Bollywood songs with their soul touching melodies and lyrics always bring with it a truckload of nostalgia and overwhelming feelings that no English song can muster to do for our Indian souls. And when these songs are as patriotic as Ay Mere Watan Ke Logon, sung by Lata Mangeshkar, which can even move strong personalities like our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to tears, then we know that we don't stand a chance.
Patriotism comes from the heart and is the highest form of respect you can show towards your country and what better way is to do it than through the medium of songs?
Thus this Independence Day while you are busy flying your kites, celebrating with your family or being a helping hand towards the general good of the society, don't forget to plug into these Patriotic Bollywood songs for all the feels and energy one requires on this special day!
1. Maa Tujhe Salaam (1997)
Album: Vande Mataram
Singer: A. R. Rahman
The song "Maa Tujhe Salaam" had a very strong and positive impact on the nationalistic and patriotic mood of the country. One of the most popular Indian songs of all times, it has 2 Guinness World Records in its name for being the song performed in the most number of languages and to A. R. Rahman for being the composer of the original song. It also got voted the 2nd most famous song in the world in 2002 by BBC World Service.
Image Source: Cosmolyrics
2. Vande Mataram (2019)
Movie: Romeo Akbar Walter
Singer: Sonu Nigam, Ekta Kapoor
Vande Mataram is a national identity for the people of India and was a constant source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. The beautiful poem composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870s has been sung over the years by great singers but this latest composition of the song by Sonu Nigam will definitely move you.
Image Source: ThehansIndia
3. Ye Jo Des Hai Tera (2004)
Movie: Swades
Singer: A. R. Rahman
Another melodious number by Honorable A. R. Rahman is Swades's Ye Jo Des Hai Tera is a universally acclaimed song for its background score and soundtrack and the lyrics by Mr. Javed AKhtar to date remain very popular. This cult classic Indian movie was truly ahead of its time in every aspect. 
Image Source: Scoopwhoop
4. Aisa Des Hai Mera (2004)
Movie: Veer-Zaara
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, Gurdas Maan, Preetha Mazumdar
You'll be lying if you don't admit that your school dance group performed on this song at least once in a morning assembly or on the occasion of a special National day! The beautiful lyrics by Mr. Javed AKhtar perfectly put into words the very description of our country so beautifully and in its purest form. 
Image Source: Youtube
5. Sandese Ate Hai (1997)
Movie: Border
Singer: Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod
How many times in our life have we actually stopped for 2 minutes to pay respect or to think about the brave soldiers of our country who spend their lives protecting us? This song which won many awards in the year it was released to this day remains the topmost songs to pay respect to our brave soldiers. 
Image Source: Youtube
6. Mera Rang De Basanti Chola (2002)
Movie: 23rd March 1931: Shaheed
Singer: Udit Narayan, Bhupinder Singh, Veer Rajinder
23rd March 1931: Shaheed was a movie on the life of the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and the events leading up to his and his companions hanging. The song Mera Rang De Basanti Chola is a powerful tribute to all those freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to give us our beautiful present. 
Image Source: Youtube
7. Hindustani (1999)
Movie: Dus
Singer: Udit Narayan, Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Dominique Cerejo
Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon, Buri Nazar Naa Humpe Dalo, Chahe Jitna Jor Laga Lo, Sabse Aage Honge Hindustani! Do we need to say more? The lyrics of the song are powerful enough to energize your patriotic soul and combined with an ever more powerful background score make it the patriotic song that needs to be on your playlist.
Image Source: Youtube
8. Ae Watan (2018)
Movie: Raazi
Singer: Arijit Singh
A song that won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and many more in 2018 was a heart-winning song that causes everyone to tears in the movie. This beautiful patriotic song which is composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and written by Gulzar is going to be stuck in the hearts and minds of generations to come. 
Image Source: Youtube
9. Teri Mitti (2019)
Movie: Kesari
Singer: B Praak, Arko, Arko
Arko's beautiful composition is soulfully sung by Punjabi ace music director B Praak, Teri Mitti is a song that won many awards in just a very small time after its release including the IIFA Award for Best Lyricist and Guild Award for Best Lyrics. The lyrics of this patriotic song will stay in your heart and soul for a long time. 
Image Source: 99lyricstore
10. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (1999)
Movie: Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Singer: Udit Narayan
The title track of the movie is a fun, light-hearted patriotic number that gets stuck in your mind for a long long time. Make sure you don't have an exam the next day otherwise the whole day your mind will be singing, "Hum Logon Ko Samajh Sako To Samjho Dilbar Jaani, Jitna Bhi Tum Samjhoge Utni Hogi Hairaani...Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani!!"
Image Source: Netflix
11. Rang De Basanti (2005)
Movie: Rang De Basanti
Singer: A. R. Rahman
A glorious and celebrated movie that became a movement, that is one of Bollywood's biggest masterpiece takes on patriotism in the most real and relatable sense in the 20th and 21st Century. While the whole album and each composition in it is a true marvel, we can't forget the title track Rang De Basanti for giving us the purest form of lyrics to ever exist, "Aye saala, abhi abhi huaa yaqeen, ki aag hai mujh mein kahi, hui subaah main chal gaya, suraj ko main nigal gaya, ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy!
Image Source: Discogs
12. India Waale (2014)
Movie: Happy New Year
Singer: KK, Neeti Mohan, Vishal Dadlani, Shankar Mahadevan
A fun light-hearted song of a proper Bollywood 'masala entertainer' movie, India Waale is a song you can happily dance and drink to while maintaining the patriotic vibe of the day. 
