jawaani Teri” and culminates in the exquisitely moving Sonu Nigam-Parineeti Chopra duet, “Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin”. Everything in between is breezy, melodic and infused with an intimacy that perfectly complements the film’s nostalgic spirit.
2. Anaarkali of Aarah
Avinash Das’s impressive directorial debut is built around music, not the conventional brand of Hindi film songs but the vibrant folk traditions of the Hindi heartland, particularly nautanki theatre.
Swara Bhasker’s Anaarkali is a magnetic performer, brimming with confidence, charisma and an irresistibly powerful voice. Composer Rohit Sharma makes an inspired choice by employing Swati Sharma and Pawni Pandey as her playback voices, resulting in a string of electrifying folk compositions. “Lahanga Jhaanke” and “Hamre Jobna Pe”, rendered by Bhojpuri favourite Indu Sonali, deserve special mention for their infectious energy and authenticity.
The soundtrack also features memorable contributions from Sonu Nigam and Rekha Bhardwaj, together creating an album that recalls a time when Hindi film songs were crafted to enrich stories rather than merely dominate music charts.
1. Jagga Jasoos
Decades after Amol Palekar’s Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen, Hindi cinema’s long-standing hesitation towards the true musical finally found a worthy challenger.
While most of our films feature elaborate song-and-dance routines, very few embrace the storytelling traditions of classic Hollywood musicals like The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady or The Wizard of Oz. Director Anurag Basu, along with composer Pritam and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya, takes that ambitious leap with Jagga Jasoos, delivering a film that comes closer to a genuine musical than mainstream Hindi cinema has dared in years.
The chartbusters are delightful in their own right, but the real triumph lies in the songs that seamlessly propel the narrative forward. Whether it’s the adorable “Chocolatey Chunnu”, the infectious “Khana Khake Daaru Peeke” or the many musical passages woven into the storytelling, the album leaves you spoiled for choice.
Quite simply, Jagga Jasoos tops my list of the Top 10 Bollywood Soundtracks of 2017.
A special mention goes to Secret Superstar, primarily for Kausar Munir’s heartfelt and deeply moving lyrics. The compositions and vocal performances, however, don’t always match the emotional power of her writing, preventing the soundtrack from becoming as memorable as its words deserve.
