Old Hindi Songs' Magic Returns: Is 'Retro' Outdated?

The song 'Matrubhoomi' from the film Battle of Galwan serves as a powerful reminder of the timeless appeal of situational Hindi music. Its simple yet evocative lyrics by Sameer Anjaan and haunting tune by Himesh Reshammiya demonstrate that well-crafted songs, designed to complement a narrative, resonate deeply with listeners. This success challenges the relevance of labeling music as 'retro,' with veterans like Rajesh Roshan and M.M. Keervani suggesting that only the packaging evolves, not the core composition.

The 'Matrubhoomi' duet, featuring Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, brings back a melodic richness that has been missed for decades. This suggests that talented composers are merely awaiting the right opportunities. Similarly, classic songs from films like Border 2 ('Ghar kab aaoge') and Gadar 2 ('Udd jaa kaale kaava') continue to be memorable due to their strong tunes and lyrical content.

The article speculates that Arijit Singh's recent career decisions might stem from a realization of the gap between his vocal prowess and the conventional song assignments he receives. The opportunity to work on 'Matrubhoomi,' after potentially contributing to 'Ghar kab aaoge,' may have highlighted this disparity, leading him to explore more classical musical experiments.

Furthermore, the piece critiques the modern trend of rigidly labeling songs with genre tags like Hip-Hop or Blues, arguing for a return to more traditional classifications such as romantic, patriotic, or sad. It emphasizes that embracing local musical roots can paradoxically lead to greater global appeal, citing historical examples like Shankar-Jaikishan's 'Awara hoon' and the international success of Indian-inspired tracks.