A Reflection of Existentialism in Indian Film Songs: A Study

Abstract

Every song has its own significance as the philosophy is concerned. The music and the lyrics has deep impact on the human beings. The songs speak more than the words. It gives message through its soothing composition of music and beautifully arrangement of lycirs. Indian cinema also plays a significant role in bringing new music to the music lovers. Thre are thousands of hindi songs in Bollywood cinema. They are categorized according to its meaning and nature such as romantic songs, sad songs, motivational songs, devotional songs, patriotical songs, songs dedicated to mother father or sisters and teachers etc. but there are certain songs which come in the category of existentialism which will be discussed in this paper. Indian writers of hindi music write about anything from love, relationships, death, politics, religion, etc. They are able to write songs that sound more like poetry than a typical pop song composition. There are certain beautiful songs which are very emotional in nature and they are the clear manifestation of existentialist tendencies. The study aims to validate the theories of existentialism as these are fleshed out from the lyrics of Indian Cinema in a limited selection of Bollywood songs. It seeks to provide an analysis of Hindi film songs set against that of an existentialist philosophical framework which consists of principle concepts such as: individual existence, subjectivity, choice and commitment, absurdity, and alienation.

Keywords: Absurdity, Alienation, Authenticity, Dread, Existentialism, Freedom, Lyric, Song, Sting.