Best Bollywood Songs of all time

Baharon Phool Barsao from the 1966 film Suraj has been voted the best Bollywood song ever by BBC Asian Network.

The song came top out of a longlist of 100, with the Top 20 being announced by Tommy Sandhu today (May 27).

Vyjayanthimala, who starred in Suraj, said: ‘It’s wonderful to see Baharon Phool Barsao being crowned the top Bollywood song of all time by BBC Asian Network listeners.

‘Bollywood is such an important industry and there are some truly wonderful songs out there. I’m sure it was a hotly contested competition.’

The track beat Awaara Hoon and Tujhe Dekha To to the top spot.

Neila Butt, editor of music and live events at BBC Asian Network, said: ‘Bollywood is huge. It is an all-encompassing, massively popular topic for our listeners.

‘For the past month, the Asian Network has been celebrating all things Bollywood. And what better way to continue the celebration than counting down the Top 100 Bollywood songs.’

BBC Asian Network presenter Noreen Khan added: ‘Bollywood has a global following and reaches billions.

‘Audiences flock to the cinema to watch a movie at times just because of one song they’ve heard! A big part of its success and appeal is the music – the songs and music are the soul of the movie.’

The longlist was selected by presenters and producers, with the top 20 as voted for by listeners being as follows:

1. ‘Baharon Phool Barsao’ – Suraj
2. ‘Awaara Hoon’ – Awaara
3. ‘Tujhe Dekha To’ – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
4. ‘Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh’ – Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai
5. ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’ – Kabhi Kabhie
6. ‘Tere Liye’ – Veer-Zaara
7. ‘Yeh Dosti’ – Sholay
8. ‘Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya’ – Mughal-e-Azam
9. ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ – Dil Se..
10. ‘Chalte Chalte’ – Pakeezah
11. ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ – Kal Ho Naa Ho
12. ‘Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna’ – Guide
13. ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
14. ‘Mauja Hi Mauja’ – Jab We Met
15. ‘Ae Mere Humsafar’ – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
16. ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho’ – Chaudhvin Ka Chand
17. ‘Aaja Sanam’ – Chori Chori
18. ‘Pehla Nasha’ – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar