Farewell is an occasion that brings up mixed emotion in people. A sad goodbye for people who have been with us on a journey and happiness for their future endeavors. From school to college and our professional lives, we have bid adieu to our friends, colleagues and loved ones. What better way to mark the occasion than a heartfelt song. Throughout the years, movies have given us emotional songs that just hit the right note when sung at a farewell. So, in this article, we have tried to pick some of the most memorable Hindi songs from Bollywood that will make any farewell party unforgettable.
So, here’s a list of top Bollywood farewell songs in Hindi
1. Chalte Chalte (चलते चलते, मेरे ये गीत याद रखना)
Movie: Chalte Chalte (चलते चलते) (1976)
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Music: Bappi Lahiri
Lyrics: Amit Khanna
Director: Sunder Dar
One of the staples of every school, and college farewell, this song is from 1976 Bollywood Thriller starring Vishal Anand and Simi Garewal. Praised for the music and soundtrack by Bappi Lahiri, especially the titular Chalte Chalte by Kishore Kumar.
2. Purani Jeans (पुराणी जीन्स)
Album: Sandesa (1993)
Singer: Ali Haider
Is any farewell truly complete without someone singing Purani Jeans? The answer is a resounding no!
3. Main Yaad Aaonga (मै याद आऊँगा)
Singer and Lyrics: Lagan – Pakistani Band
One of the most popular songs from the Pakistani Band, Lagan, this lyrical number perfectly encapsulates how we feel when a loved one says goodbye and moves on. Still a firm favorite of most school and college farewells, this is a worthy mention on every list of farewell songs in Hindi.
4. Toh Chaloon (तोह चलूँ)/Aye Jaate Hoye Lamho (ऐ जाते हुए लम्हों, ज़रा ठहरो, ज़रा ठहरो)
Movie: Border (1997)
Singer: Roop Kumar Rathod
Music: Anu Malik, Aadesh Shrivastava
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Director: J.P. Dutta
This 1997 film based on the Battle of Longewala during the Indo-Pak war (1971) is immensely popular due to its brilliant soundtrack instantly evoking a deep sense of patriotism and connection to one’s roots. Apart from Rathod’s Toh Chaloon, Sandeshe Aate Hain garnered national attention and praise.
5. Yaadein Yaad Aati Hai (यादें याद आती हैं)
Movie: Yaadein (2001)
Singer: Sunidhi Chauhan, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Hariharan
Music: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Director: Subhash Ghai
This 2001 Bollywood musical, inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, is particularly well known for its smash hit musical score, collecting more than 6 crores and becoming the 7th highest-selling record that year. other than Yaadein, Eli re Eli was an instant favorite of every Indian household post-release.
6. Aakhri Alvida (आखरी अलविदा)
Movie: Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007)
Singer: Strings
Music: Strings, Anand Raj Anand, Mika Singh, Biddu
Lyrics: Anwar Maqsood, Dev Kohli, Mika Singh, Sanjay Gupta, Biddu, Dr. Palash Sen, Virag Mishra,
Director: Apoorva Lakhia
This song was a rager back in 2007 and still holds up till date. Aakhri Alvida has a calming effect on an otherwise action biographical movie based on the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout that took place between the gangsters and police in Mumbai.
7. Pyar Ke Pal (प्यार के पल)
Album: Pal (1999)
Singer: KK
Music: Leslie Lewis
Lyrics: Mehboob
The soothing voice behind Yaaron, Ajab Si, Alvida, O Meri Jaan, KK has had some amazing songs over the years none more melodious than Pyaar Ke Pal. Lesie Lewis’ music combined with Mehboob’s lyrics take KK’s voice to a whole new level instantly taking you down the memory lane of those good old days.
8. Alvida (अलविदा)
Movie: Life in a…Metro (2007)
Singer: KK
Music: Songs: Pritam
Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri
Director: Anurag Basu
Boasting a star-studded cast with likes of Kay Kay Menon, Shilpa Shetty, Irrfan Khan, Sharman Joshi, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Kangana Ranaut, this movie dealt with issues like fidelity in relationships, love, and extra-marital affairs. The movie gave the audiences a lot of memorable songs in Alvida, Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si, In Dino, and O Meri Jaan.
