Updated October 2026: this article has been expanded into a ranked guide to the defining Bollywood songs of 2013, with film, composer, singers and lyricist for each. Gaurav Aradhye's original 2013 article, written as the year ended, is preserved in full further down the page.
The defining Bollywood song of 2013 is Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2, composed and written by Mithoon and sung by Arijit Singh. It won Arijit the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer, and Aashiqui 2 won Best Music Director for its three composers, Mithoon, Jeet Gannguli and Ankit Tiwari. Around it sat an unusually strong year: Pritam's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, A. R. Rahman's Raanjhanaa, Amit Trivedi's Kai Po Che! and Lootera, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Sanjay Leela Bhansali composing his own Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.
Every film below was released in India in 2013. Songs that already have a video in the original article further down (Tum Hi Ho, Kabira, Manjha, Laal Ishq, Titli, Gulabi and others) are not embedded twice.
The 10 Songs That Defined 2013
This ranking weighs how big each song was at the time, how well it has lasted and what the year's awards said about it.
- Tum Hi Ho (Aashiqui 2, 2013): music and lyrics by Mithoon, sung by Arijit Singh. A piano-led ballad that turned Arijit from a promising name into the default voice of Hindi film romance. Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer.
- Badtameez Dil (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013): composed by Pritam, sung by Benny Dayal and Shefali Alvares, lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. A fast, wordy party song that Ranbir Kapoor made his own on screen.
Badtameez Dil | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Pritam | Benny Dayal - Sunn Raha Hai (Aashiqui 2, 2013): composed and sung by Ankit Tiwari, lyrics by Sandeep Nath, with a separate female version by Shreya Ghoshal. Both versions were nominated at the Filmfare Awards for playback.
Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu | Aashiqui 2 | Ankit Tiwari - Kabira (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013): composed by Pritam, sung by Rekha Bhardwaj and Tochi Raina, lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, with an Encore version by Arijit Singh and Harshdeep Kaur. The film's emotional centre, nominated for Best Lyricist.
- Tum Tak (Raanjhanaa, 2013): composed by A. R. Rahman, sung by Javed Ali, Pooja Vaidyanath and Keerthi Sagathia, lyrics by Irshad Kamil. One of the album's two singles, with a devotional lift that suits a story set in Varanasi.
Tum Tak | Raanjhanaa | A. R. Rahman | Javed Ali - Sawaar Loon (Lootera, 2013): composed by Amit Trivedi, sung by Monali Thakur, lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Director Vikramaditya Motwane cited Piya Tose Naina Laage Re from Guide as a reference, and the song won Monali Thakur the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Sawaar Loon | Lootera | Amit Trivedi | Monali Thakur - Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 2013): composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, sung by Siddharth Mahadevan, lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. A rock anthem about refusing to give up, which won Prasoon Joshi the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist; Siddharth Mahadevan received the R. D. Burman Award the same night.
Zinda | Bhaag Milkha Bhaag | Siddharth Mahadevan - Manjha (Kai Po Che!, 2013): composed by Amit Trivedi, sung by Amit Trivedi and Mohan Kannan, lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. Named after kite string, a song about youthful ambition, nominated for both Best Male Playback Singer and Best Lyricist.
- Balam Pichkari (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013): composed by Pritam, sung by Vishal Dadlani and Shalmali Kholgade, lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Made for the film's Holi scene and now a fixture of Holi playlists.
Balam Pichkari | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Pritam - Lungi Dance (Chennai Express, 2013): written and performed by Yo Yo Honey Singh as a tribute to Rajinikanth, released as a single in July 2013. Pure fun, from the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
Lungi Dance | Chennai Express | Yo Yo Honey Singh
Aashiqui 2 and the Arrival of Arijit Singh
Aashiqui 2 opened on 26 April 2013 and its soundtrack, released by T-Series earlier that month, became the year's reference point for romantic film music. It was unusual in having three composers. Mithoon composed Tum Hi Ho and Meri Aashiqui; Ankit Tiwari composed Sunn Raha Hai; Jeet Gannguli composed most of the rest, with lyrics mainly by Irshad Kamil. Arijit Singh sings on six of the album's songs, which is why 2013 is usually treated as the year he became Bollywood's leading male voice. Our original Aashiqui 2 music review covers the album track by track.
- Chahun Main Ya Naa (Aashiqui 2, 2013): composed by Jeet Gannguli, sung by Arijit Singh and Palak Muchhal, lyrics by Irshad Kamil. The album's main duet, soft and conversational where Tum Hi Ho is heavy.
Chahun Main Ya Naa | Aashiqui 2 | Arijit Singh, Palak Muchhal
Pritam's Year: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Dhoom 3
Pritam scored two of the year's biggest hits. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (released 31 May) gave him Badtameez Dil, Balam Pichkari and Kabira, plus a song that became Arijit Singh's other signature of 2013. Dhoom 3 (released 20 December) was the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2013 and closed the year with a lavish showpiece. For more on Pritam's long partnership with Arijit, see the magical duo of Arijit and Pritam.
