Highlights The likes of A.R. Rahman, Vishal & Shekhar, Ajay-Atul, and Shankar Mahadevan still create original music. But what about the remakes that are leading Bollywood Music to 'a slow death' Remakes have always been a trend, a nostalgic treat. Gradually, it became an escape from authenticity, where a mere rendition is said to be 'new' Why is it happening: The demand of the users, reelification of songs, change in revenue generation, and keeping up with the time and trends. Read on inside Remakes that didn't go well with the listeners: A list
The Hindi music industry has been blessed with some legendary musicians, composers, and singers who have given us some memorable melodies of all time. A music that had the feel, the rhythm, the core, and the oomph that made it evergreen. It's not the old classics alone, take the 90s, the 2000s, the 2010s...but soon after, there came a shift in trends. They started refurbishing the old, presenting it as something that's their own.
Bollywood has been remaking plenty of stuff recently, or more so for a few years lately. Be it movie adaptations or song remakes, a lot is being borrowed from the original. But, to what extent? As much as you lose your originality or authenticity at large. Until very recently, I heard a good old song ruined. Why? Is Bollywood done with creating anything new, or doesn't even want to put in enough into something raw? Recreations, renditions, and remakes; all are fine, but only until you do not mess up the original.
I remember when my mother told me how Madhuri Dixit walked in wearing that shimmery skirt paired with a pink one-shoulder top on stage, all eyes set on her, that she stole hearts with Ek do teen...call it the aura or her expressions, she was just a gleaming nightingale owning it all. The Tezaab movie was a hit back then, so were its songs. But when they thought of remaking it, they destroyed it completely. They churned out the best, adding the unnecessary. Why do you do this? Like really. Just because some people out there on the Internet demand it, simply because they are bored with the old. You can call it old, but those are 'classics', and that art doesn't need to be changed only to make it 'trending' at some point in time.
Well, this is just one out of many. Bollywood is nothing less than a tale that speaks of the 'dying' music, or let's say, dying original music. There was a time when a 'Nazm' was presented so beautifully with music, but now it seems like a random play of beats. Some composers and musicians still give originals, some do not. Here is a timeline of some songs that are remakes and are often criticized for ruining the original:
List of original songs and their remake
ORIGINAL REMAKE Chor Bazaari (2009) Chor Bazaari Phir Se (2025) Gori hai Kalaiyan (1991) Gori Hai Kalaiyan (2025) Morni (1991) Morni (2024) Masakali (2009) Masakali 2.0 (2020) Sajna ve Sajna (2003) Sajna ve Sajna (2024) Haseeno ka Deewana (1981) Haseeno ka Deewana (2017) Hawaa Hawaai (1987) Hawa Hawaai (2017) Ek Do Teen (1988) Ek do teen (2018) Meine Payal hai Chankayi (1999) O Sajna (2022) Aaj jaane ki zid na karo (1973) Aaj jaane ki zid na karo (2024) Dil ne ye kaha hai dil se (2003) Mohabbat ho gyi hai tumse (2024) Nazar ke saamne (1999) Nazar ke saamne (2024)
Let's see how it is happening and why it might be happening:
The viewer-listener call: What do they demand?Let's first start with the demand- What do viewers and listeners demand? While there is a good faction of people who find solace in the good old Bollywood music, some want it all new. Be it just a rendition or some sort of a chance taken with the already existing number. So, basically, there is a demand for this kind of music among the listeners, who provide views on the content.
It might be to lure viewers with some kind of add-ons or refurbishments here and there, or enticing them featuring moves of some of the leading actresses or dancers. Or, more, instead, can be banking upon some new stars of television or social media gaining fame. To watch these stars, users consume the content. Thus, this demand will be there until the content is[1].