9. Papa Kehte Hain (पापा कहते हैं)
Movie: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
Singer: Udit Narayan
Music: Anand-Milind
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Director: Mansoor Khan
The film won 8 out of 11 nominations in the Filmfare Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Debut (male) for Aamir Khan and Best Debut (Female) for Juhi Chawla. Considered as the trendsetter for the Bollywood Musical genre, the soundtrack became one of the all-time best sellers ever, with perennial hits like Papa Kehte Hain.
10. Rahen Na Rahen Hum (रहें ना रहें हम महका करेंगे बन के कली)
Movie: Mamta(1966)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Roshan
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Director: Asit Sen
A remake of the director, Asit Sen’s Bengali feature film Uttar Falguni, this movie as the name suggests revolves around the ideas of motherly love and motherhood. The lead is played by Suchitra Sen who stars in double roles as she did in Uttar Falguni. The movie did well at the Indian Box Office but had unprecedented B.O. success in the Soviet Union. The movie was particularly well-received because of the music, especially Rahen Na Rahen Hum and Chuppa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera which was a duet with Hemant Kumar.
11. Naam Goom Jayega (नाम गुम जायेगा)
Movie: Kinara (1977)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupendra
Music: RD Burman
Director: Gulzar
Gulzar, RD Burman, and Lata Mangeshkar, need I say more? Starring Hema Malini and Dharmendra and Jeetendra, this movie did well at the box office and was praised by critics as well. The movie is well known for its evergreen songs like Naam Goom Jayega, Abke Na Sawan Barse, and Meethe Bol Bole.
12. Yaariyaan (यारियां)
Movie: Cocktail (2012)
Singer: Mohan Kanan and Shilpa Rao
Music: Pritam
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Director: Homi Adajania
This romantic comedic movie starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty, was a huge success at the domestic and the overseas box office. The film’s soundtrack had 3 chartbusters in Tumhi Ho Bandhu, Daaru Desi, and Second Hand Jawaani. Yaariyaan features Irshad Kamil as the lyricist and benefits from the mellifluous vocals of Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh.
13. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana (जिंदगी एक सफ़र है सुहाना यहा कल क्या हो)
Movie: Andaz (1971)
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Music: Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Director: Ramesh Sippy
This is perhaps one of the most sung farewell songs ever. Filled with an unprecedented level of nonchalance and optimism, the song teaches everyone the virtue of living each day like it’s your last because nobody knows what lies ahead, nobody knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. This farewell song also doubles up as a life lesson to those who need it.
14. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (कभी अलविदा ना कहना)
Movie: Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006)
Singer: Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Director: Karan Johar
Every generation has its own rendition of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. This one in particular lives up to the lofty standards set by its predecessor. This song which is also the namesake of the Karan Johar movie is beautifully composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and the vocals of Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik give it the extra dimension that takes the song to whole new emotional spectrum.
15. Oh Janewale Ho Sake Toh Laut Ke Aana (ओ जानेवाले, हो सके तो लौट के आना)
Movie: Bandini (1963)
Singer: Mukesh
Music: Sachin Dev Burman
Lyrics: Shailendra, Gulzar
Director: Bimal Roy
Set in Bengal, during the British rule, this movie is the final feature film of the award-winning filmmaker Bimal Roy and also considered to be one among his finest. The female-centric movie, thrives through a brilliant portrayal of an imprisoned village girl, played beautifully by Nutan. Nutan’s performance won her the 1964 Filmfare Best Actress Award, while Roy collected the Best Director award and the movie itself won the Best Movie award. Bandini also won the 1963 National Film Award for the best feature film in Hindi. The songs are hauntingly beautiful, with Mukesh’s ‘O Janewale Ho Sake Toh Laut Ke Aana‘, winning hearts.
