Bollywood's Tribute to Travel || Songs that Make You Want to Pack Your Backpack and Camping Equipment

There is an undeniable romance to travel and Bollywood has suitably tapped into this. There are several iconic songs that immortalize travel and make you pine for the outdoors. And with the current Covid-19 situation making travel difficult, these songs give you some respite as well as heartache. Anyway, here are some of my favorite travel songs: 

Chhaiya Chhaiya

This iconic dance number performed excellently by Shahrukh Khan and Malaika Arora (and a big dance troupe) on the top of a moving train is easily one of the most memorable and beautiful travel songs. In fact this was the number that put me firmly in the A R Rehman Fan Club. And Gulzar's lyrics are to die for and Sukhwinder's singing does full justice to it. My favorite lines from the song:

Gulposh kabhi itraaye kahin
Mehke to nazar aa jaaye kahin
Taaveez banaake pehnoon usay
Aayat ki tarah mil jaaye kahin

Voh yaar hai jo imaan ki tarah
Mera nagma vohi mera qalma vohi
Mera nagma nagma mera qalma qalma

Yaar misaale ous dhale
Paaon ke tale firdous chale
Kabhi daal daal kabhi paat paat
Main hava pe dhoondhoon uske nishaan 

Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen

A handsome Dilip Kumar marveling and the beauty of nature on his way to his new workplace is all you need to imagine the beauty of the mountains. The song is black and white and you do not need colors to see what he is seeing, thanks to the beautiful imagery in Shailendra's Lyrics and Mukesh's earthy voice. The song is composed by Salil and is ageless. Following is my favorite stanza: 

ये कौन हँसता है फूलों में छुपकर?
बहार बेचैन है किसकी धुन पर?
कहीं गुनगुन, कहीं रुनझुन के जैसे नाचे ज़मीं
सुहाना सफ़र और ये मौसम हसीं
हमें डर है, हम खो ना जाए कहीं
सुहाना सफ़र और ये मौसम हसीं

Chhod Aaye Hum

The song is the perfect companion for a group of friends travelling together, camping somewhere. Lyrics are once again by Gulzar and the song is sung by Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar, KK, and Vinod Sehgal. Vishal Bhardwaj is the Music Director. The movie too is a work of art, and the music matches up to it. Following are my favorite lines:

जहाँ तेरी एड़ी से धूप उड़ा करती थी
सुना है उस चौखट पे अब शाम रहा करती है
लटों से उलझी लिपटी इक रात हुआ करती थी
कभी-कभी तकिये पे वो भी मिला करती थी
छोड़ आये हम...

So Gaya Yeh Jahaan

If you completed your graduation in the late 90s then you probably have been out on the roads at night driving around the city, singing this cult classic along with Nitin Mukesh, Jubin Nautiyal, and Saloni Thakkar. Lyrics are written by Javed Akhtar and Music Composed by Laxmikant and Pyarelal. This was one movie in which I liked Chunky Pandey's performance as well. My favorite lines from the song:

रात आयी तो वो जिनके घर थे
वो घर को गए, सो गए
रात आयी तो हम जैसे आवारा
फिर निकले राहों में और खो गए
इस गली, उस गली, इस नगर, उस नगर
जाएँ भी तो कहाँ जाना चाहें अगर
हो, सो गई है सारी मंज़िलें
हो, सारी मंज़िलें, सो गया है रस्ता
सो गया ये जहाँ, सो गया आसमाँ
सो गया ये जहाँ, सो गया आसमाँ  

Tum Ho Toh + Sindbad the Sailor

This is one of my favorite songs from the movie Rock On. And especially the grand entrance by Arjun Rampal - emerging from smoke, strumming on the guitar, his long hair flying around. The medley of Sindbad the Sailor and Tum Ho Toh, is what got me hooked to a few desi bands. And I remember wishing that Magik was a real band and Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli, and Luke Kenny its real band members. The song is written by Javed Akhtar and Sung by Farhan Akhtar and Raman Mahadevan. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are the music directors. Following are my favorite lines from the song:

सब ने कहा था इन समन्दरों में जाना नहीं
मेरे यार सुनलो सुनलो
ख़्वाबों के पीछे जा के कुछ भी है पाना नहीं
मेरे यार सुनलो सुनलो
वो अपनी ही धुन में रहा
वो सुनता था दिल का कहा