Top 10 Bollywood Sad Songs

There are times we would be sad about something, mourning over someone's loss, missing a beloved or feel agony for an unfortunate event. While it is scientifically proven that crying when you are sad helps you get past depression, the best way for most of us to let out the melancholic feelings of a heavy heart in such a situation would be to hear a sad blue song.

So I decided to create a list of top 10 new-generation sad songs, to match your mood and provide you with an excuse to let out your inner gloomy emotions through your tears.



1. Tanhayee
Movie: Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Singers: Sonu Nigam
Music By: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar

Lyrics Overview:
"Dil Ke Raaste Mein Kaisi Thokar Maine Khaayi
Toote Khwaab Saare, Ek Maayusi Hai Chhaayi
Har Khushi So Gayi, Zindagi Kho Gayi
Tumko Jo Pyaar Kiya Maine To Sazaa Main Paayi
Tanhaai, Tanhaai, Milo Hai Phaili Hui Tanhaai"

Featured in the blockbuster and cult-favorite movie DCH, starring Aamir Khan, this is a heart wounding song with words signifying the feelings of a person who's heart-broken in love and feels regret of falling in love altogether.

Notable line: "Kal koi, Tha yahi... Ab koi bhi nahi"




2. Chhodo Na Mujhe
Movie: Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula (2003)
Singers: Kunal Ganjawala
Music By: Sandesh Shandilya
Lyricist:  Subrat Sinha

Lyrics Overview:
"Chhodo na mujhe, yu bekarar sa
Kar bhi do izhar tum apne pyar ka
Tumhare dil ki he ye manzil, mera deewana dil
Bolo tum bolo"

This song is from the movie Rules starring Tanuja, Milind Soman and Meera Vasudevan. Though not a very famous song or movie, the song has remained my personal favorite since it's release due to it's lighthearted and straight forward lyrics. The simple lyrics and the slow gloomy tune makes this song one of my top favorite sad songs.

Notable line: "Dil se mere tum, khud ko nikalo... Ya fir mujhe hi apna bana lo."

3. Juda Hoke Bhi aka Aadat
Movie: Kalyug (2005)
Singers: Atif Aslam
Music By: Anu Malik
Lyricist: Goher Mumtaz, Sayeed Quadri, Asim Raza

Lyrics Overview:
"Juda Hoke Bhi Tu Mujh mein Kahi Baaki Hai
Palkon Mein Banke Aansu Tu Chali Aati Hai"

From the thriller movie Kalyug, starring Emraan Hashmi and Kunal Khemu, this song is sung by the male protagonist in memory of his late wife, who he lost due to unfortunate happenings. Sung by the very famous Atif Aslam (this song is actually derived from the original song "Aadat" composed by the Pakistani Band Jal, which shot Atif to stardom), this song is sure to mirror your feelings of sadness.

Notable line: "Saans Lena Bhar Hi Yaha Jeena Nahi Hain... Ab Toh Aadat Si Hai Mujhko Aaise Jeene Mein"


4. Tu Jo Nahin
Movie: Woh Lamhe (2006)
Singers: Glenn John
Music By: Pritam

Lyricist: Neelesh Misra

Lyrics Overview:
"Tu jo nahi hai to kuchh bhi nahin hain
Yeh maana ki mehfil jawaan hain haseen hain"

This song is from Woh Lamhe, starring Kangna Ranaut and Shiney Ahuja, based on the lives of yesteryear glam-queen, the late Parveen Babi and the film-maker Mahesh Bhatt. The song appears at the beginning of the movie when the main protagonist is missing beloved immensely. Styled like a Ghazal, everything about this song is tear-jerking, be it the music, the lyrics or the loneliness portrayed by the lead actor in the song's video.

Notable line: "Mujhe fir tabah kar, mujhe fir rula jaa... Sitam karne wale kahi se tu aja."



5. Maa
Movie: Taare Zameen Par (2007)

Singers: Shankar Mahadevan
Music By: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyricist: Prasoon Joshi

Lyrics Overview:
"Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main, Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa"

The song is from TZP, starring Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary. It is such a song that whenever I hear it, tears pool into my eyes. The song is an expression of the feelings of a small kid separated from his mother. If ever you miss your mom and want to cry it out, just GO for this song.

Notable line: "Bhej na, itna door mujhko tu, yaad bhi tujhko aa na pau ma"



6. Alvida
Movie: Life in a... Metro (2007)
Singers: KK
Music By: Pritam
Lyricist: Amitabh Verma

Lyrics Overview:
"Alvida, Alvida, Abb Kehna Aur Kya
Jab Tune Keh Diya, Alvida"

This is a song from the multi-starrer movie Life In A Metro, starring the likes of  Dharmendra, Shilpa Shetty, Irrfan Khan, Shiney Ahuja and Konkona Sen Sharma. It mirrors the feelings of a heart-broken person who's loved one left him. The main lines meaning- "You left me saying goodbye, so what else's left for me to say...". Try it if you hold feelings betrayal or abandonment.

