I have grown up listening to
Songs from Bollywood films, perhaps you
Are not acquainted with the range of emotions expressed
In a smorgasbord of melodies, here I do confess
That each time I feel any emotion intense
There is a song appropriate for that experience
Often as I feel the emotion, I tell you
In my head a song is playing repeatedly too..
From romantic love, longing and betrayal
To life’s lessons, patriotism and farewells
From maternal, paternal, sibling affection
To bonds of friendship and the heartache of rejection
From boisterous proclamations of superiority
To claiming reckless disregard of seniority
From the existential angst of life as a youngster
To the pangs of old age- you never have to wonder
If there is a song that describes your situation
You will find one without much aggravation
Now I sing (either loudly or in my head)
When I am happy, but when I am sad, instead
Of dwelling on my emotions, I start humming
A tune in my head, the lyrics start coming
To my mind soon after I indulge in this exercise
Quite often my mood is lifted, much to my surprise!
Bollywood numbers continue to be belted out
At a furious pace, day in and day out
Not every song can touch every soul
But each song has its niche, its role
In the fabric of Indian lives, I am sure
That’s why film lovers keep asking for more
Thus the age-old tradition of films interspersed
With songs does not end- we are well versed
In smooth stories being interrupted all at once
By characters breaking abruptly into song and dance
We have grown to love this distraction
A film without songs gives us no satisfaction..
Of course as I pen this verse my mind is occupied
By more than one song-as I have described!
Passion...unbridled 