Image Source: Youtube
13. Chak De India (2007)
Movie: Chak De India
Singer: Sukhwinder Singh, Marianne D'Cruz, Salim Merchant
A beautiful album with songs like "Maula Mere lele Meri Jaan and Badal Pe Paon Hai', the songs of the movie Chak De India are as monumental as the movie. But the song that hits all the right cords is, of course, the title track which we don't shy away from playing each and every time India wins any sports match and so how can we miss this song from our playlist on Independence Day?
Image Source: Youtube
14. Des Rangila (2006)
Movie: Fanaa
Singer: Mahalakshmi Iyer
A dance number that praises our country as is very popular amongst classical and folk dancers, Des Rangila from the iconic movie Fanaa is a beautiful song. If you haven't heard this rare gem till now, this is the time to add it in your playlist and sway on the beautiful beats. 
Image Source: Youtube
15. Satyamev Jayate (2012)
TV Show: Satyamev Jayate
Singer: Ram Sampath, Keerthi Sagathia
A TV show hosted by Aamir Khan where he interacted with the general public of India and aimed to enlighten citizens about the social issues present in the country is a show that represented the true meaning of Patriotism in today's world. The theme song of the show is as enlightening and energetic as the show was. 
Image Source: Youtube
16. Bharat Humko Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai (1992)
Movie: Roja
Singer: Hariharan, A. R. Rahman
A soundtrack that has the power to move even the inanimate objects in a metaphorical sense is yet another brilliant number by none other than Mr. A. R. Rahman, Bharat Humko Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai. This masterpiece of a song has been there for generations and will continue to be for as long as we celebrate the Freedom and Love for this country. 
Image Source: Youtube
17. Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon (1963)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Coupled with Lata Mangeshkar's mellifluous voice were the powerful, hard-hitting words of Kavi Pradeep that had famously moved India's First Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to tears, Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon will always remain the legendary piece on the list of the most patriotic songs in the Indian Cinema History. 
Image Source: Youtube
18. Ae Mere Pyare Watan (1961)
Movie: Kabuliwala
Singer: Manna Dey
Moving back by decades in time, these songs are still as relevant as they were at that time. This emotional song has a soothing feel to it that will transcend you to a space of devotion and utmost love for your motherland. It is without a doubt one of the most patriotic songs. 
Image Source: Filmykeeday
19. Jai Ho (2008)
Movie: Slumdog Millionaire
Singer: A. R. Rahman, Sukhwinder Singh, Vijay Prakash, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Tanvi Shah
The pattern is pretty evident that it is none other than India's true gem A. R. Rahman who has given India most of its biggest masterpieces till now. And when it comes to A. R. Rahman, we cannot ever forget the song he won an Oscar for, Jai Ho! This patriotic song from the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire is a prestigious feather in the colorful hat of songs.
Image Source: Filmykeeday
20. Des Mere Des (2002)
Movie: The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Singer: Sukhwinder Singh
From music to lyrics to every beat of the composition, this song fits in this playlist for all the right reasons. This gem of a song from the patriotic drama movie, The Legend of Bhagat Singh has outlived its age and continues to do so. 
Image Source: Youtube
21. Shubh Din (2018)
Movie: Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
Singer: Keerthi Sagathia, Jyotica Tangri
A song of victory, celebration, and triumph that celebrates this country through its various historical achievements which in this case the very First Nuclear Testing done by India in Pokhran. With a Rajasthani dialect that fit the movie perfectly, the song is a unique patriotic composition. 
Image Source: Youtube
22. Jaaga Hindustan (2018)
Movie: Gold
Singer: Sachin–Jigar, Divya Kumar
Jaaga Hindustan from the movie Gold starring Akshay Kumar did not do well on the blockbuster music charts but this beautiful patriotic song that is mostly unheard by the majority of Indians deserves its accolade on this wall of fame i.e. the best Patriotic songs of Indian Cinema for all the right reasons. 
Image Source: Youtube
23. Aankhein Milayenge Darr Se (2016)
Movie: Neerja
Singer: Neha Bhasin, K. Mohan
An inspirational song that asks us to face our fears by looking it in the eyes and to never accept defeat is a beautiful composition of Vishal Khurana and Prasoon Joshi. From the biopic of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot, that's not just a movie but the true reflection of the current generation of this country, this song is a true gem. Another song, from the film Jeete Hain Chal, can also be added to your playlists. 
Image Source: Youtube
24. Salaam India (2014)
Movie: Mary Kom
Singer: Vishal Dadlani, Salim–Sulaiman
A song that perfectly speaks volumes about the hardworking sportspersons of this country who train hard despite all the obstacles in their life and bring glory to this country without any selfish reasons of their own and resonates them as the true heroes of this generation. This song will fill you with vigor and power. 
Image Source: Youtube
25. Tu Bhula Jise (2016)
Movie: Airlift
Singer: Amaal Mallik
A beautiful patriotic song dedicated to those people who work day and night to protect us is sung by KK and produced by Amaal Mallik and with lyrics by Kumaar. The visual of the movie when the Indian flag is finally hoisted and the song plays in the background will move you to tears as it invokes in you the feeling of triumph and love for your country.
Image Source: Youtube
Celebrate the 73rd Independence Day by updating your playlist and swaying to these Bollywood numbers that are bound to accentuate the feels of this very special day.