- Ilahi (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2013): composed by Pritam, sung by Arijit Singh, lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. A travel song about restlessness and freedom, with a reprise by Mohit Chauhan.
Ilahi | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Arijit Singh - Malang (Dhoom 3, 2013): composed by Pritam, sung by Siddharth Mahadevan and Shilpa Rao with Mauzzam, Rizwan and Shadaab Faridi, lyrics by Sameer Anjaan. A big production number with qawwali-style vocals.
Malang | Dhoom 3 | Siddharth Mahadevan, Shilpa Rao
Rahman, Bhansali and the Big Soundtracks
A. R. Rahman's Raanjhanaa reached number one on the iTunes India albums chart soon after release. Beyond Tum Tak, it holds Banarasiya (Shreya Ghoshal with Anwesha Datta Gupta and Meenal Jain), Piya Milenge (Sukhwinder Singh, based on Raag Jog) and Tu Mun Shudi (Rahman with Rabbi Shergill). Sanjay Leela Bhansali composed Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela himself, with lyrics mostly by Siddharth-Garima, and gave it a strong Gujarati folk colour, down to including the traditional folk song Mor Bani Thanghat Kare. Our piece on Sanjay Leela Bhansali as a music director looks at that side of his career.
- Nagada Sang Dhol (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, 2013): composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Osman Mir, lyrics by Siddharth-Garima. A garba built on massed drums, nominated for Best Female Playback Singer.
Nagada Sang Dhol | Ram-Leela | Shreya Ghoshal, Osman Mir
Amit Trivedi and Sachin-Jigar: The Other Sound of 2013
Away from the blockbusters, two composers had especially good years. Amit Trivedi opened 2013 with Kai Po Che! (Manjha, Meethi Boliyaan, Shubhaarambh) and followed it with Lootera, for which he used a live orchestra to recreate the feel of 1950s Hindi film music, to match a story set in 1953. Lootera was nominated for Best Music Director at the Filmfare Awards, and Shikayatein was nominated for Best Lyricist.
Sachin-Jigar scored ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (Bezubaan), Issaq and Shuddh Desi Romance, whose Gulabi and Tere Mere Beech Mein are among the brightest pop songs of the year, with lyrics by Jaideep Sahni. Our Shuddh Desi Romance music review covers that album in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular Bollywood song of 2013?
Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2, sung by Arijit Singh and composed by Mithoon. It won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and remains the song most closely tied to that year.
Which film won the Filmfare Award for Best Music for 2013?
Aashiqui 2, credited to Ankit Tiwari, Mithoon and Jeet Gannguli, at the 59th Filmfare Awards in January 2014. The other nominees were Lootera, Raanjhanaa, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Chennai Express.
Who won best female singer for 2013 songs?
Monali Thakur won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Sawaar Loon from Lootera.
Which 2013 Bollywood songs are best for a party?
Badtameez Dil, Balam Pichkari, Lungi Dance, Nagada Sang Dhol and Malang are the safest picks, with Lat Lag Gayee from Race 2 as a strong extra.
Our Original Article (2013)
Gaurav Aradhye wrote this article in December 2013. It is preserved below as originally published.
Just as the year 2013 ends, looking at my playlist, and the most played songs’ list in it, I realize it has been a fantastic year for bollywood music right from the start but not quite great at the end.
Just when I was making this list of some very best songs of 2013, I went into past, couldn’t fathom how quickly this year ended, but at the same time, cherished all the beautiful moments it gave me, and the rough patches I went through. These songs, each of them can take you through beautiful memory lane! If you want to take a slowish glance at the ending year, this is the best way to remember your year!
The following list is not sorted in any form, it’s just a compiled list of all the songs I could fit into the “Best of 2013” category! Okay then, here you go!
1) Lat Lag Gayi (Race 2) – Benny, Shalmali
This song again proved that Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade are one of the most amazing pairs in bollywood playback singing. I am sure you must have played this song in loop. May be it is the journey to office in bus, or the first song you play in morning, or the last song you keep on playing in bed, this was the song for cheering up your mood any time!
Lat Lag Gayee Full Video | Race 2 | Saif Ali khan and Jacqueline fernandez |2) Teri zhuki najar (Murder 3) – Shafqat Amanat Ali
Romance redefined! Shafqat’s voice and the slow guitar with amazing lyrics. Period.
Pritam - Teri Jhuki Nazar Full Video|Murder 3|Randeep Hooda|Aditi Rao|Shafqat Amanat Ali3) Tum hi ho (Aashiqui) – Arijit Singh
Although we have been listening to Arijit Singh for quite a while now, (He was the one who sang “Dua” from Shanghai), but this was the song that gave Arijit a new “Pehchaan” in the industry! Long live Arijit!
"Tum Hi Ho Aashiqui 2" Full Video Song HD | Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor | Music - MithoonAnd yes, almost all the songs of Aashiqui. They were outstanding. Great efforts from Mithoon, Jeet Ganguly and Ankit Tiwari!
