Published By: Sayan Paul

Happy Birthday, Amitabh Bachchan: The 'Singer' Bachchan; His Playback Songs That Made Waves

Besides being a legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan is also a gifted singer with many hit tracks to his credit.

Do you know the difference between a star and a cultural icon? Late filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, in an episode of his show, 'Ghosh & Company', explained that a star is someone who enjoys mass popularity, while a cultural icon leaves an impact on the minds. According to Ghosh, a cultural icon "represents the aspirations of a community", and influences everything from how people think and even dream.

Amitabh Bachchan, without an iota of doubt, is one of the biggest cultural icons ever in India. During the 70s and 80s (the peak of his career), Bachchan dominated the big screen with his "angry young man" persona, while his influence transcended even beyond the theatres. He became a symbol of masculinity at that time, and everything from his hairstyle to mannerisms to fashion choices (remember the bell-bottom trend?) emerged as a rage among the youth. Fans used his iconic dialogues, such as "Rishtey Mein To Hum Tumhare Baap Lagte Hai..." or "Main Aaj Bhi Phenke Hue Paise Nahi Uthata", as catchphrases, and every kid wanted to be like him once they would grow up.

(Credit: amitabhbachchan)

Well, Big B's acting career, spanning over 5 decades, has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. However, besides being a legendary actor, he is also a gifted singer who has lent his voice to several tracks over the years. Although the megastar himself claims he is not a singer (in his words, "... Singing is not my domain, nor am I accomplished enough to make it one."), his songs evoke the right emotions in our hearts, and how!

(Credit: Amitabh Bachchan)

Today, on Big B's 82nd birthday, let's revisit some of his iconic songs in this article.

Mere Paas Aao – Mr Natwarlal

The first one is always special, and hence "Mere Paas Aao" from the film 'Mr Natwarlal' deserves to be at the top of the list. It was Bachchan's first playback singing in Hindi cinema, and although the superstar himself was quite skeptical about it, the result turned out to be phenomenal. In this song, penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by Rajesh Roshan, Bachchan narrates a story with his natural charisma, leaving us spellbound.

(Credit: Filmfare)

Neela Aasmaan – Silsila

Bachchan appears as a poet/writer in 'Silsila', who is in love with Chandni (played by Rekha). The song "Neela Aasmaan" comes at a pivotal point in the film, where the superstar's character, Amit, expresses his unconditional love for Chandni. Shiv-Hari's melody hits the right chord in our hearts, while Javed Akhtar's soulful lyrics penetrate deep into our souls. However, the real star here is undoubtedly Bachchan's baritone that does full justice to the song.

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha in ‘Silsila’

Mere Angne Mein – Laawaris

Featured in the 1981 film 'Laawaris', "Mere Angne Mein" has been a party anthem for over four decades now. The lyrics, describing different kinds of wives and their husbands, have the playful vibes that we miss in today's songs. Bachchan's energetic voice, along with his expressions and body language, makes it remarkably entertaining. And the song is so well designed, thanks to its folk elements and all, that it sounds fresh even today.

(Credit: Moses Sapir)

Rang Barse – Silsila

Think about Holi songs, and there's no way "Rang Barse" from 'Silsila' wouldn't come atop the list. The song, sung by Amitabh Bachchan, captures the festive spirit perfectly and makes people groove to its tune effortlessly. There's a remarkable drama in Bachchan's voice (using the North Indian Awadhi dialect), not to mention his energetic performance, that entertains us to the core. Harivanshrai Bachchan's lyrics and Shiv-Hari's composition deserve special mention as well.

Ekla Cholo Re – Kahaani

The singer Amitabh Bachchan benefits a lot from the actor Amitabh Bachchan. In all his songs, the emotions are in the right place, and they serve the scene and the film. His rendition of "Ekla Cholo Re" for the Sujoy Ghosh thriller 'Kahaani' is a prime example of that. Here, his voice not only captures the essence of the song (by Rabindranath Tagore) but also complements the film's narrative as well as its protagonist's journey. The minimalist approach in his rendition, not to mention his pitch-perfect Bengali diction, makes it even more beautiful.

(Credit: T-Series)

Besides the above-mentioned songs, the list also includes "Chal Mere Bhai" (Naseeb), "Tu Maike Mat Jaiyo" (Pukaar), "Main Yahan Tu Wahan" (Baghban), "Holi Khele Raghuveera" (Baghban), "Piddly Si Baatein" (Shamitabh), and "Chalo Jane Do" (Bhoothnath) among others.