Consider these:
Jehda Nasha: The peppy Punjabi folk song was originally written by Amar Jalal and Balla Jalal, backed and produced by Anahad Foundation and Faridkot five years ago. It was then turned into a remake by Tanishk Bagchi for 'An Action Hero', featuring Ayushmann Khurrana and Nora Fatehi, and produced by T-Series. The song has 53 million views on YouTube in two years, with the original one still 10 million views behind[2][3]. This is just one example where we fail as an audience, watching the recreated versions because they have our stars, but not the raw, authentic version brought with immense hard work and perseverance.
Pasoori: This Coke Studio original was released on Season 14, with lyrics written and sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill. Pasoori was then turned into a remix for Kartik Aryan and Kiara Advani starrer 'Satyaprem Ki Katha'. Another rendition turned all wrong, even though voiced by Arijit Singh. The difference is also visible in the viewership; the Coke Studio version has 851m views, while the one of T-series lags behind at 35m views[4] [5]. The question here is, just because Pasoori is trending, and the audience loves it, was there any need for another one? Just to have your version of it.
Reelification: The popular phenomenonInstagram reels have changed Internet trends on a drastic level. Today, what works in music has a lot to do with what trends on Instagram, what goes with dance, challenges, and the lip-sync that entertains the viewers, bringing in likes and shares. What is produced out there depends largely on what's going to trend on Instagram, the phenomenon also referred as 'Reelification' of songs[1].
Often, gaining numbers conveniently without adding much character to the lyrics. Let's say the recently released ones: Morni and Gori Hai Kalaiyan.
Remixes: Nostalgia or damage?Remixes have always been here, it's not a recent phenomenon. They pave the way to nostalgia to relive the experience of that era. But when they lack quality and are released as dance-Y numbers, it's not a refreshing memory but damage caused to them. When Bollywood recreated songs like 'Sajna hai mujhe' and Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar' back in the 2000s, they just gave them a new twist, keeping the authenticity intact, and ensuring what they're meant for doesn't fade away[1].
But what do the makers do with 'Morni' and 'Gori hai Kalaiyan'? Adding some peppy beats and rap isn't justified at all. Talking about nostalgia again, can we talk about Neha Kakkar's 'O Sajna'? The remake of Falguni Pathak's 'Meine Payal Hai Chankayi' failed to take us on any joyous ride to the old days; it didn't even sit well with the viewers either. Kakkar was trolled on social media for the remake.
Change in revenue generationThe revenue earning has changed over time, from DVDs and cassettes to internet streaming with technology updates. During those days, record labels and artists earned a huge chunk of money when users bought the DVDs and cassettes for that one music video. But now it's not direct for them, artists deal with record labels, which further have deals with streaming platforms. This only lets them have a small part of the whole profitable chunk[1].
Perhaps the lack of profits or suitable incentives makes them less creative, leaving less room for innovation. Those out there for earning and making money might not invest in their art, giving some low-effort music[1].
Keeping up with time and trendsIn the age of the Internet, you have to be ahead of others. What is seen is sold. And creativity takes time. When the producers do not give you an ample amount of time, and you have to give music anyway, many composers and artists turn in renditions of something that already exists. Creativity is sacrificed, but something comes up to survive in the trends for a while.
But does art have anything to do with these? No. Whatever the trends or time, art and creativity shall thrive.
In 2019, popular Rapper of the 90s, Baba Sehgal, took to X, criticizing Bollywood for recreating and remixing old popular songs. Calling the Hindi film industry 'Copywood', the music artist questioned the 'intent' behind all this.
pic.twitter.com/c6WRYGUS3c
— Baba Sehgal (@OnlyBabaSehgal) July 7, 2019
Some remakes might work, but not all. Because very often, they miss the mark. Despite all the reasons, nothing justifies or will ever stand close to something that's 'woven out of creativity', from the heart. You are causing the damage by merely touching it. A rendition can never replace the original, nether can it beat it in any aspect. Bollywood should realise this, as it hurts more when you have grown up humming to and grooving to these songs...