4) Kabira (YJHD) – Rekha Bharadwaj, Tochi Raina
Beautiful song with Tochi and Rekha totally nailing it. This song has another version of Sunidhi and Arijit and I love it too!
"Kabira Full Song" Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika PadukoneAnd how can I leave other songs of YJHD, each and every song was perfect. Take a bow Pritam!
5) Ambersariya (Fukrey) – Sona Mohapatra
He composes and she sings. In my opinion, this was one of the best songs to play on guitar! And very difficult too. Sona Mohapatra’s free voice taking melodious turns and pauses perfectly make it capable of melting your heart. You just can’t stop your feet from tapping and singing along with her!
"Ambarsariya Fukrey" Song By Sona Mohapatra | Pulkit Samrat, Priya AnandFukrey was another great album of 2013. Fukrey title song and “Rabba” were other two superb songs from this album!
6) Lootera album – Amit Trivedi
Yes the whole album is fabulous. If you haven’t heard all the songs yet, then do it before the rise of 2014! And if you haven’t listened to this unplugged version of manmarziyaan, then pliss to!
Zinda Full Video | Lootera | Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha | Amit Trivedi | Amitabh Bhattacharya7) Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
I would say two songs from this album totally rocked.. one is the rock version of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and the other one is O rangrez.
You have heard the film version of O Rangrez, but look what did I find! A different version of the song…
O Rangrez Full Video - Bhaag Milkha Bhaag|Farhan, Sonam|Shreya Ghoshal, Javed Bashir8) Jeene Laga Hu (Ramaiyya Vastavaiyya) – Atif, Shreya
This one from Ramaiyya Vastavaiyya was a pleasant hear!
Jeene Laga Hoon Song Video | Ramaiya Vastavaiya | Girish Kumar & Shruti Haasan | Atif & Shreya9) Alvida (D day) – Nikhil D’souza, Loy, Sukhwinder, Shruti Hasan
Epic song! For me, it stands as a lyrical masterpiece! उम्र भर का साथ दे जाये जो, क्यूँ वोही प्यार हो.. क्यूँ ना मिट कर जो फनाह हो, वो भी प्यार हो ! And take note people, female singer is Shruti Hasan 🙂
Alvida D-Day Full Video Song | Arjun Rampal, Shruti Hassan, Rishi kapoor10) Issaq – Title song and “Jhini re jhini” – Again superb compositions by Sachin-Jigar.
Issaq Tera (Title Track) | Mohit Chauhan | Sachin-Jigar | Full HD
ISSAQ (2013) - Jheeni Re Jheeni (Lyrics) Video| Full song11) Titli (Chennai Express) – Chinmayee, Gopi Sunder
This goes down in the history as one of best of Chinmayee’s songs. The intermediate guitar pieces with Gopi’s alaps are amazing. A very different song in the album, fills up mind with peace.
Titli Chennai Express Full Video Song | Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone12) Gulabi (Shuddha Desi Romance) – JIgar Saraiyya and Priya Saraiyya
Brilliant track from Sachin – Jigar. They were on roll in 2013!
Gulabi | Full Song | Shuddh Desi Romance | Sushant Singh Rajput, Vaani Kapoor, Sachin-Jigar, Jaideep13) Manjha (Kai Po Che) – Amit Trivedi
Do I need to say anything? Ohh yes, how can I forget Meethi Boliyaan and Shubhaarambh ?
Manja Full Video - Kai Po Che|Sushant Singh Rajput,Rajkummar Rao,Amit Sadh|Mohan Kanan14) Saddi Gali Aaja and Mera Mann – Nautanki Saala
Saddi gali is one hell of a peppy song and Mera Mann fantastically rhythmic! Well done Aayushmaan!
"Sadi Gali Full Song" Nautanki Saala ★ Ayushmann Khurrana, Pooja Salvi
Mera Mann Kehne Laga Full Song with Lyrics | Nautanki Saala | Ayushmann Khurrana,Kunaal Roy Kapur15) Laal Ishq (Ram Leela) – Arijit Singh
This belongs to completely different world !
Laal Ishq (Video Song) | Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela | Ranveer Singh | Deepika Padukone16) Bezubaan (ABCD) – Mohit Chauhan, Priya Panchal Rap By: Tanvi Shah, Deane Sequeira
ABCD has many good songs but nothing can match this song. Again, the award goes to Sachin-Jigar!
Bezubaan - ABCD - Any Body Can Dance Official Full Song Video17) Raanjhana – the album
One album by Rahmaan and absolutely creates a musical storm. Each and every song is a gem and will be cherished forever. Title track, Tum tak, Banarasiya, Piya Milenge, Tu Mun Shudi, Nazar Laaye…. god, I am starting off the raanjhana playlist right now!
Raanjhanaa Hua Mai Tera (Video Song) | Raanjhanaa | Dhanush | Sonam KapoorI hope 2014 too brings the best out of Bollywood in terms of Music. I am already expecting some great stuff. I hope you have watched Highway’s trailer. Isn’t Rahman totally going to rock here too??? Tell me if you don’t keep humming “ooooo ooo ooo ooo ooo” after watching this trailer!
