IT HASN’T been a vintage year for Bollywood music, but there were some songs in 2019 that stood out and entertained millions of film fans around the world.
With that in mind, the Eastern Eye team got together to select the top 10 songs of the year, limiting it to one per film and listing them in chronological order of release.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (title track): In an age of remakes, it would have been easy for producers to recreate the 1994 song from 1942: A Love Story that inspired the title. Instead, a new romantic number with a contemporary feel was created and it struck a chord with those who have had their hearts melted by a girl.
Apna Time Aayega (Gully Boy): The sharp soundtrack for the rap musical featured this song, which is an anthem for anyone who has a dream and waiting for their time to shine. Gully Boy lead star Ranveer Singh showed off his vocal skills with the challenging song, which was a major stand-out musical moment in 2019.
Coca Cola Tu (Luka Chuppi):The cover version of an existing hit song outperformed the original and is one of the most streamed Indian songs of 2019, with over 400 million views on YouTube alone. Most had the mid-tempo dance number on repeat and plenty more danced to the delicious duet at parties around the world.
Ghar More Pardesiya (Kalank):Bollywood queen Shreya Ghoshal took on arguably the most challenging song of the year and is a hot favourite to win all the major awards in the coming months. The classy song showed off her glorious vocals and found the hallowed middle ground between the artistic and commercial.
Hook Up Song (Student Of The Year 2):It may not have been part of the main movie, but this promotional song had enough of a spark to set fire to the airwaves. The sexy duet featuring the vocals of Neha Kakkar and Shekhar Ravjiani had a flirtatious
energy with a dance floor vibe. It is a great track for the party season.
Slow Motion (Bharat):The flop film had this high musical moment. The energy-filled duet packed a punch and had heavy beats, which got under the skin and in the hearts of film fans. The superb song with high repeat value collectively clocked up more than 300 million views on YouTube alone.
Bekhayali (Kabir Singh):The blockbuster super hit had a number of songs that could have easily made it into the song of 2019 list, but we are unfortunately limited to just one. This particular song captured the pain of heartbreak like no other song and is relatable to anyone who has lost someone.
O Saki Saki (Batla House):Most recreations of Bollywood classics don’t work, but this one did and is by far the most popular item number of 2019. The infectious beats of the super song were elevated to a higher level by a stunning dance performance by Nora Fatehi, which outshone the film. It has collectively been viewed more than 400 million times on YouTube.
Enni Soni (Saaho):The action blockbuster may not have met up to expectations, but it had this lovely romantic duet that was released in various languages. Guru Randhawa and Tulsi Kumar were on fine form with a song that oozed romance from start to finish.
Jai Jai Shivshankar (War):Bollywood’s best two dancers Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff performing together in the song gave it a turbo boost with film fans, but it went beyond that. The dance number was like fire and burned itself into the minds of anyone who loves a catchy Bollywood beat.
JK Rowling’s Instagram story mocking Pedro Pascal’s criticismInstagram Screengrab
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.