Every Holi playlist has that one song—Balam Pichkari. It’s a good song. But why have we not grown beyond it? It is 13 years old already. And if we are still playing this, it only means one thing: a severe Bollywood drought of Holi songs.
As Holi approaches, the question that has begun vexing millennials and Gen-Z is not whether to opt for malpua or gujiya but to get together a playlist. Holi songs have slowly been on the decline, and once reliable Bollywood has stopped creating songs that set the mood for one of the most popular festivals in the country.
The Balam Pichkari song, from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), was the last of the greats. The next one, Badri Ki Dulhania from Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), was a weaker contender.
I fear that Balam Pichkari has become a Rang Barse in the Holi Hall of Fame. But the hall itself isn’t getting bigger.
There has to be a Holi song every five years, that makes everyone—from the ever-complaining family member to the shyest of friends—dance with abandon. This was being followed quite diligently earlier, from Holi Ke Din of Sholay (1975) to Rang Barse (1981) and even Holi Khele Raghuveera from the Baghban (2003) and Do Me A Favour Let’s Pay Holi from Waqt-The Race Against Time (2005).
But the last decade has been an exercise in exhausting YouTube, searching for that one crackling Holi banger.
Peak Bollywood Holi songs
Then, there are Holi numbers which do not make you dance, but probably get you into a romantic mood. One example is Lahu Munh Lag Gaya from Goliyon Ki Raasleela of Ram-Leela (2013), which shows a young couple flirting with each other while celebrating Holi. It came out in the same year as Balam Pichkari, and clearly, that’s when Bollywood Holi songs peaked.
In 2000, there was Shah Rukh Khan as the rebellious professor in Mohabbatein, urging his students to have fun and dance with their romantic partners—one for those trying to sneak a moment of romance in the chaos of Holi.
There is also the suggestive ‘Ang Se Ang Lagana’ from Darr (1993). Though the premise of a stalker, Rahul (Khan), is both scary and, unfortunately, also what often happens in North India’s festivities, the song itself is pretty ‘add to list’ worthy.
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Need for another song
Films in recent years have tried to include Holi celebrations and songs. For instance, there is Jai Jai Shivshankar of War (2019) or Panwadi from Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025). For the former, the vibe is more of a dance between two overtly talented dancers. But Holi dancing is meant to be amateur, fun-filled moments, and the song does not quite evoke any of that.
No one needs to be reminded of their deferred fitness goals or lack of dancing talents at a festival.
Then there’s Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s song Panwadi, which is adapted from a Bhojpuri folk song. Kesari Lal Yadav had sung the Bhojpuri version of the song. And it is pretty creepy.
Though Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra do their best to make the song a hit with their moves, it does not quite roll off the tongue.
We need that one song that unites everyone so that Holi feels right again, and the playlist doesn’t run out faster than the organic colours on skin.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)