Bollywood soundtracks: From melodies to hooks

Rise of viral, hook-driven songs in Bollywood

Bollywood music has long been known for its emotional depth and powerful melodies, playing a vital role in storytelling. However, the rise of short-form video platforms like Instagram and TikTok has changed how music is composed and consumed, with a shift towards catchy, viral hooks.

Indian music, especially Bollywood soundtracks, has long been a symbol of rich, emotional melodies. Whether through grand orchestras, soulful solos, or gentle acoustic tunes, Bollywood music plays a crucial role in the films, often enhancing the story and deepening the emotional experience.

The music offers a window into the characters’ feelings, be it love, conflict, or turmoil, and helps to bring these emotions to life. With its ability to stay with the audience long after the film ends, Bollywood music has become an inseparable part of the cinematic journey.

However, with the growing dominance of short-form video platforms like Instagram reels and TikTok, there has been a noticeable shift in the way music is being composed and consumed.

A study conducted by Microsoft in 2023 revealed that on an average, a person can scroll up to 450 reels a day with each lasting between eight to sixteen seconds, the attention span of humans is reducing and has dropped to eight seconds.

As the popularity of short videos and catchy song remixes grows, people are creating viral content with memorable hooks. A notable example is the mash-up of Dua Lipa’s Levitating and Abhijeet’s Haan Yahan Kadam Kadam from the movie Baadshah starring Shah Rukh Khan.

This trend reflects a shift in Bollywood, where music is increasingly being designed for quick, catchy hooks that are easy to share and go viral, rather than the more complex, melodic compositions of the past.

Evolution of Bollywood soundtracks

Historically, Bollywood soundtracks were known for their depth and storytelling. Music depicted a narrative, and songs would often be long, and felt like mini-stories with rich melodies and profound lyrics.

Tracks from films like Mughal-e-Azam (1960) or Kabhi Kabhie (1976) beautifully showcase this tradition. Songs such as “Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya” from the film of the same name released in 1998 and “Kabhi Kabhie Aditi” in the film Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na (2008) were not just melodies, rather they evoked a range of feelings, from love to sorrow, with each note resonating deeply with listeners.

The iconic track “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), composed by Salim-Sulaiman, beautifully compares love to faith, its deep composition and soulful vocals by Roop Kumar Rathod had a lasting impact on its listeners.

However, in recent years, Bollywood music has witnessed a significant shift towards catering to the needs of short-form content creators, with viral hooks taking priority over depth and storytelling. The short, snappy format of these songs is tailor-made for the reel culture, where content needs to be “hookable” in seconds to capture attention before viewers scroll on.

Consequently, the focus has shifted to creating songs with infectious beats, memorable lines, and repeatable, easily consumable phrases that can accompany a quick, viral dance or funny skit. The rise of the 15-30 second “hook” has made it difficult for songs with long-form storytelling to thrive, as creators and audiences alike seek instant entertainment.

A prime example of this new trend is the song “Paani Paani” by Badshah and Aastha Gill (2021) and “Tauba Tauba” by Karan Aujla, featured in the film Bad Newz. The tracks became a viral sensation almost immediately due to their catchy, danceable beat and the short phrases perfect for Instagram Reels.

Another example is “Besharam Rang” from Pathaan (2023), which became a trending reel song thanks to its beat-driven composition and quick, catchy lines like “Jhoome Jo Pathaan.” While the song still has a cinematic and emotional build-up, its viral success was driven primarily by its shareable, instantly catchy hook.

Even “Kaati Raat Maine Kheto Mein” from Stree 2, released in 2024, included a hooky phrase that repeated through the track, making it easier for creators to pair with content. The new “hookable” tracks are simplified, with repetitive, catchy phrases that can be looped over and over to create a sense of familiarity, even if the song itself lacks the emotional depth of earlier tracks.

This shift has reshaped how composers and lyricists approach Bollywood music. Instead of investing in elaborate compositions that span across multiple tempos and sections, there is an increasing push towards crafting music that’s specifically engineered for easy integration into social media trends.

The focus now is more on accessibility and virality, as songs need to be easily recognisable and fit neatly into 15-30 second snippets, encouraging users to quickly latch onto a trend.

The most crucial question raised by this shift is whether the rise of viral, short-form music trends will push out the long-lasting melodies that once defined Bollywood music. With the focus on instant appeal, there is concern that the soul-stirring compositions that are deeply ingrained in Bollywood’s cultural fabric may give way to more fleeting, hook-driven songs.