Notable line: "Kash mere sang aaj, hote tum agar... Hoti har dagar... Gulsitan"

7. Kuch Kam
Movie: Dostana (2008)
Singers: Shaan
Music By: Vishal-Shekhar
Lyricist: Vishal Dadlani

Lyrics Overview:
"Kuch kam... roshan hai roshni, kuch kam gili hai barishen
Kuch kam... lehrati hai hawa, kuch kam hai dil me khwahishen
Tham sa gaya he, ye wakt ese, tere liye hi thehra ho jese"

From the movie Dostana starring Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham, this song is about missing a loved one and how the whole world seems dull without that person.

Notable line: "Tham sa gaya he, ye wakt ese, tere liye hi thehra ho jese"


8. Mar Jawan
Movie: Fashion (2008)
Singers: Salim Merchant, Shruti Pathak
Music By: Salim-Sulaiman
Lyricist: Sandeep Nath, Irfan Siddiqui

Lyrics Overview:
"Mar jawan... Mar jawan...
Tere ishq pe... Mar jawan..."

From the super hit movie Fashion, starring Priyanka Chopra, Kangna Ranaut and Mugdha Godse, this song is about the sadness felt when we miss someone. Even though the lyrics might signify feelings of part love and part sadness, the song surely will be good to keep company to a person with a down mood due to its slow melancholic tune.

Notable line: "Soche dil ke esa kash ho... tujhko ik nazar meri talash ho"


9. Tu Jaane Na
Movie: Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009)
Singers: Atif Aslam
Music By: Pritam
Lyricist: Irshad Kamil

Lyrics Overview:
"Milke bhi, hum na mile
Tumse na jaane kyun, milo ke,
Hai phasle tumse na jaane kyun
Anjaane, hai silsile
Tum se na jaane kyun, sapne hai
Palko tale tum se na jaane kyun…
Kaise batayein, Kyun tujhko chahe, Yaara bata na paayein
Baatein dilo ki, dekho jo baaki, Aake tujhe samjhaye
Tu jaane na..."

A super hit song from the comedy flick APKGK, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. It is about unrequited love. Awesome music, amazing lyrics and another on this list that's sung by Atif. If you are wounded by unreciprocated love you might want to check out, not only the audio, but the song's video too.

Notable line: "Kaise batayein, Kyun tujhko chahe, Yaara bata na paayein... Baatein dilo ki, dekho jo baaki, Aake tujhe samjhaye... Tu jaane na..."

10. Bin Tere
Movie: I Hate Luv Storys (2010)
Singers: Shafqat Amanat Ali, Sunidhi Chauhan
Music By: Vishal-Shekhar
Lyricist: Vishal Dadlani

Lyrics Overview:
"Hai kya ye jo tere mere darmiyan he, Andekhi ansuni koi dastaan hai...
Lagne lagi hai, ab zindagi ye... Khaali...
Lagne lagi hai, ab saans bhi ye... Khali...
Bin tere... 
Koi khalish hai hawao me bin tere"

From the rom-com movie IHLS, starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor, this song is about the feelings of a person missing his loved one. The song appears when the hero starts realizing that he is in love with his best friend and starts missing her while she goes away after misunderstandings arise between them.

Notable line: "Ho gayi ansuni har dua ab meri, Reh gayi ankahi bin tere..."



Other tracks not included in this list, but you may like: 

• Sach Keh Raha He by KK from Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001)
• Koi Fariyaad by Jagjit Singh from Tum Bin... Love Will Find A Way (2001)
• Mere Yaar Mila De by A. R. Rahman from Saathiya (2002)
• Kyun Kisi Ko by Udit Narayan from Tere Naam (2003)
• Tere Bin by Atif Aslam from Bas Ek Pal (2006)
• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
• Mausam by Mithoon Sharma from The Train: Some Lines Shoulder Never Be Crossed... (2007)
• Jag Soona Soona Lage by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Richa Sharma from Om Shanti Om (2007)
• Kahin Toh by Rashid Ali and Vasundhara Das from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008)
• Tujhe Bhula Diya by Mohit Chauhan, Shekhar Ravjiani and Shruti Pathak from Anjaana Anjaani (2010)

Bollywood has been famous all over the world for its melodious tunes and harmonious music. There are tens to hundreds of movies released each year in India and so thousands of songs yearly. Among these I mistakenly might have missed out some noteworthy sad songs. But I hope you enjoy this short list anyway.

Enjoy!!