The Playlist Zone: ਮੂਸtape

Back in 2017, I found myself in a strange new country, trying to learn a strange new language, if I were to survive there. It was also when I discovered Sidhu Moose Wala's music, stumbling upon "So High" on YouTube. His music was the sounds of home away from home, on beats from a genre I had come to love as a young adult, in melodies from a genre I had loved as a kid but had grown distant to over the years. The way he brought these disparate genres together rekindled my love for Punjabi music and his penmanship gave me new appreciation for the Punjabi language, a language that was but wasn't my mother tongue.

"ਮੁੱਕ ’ਨੇ ਦੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਵੀਂ ਮੈਂ rest in power ’ਆਂ"

Rest in power, legend. Thank you.

The Playlist Zone: BOLLYWOOD: THROUGH THE AGES

2019 saw me finally give in and build the massive playlist I've been taking about doing since forever. One song per year, 1947 to present, to capture the evolution of Bollywood music.



There is some obvious bias here and there are obviously some rules to it. I'm not going to bother you with either. However, I've realised music on these streaming services is... temporary, for the lack of a better word. So, the following is a complete listing of the tracks in the playlist. I've tried to include video links for each song also, since I think it's interesting to see how our use of music in our films has changed through the years. (Yes, I do realise the temporary nature of these video hosting sites as well.)

Song	Film	Year
Hum Ko Tumhara Hi Aasra	Sajan	1947
Gaaye Ja Geet Milan Ke	Mela	1948
Saajan Ki Galiyan Chhod Chale	Bazaar	1949
Ae Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal	Arzoo	1950
Awara Hoon	Awaara	1951
Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni	Jaal	1952
Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai	Anarkali	1953
Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar	Aar Paar	1954
Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua	Shree 420	1955
Leke Pahla Pahla Pyar	C.I.D.	1956
Uden Jab Jab Zulfen Teri	Naya Daur	1957
Hai Apna Dil To Aawara	Solva Saal	1958
Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka	Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi	1959
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kiya	Mughal-E-Azam	1960
Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar	Hum Dono	1961
Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha	Anpadh	1962
Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega	Taj Mahal	1963
Taarif Karoon Kya Uski	Kashmir Ki Kali	1964
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai	Guide	1965
O Haseena Zulfonwale Jane Jahan	Teesri Manzil	1966
Tum Agar Saath Dena Ka Vada Karo	Hamraaz	1967
Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche	Brahmachari	1968
Mere Sapnon Ki Rani	Aradhana	1969
Rangeela Re	Prem Pujari	1970
Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai	Kati Patang	1971
Inhin Logon Ne	Pakeezah	1972
Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko	Yaadon Ki Baaraat	1973
Jai Jai Shiv Shankar	Aap Ki Kasam	1974
Tere Bina Zindagi Se	Aandhi	1975
Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein	Kabhie Kabhie	1976
Bachna Ae Hasinon Lo Main Aa Gaya	Hum Kisise Kum Naheen	1977
Salame Ishq Meri Jaan	Muqaddar Ka Sikandar	1978
Ho Pardesia	Mr Natwarlal	1979
Dard-E-Dil Dard-E-Jigar	Karz	1980
In Ankhon Ki Masti	Umrao Jaan	1981
Dilbar Mere	Satte Pe Satta	1982
Nainon Men Sapna	Himmatwala	1983
Intaha Ho Gai Intezar Ki	Sharaabi	1984
Saagar Jaisi Aankhonwali	Saagar	1985
Mera Kuchh Samaan	Ijaazat	1986
Kate Nahin Kat Te	Mr. India	1987
Gazab Ka Hai Din	Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak	1988
Dil Deewana	Maine Pyar Kiya	1989
Mujhe Neend Na Aaye	Dil	1990
Dekha Hai Pehli Baar	Saajan	1991
Yeh Haseen Vadiyan Yeh Khula Aasman	Roja	1992
Choli Ke Peeche	Khal Nayak	1993
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha	1942 A Love Story	1994
Tujhe Dekha To	Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge	1995
Chappa Chappa	Maachis	1996
Are Re Are	Dil To Pagal Hai	1997
Chaiyya Chaiyya	Dil Se	1998
Taal Se Taal	Taal	1999
Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain Dil Se	Dhadkan	2000
Radha Kaise Na Jale	Lagaan	2001
Aye Udi Udi Udi	Saathiya	2002
Jadu Hai Nasha Hai	Jism	2003
Kabhi Neem Neem	Yuva	2004
Kajra Re	Bunty Aur Babli	2005
Luka Chuppi	Rang De Basanti	2006
Maula Mere Maula	Anwar	2007
Pehli Nazar Mein	Race	2008
Dhan Te Nan	Kaminey	2009
Dil To Bachcha Hai	Ishqiya	2010
Kun Faya Kun	Rockstar	2011
Taar Bijli	Gangs of Wasseypur	2012
Kabira	Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani	2013
Muskurane	Citylights	2014
Ka Kha Gha	Bombay Velvet	2015
Channa Mereya	Ae Dil Hai Mushkil	2016
Baarish	Half Girlfriend	2017
Aaj Se Teri	Padman	2018
Azadi	Gully Boy	2019
Mehrama	Love Aaj Kal	2020
Kabhii Tumhhe	Shershaah	2021

The Playlist Zone: HIP HOP FAMILY TREE

Volume 1: 1970s-1981


Volume 2: 1981-1983


Volume 3: 1981-1984


Volume 4: 1984-1985

The Playlist Zone: PHONOGRAM

Phonogram by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie has a simple premise: what if music was magic, literally.

It is sort of a reader ritual, I suppose, that anybody who reads Phonogram makes playlists for the books. I'm no different. Here's my contribution...


Volume 1: Rue Britannia





Volume 2: The Singles Club





Volume 3: The Immaterial Girl

These playlists are as complete as possible. Every artist ever mentioned between the pages of the books is on these playlists.

Yes, even Kula Shaker.

Unfortunately, some artists like Kenickie have not made their music available on Spotify so the playlists on your device may have some gaps. I would advise adding the songs in your Local Files and then arranging them manually in the playlists.

The Playlist Zone: ANANSI BOYS

For readers of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Anansi Boys automatically becomes the next recommendation. It's also about old gods, dysfunctional families, forgotten magic, but also, music.

I did this exercise with American Gods, and it sort of involuntarily moved on with Anansi Boys, too.



PS: I should mention that Anansi Boys is not a sequel or prequel to American Gods. We learn more about one of the characters from American Gods in Anansi Boys and that's pretty much it. You do not need to read American Gods before Anansi Boys, or vice versa.

The Playlist Zone: AMERICAN GODS

While reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods last year, I kept a list of the songs mentioned in the book, purely for my own amusement. I made a Spotify playlist sometime later and totally forgot about it. Now that they are finally adapting the book into a TV series, this seems to be a good time to revisit the playlist, and the book.