Bollywood’s on a song

Filmmakers are increasingly using contemporary songs as titles for their films.

Lack of creativity or too much inspiration, call it what you will, but a host of Bollywood filmmakers are referring to songs, and often contemporary ones, for the titles of their films.

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A string of forthcoming films such as Kajraare, Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, It’s My Life, Allah Ke Banday, Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaara, Anjaana Anjaani and Dil Toh Bacha Hai Ji have their titles inspired by popular Bollywood numbers.

While Kajraare takes inspiration from the Aishwarya Rai-chartbuster in Bunty Aur Babli, Banda Ye Bindaas Hai is a direct lift from the song to which Amitabh Bachchan and Nandita Das waltz in Aks.

Kailesh Kher’s Allah Ke Banday from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai - Part II is now also the title of Farouque Kabir’s upcoming film.

The title for Zoya Akhtar’s next, Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaara, has been picked from the title track of her brother Farhan’s hit film Rock On!! The film stars Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, among others.

The Deols’ next, Yamla Pagla Deewana, is again a hit number picturised on Dharmendra in the movie Pratigya.

While It’s My Life is a famous English number by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, even the films Bummm Bumm Bole and Chance Pe Dance that released this year have been named after two widely known songs from Taare Zameen Par and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi respectively.

Earlier too, filmmakers have looked at old songs for movie titles. Karan Johar picked the title of both his hit films — Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna — from lyrics written by writer-filmmaker Amit Khanna.