For decades, Bollywood songs were woven seamlessly into storytelling, often becoming the emotional backbone of a film. Anand Raaj Anand believes that somewhere along the way, that tradition has faded.
“The world recognised Hindi cinema because of its songs,” Anand says. “Today, many songs feel like promotional material rather than an integral part of the narrative.”
Drawing from his early years, the composer reveals that one of his greatest lessons came not from a classroom but from cinema halls. “I used to observe audiences very carefully. If people walked out during a song, I wanted to know why.”
That observation shaped his philosophy as a composer. “A song should never stop the story. It should carry the story forward.”
He feels that earlier filmmakers gave songs emotional purpose. Whether it was romance, heartbreak or celebration, every composition had a reason to exist within the screenplay.
“Today, lip-sync songs have reduced considerably, and many films don’t give music the same importance. That’s a change I genuinely miss,” he admits.
However, Anand remains optimistic. He believes audiences still crave emotionally driven music. “People haven’t stopped loving songs. They simply want songs that make them feel something.”
For him, the strength of Bollywood has always been its ability to express emotions through music. “That’s what made our cinema unique across the world. I hope filmmakers continue to preserve that identity because it’s something only Indian cinema does so beautifully.”
