India, the great democracy (?) celebrates its 64th Independence day with great pride amidst not so optimistic environment of corruption, terrorism, inflation & fluctuating stock markets. Here, I present some of the best videos reflecting the pessimism & optimisms of the country and its residents through Bollywood. We have survived many things and I am sure the future of country will surely will be as vivid and colorful as this country itself. The great indian middle class, this is for you !!!
1. Brimful of Asha
Let’s start with the hope. Asha in this song also means hope. Asha Bhosle one of the most versatile singer also reflects the hope of audience who have been listening to her from last 6 decades. “Brimful of Asha” is a 1997 single by the British alternative rock band Cornershop, which originally reached number 60 in the UK Singles Chart in 1997. A remix by Fatboy Slim became a hit in 1998 on the US and UK charts, reaching #1 in the UK. The original hit #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The lyrics are a tribute to Asha Bhosle, one of the most famous pop singers/film-score vocalists of India.
2. All Izz Well
Why we Indian, even with all our problems keep smiling and give that infamous Indian head nod in agreement. Because, Chachu somewhere in our heart we think “All is well” and it’s our survival tactics.
3. Inflation & Mahengayi Daayan
Bloody hell, the inflation is eating us at one end and at the other end our obese food ministry let’s the food rot in the godowns. We sentimental Indians complain about it and what else could be better than the raw, weak but talented voice of Raghuvir Yadav, the villager from Peepli [Live]
4. The Slumdog Paper Planes
The world might see this part of the world as nation full of Slumdogs, but even slumdogs have got hopes and they fly their paper planes high !!!. If you didn’t like how India was portrayed in this movie, don’t get agitated – get involved. Do something, just do it.
5. Indians Pray B’cos They Are Guide Less
Why do we believe in God, God men & Politians ?. Cos we are country of enormous population and the person next to us seems as helpless as we are. We are looking for Neo to help us in this confusing Matrix of more than 1 billion people, we are looking for “the one”
6. Gandhigiri Re-invented
Gandhigiri is not outdated and the corruption is also not new. And hatred is so easy. But the question is ? would the politicians of this country change their corrupt ways, if 1 Billion people stamped “Get Well Soon Mamu” instead of voting on the ballet paper. Sorry there’s is no easy “Jaago Re“.
7. Where Are You ?
Where are the people who are proud of this country ? We asked this question in 1957 movie Pyaasa and this question still keeps coming back to us again and again. Actually it has never left us. Sad but true.
8. The Junglee Indian
Even with all our problems, we survive b’cos in between we go mad to take a break from chaos. Here’s the original junglee the great Shammi Kapoor. Youtube – “Shammi`s image of the young, rebellious, carefree man can be attributed to this famous song Yahoo!? sung by Rafi. With Junglee, Shammi gifted the Hindi film screen dictionary with a new word of exultation: Yahoo! Charged by the word and the accompanying Shankar Jaikishen-composed song, Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe, Shammi gleefully tumbled down snow-covered hills while shooting this number”.
9. The Great Indian Jugaad (Chalti Ki Naam Gaadi)
The “good enough” technology was invented in India. Anything works in India as long as it can do “something”
10. What’s Your Future, Kid ?
Hope the future of this nation’s kid doesn’t hold boot polish. Child labour & sweat shops is not something we are proud of. This great song from movie Boot Polish reflects the positivity & twinkle in the eye of those underprivileged kids
11. Nothing Changes, However Jaago We Are
The politicians come and go, the voting season changes every 5 years but there’s no change in the fate of a common man.
12. The New Indian INR
This is dedicated to corrupt Indian politicians for whom there is nothing bigger than rupaiyya.
13. Mother India
For most of the Mothers in India, nothing much has changed over the years. Literacy, Liberation, Independence & Basic Human Rights is still not the part of the “Basic Jeevan” (life)
14. Indian Junta a.k.a Murgas
Every five years the politicians make us murgas and tell us we must lay our eggs (vote) for them to hatch and its for our own good. Chutiya banate hai saale.
15. A revolutionary in a Bikini
Zeenat Aman is the revolutionary of the third world, if Hugh Hefner is the revolutionary for freedom of media and speech in the first world. In the following scene Danny represents the rest of pervert and double standard Indians 
16. Pocket Mein Rocket Hai
Indian youth, however harassed by his/her parents, teachers, leaders, politicians, bosses and so on, still thinks he holds the key to his future. a.k.a “Pocket Me Rocket”
17. Gabbar Lives In Delhi
In the original movie Sholay, Gabbar dies but in reality Gabbar shifted to Delhi from Ramgarh and asks this question every now and then to his chamchas and plans his vote bank strategy. The question is ‘Kitney voter hai”
18. The Ghajini Nation
We Indians can be easily fooled cause we are the nations of Ghajinis. So next 26/11 when you remember the terrorist attacks, don’t treat it as anniversary celebrations – question the leaders of this nation and ask them what you have done about it. Justice delayed is justice denied, Ok. But Justice not demanded is the justice which is never delivered.
19 Jai Jawaan
When we breathe today on this 15th august lets thank our forces of security personnel, police and soldiers.
20. The Girl Child
This song from “Kabhie Kabhie” is so beautiful and so vividly celebrates the birth of a girl child. Why the nation which looked so progressive in 70’s has moon walked backwards ?
21. Love, Sex & Dhokha
The dumbed down generation and the story of love, sex and dhokha. B****job is your choice, recording it is again your choice but remember voyeurism is national past-time.
22. The Emotional Atyachaar
Dedicated to the Dumbed down and Sensationalist Indian Media. Stop the Emotional Atyaachar
23. Singhs Are Kings
Dedicated to my Sikh friends, a so called minority which protects the so called majority. They don’t just power our military & security forces but they also power all the Indian celebrations. This is to bhangra and bravery for the SINGHs.
24. The Indian Middle Class
The world is oot-patanga (topsy turvy) and we don’t know where’s the haath (hands) and the taanga (legs) but somehow Mr. & Mrs. Khosla (the indian middle class) keeps their dream alive of owning a 2BHK flat or a 10×10 plot. Not because they will live their or as the mating den, because they want to own a shelter where they will die in peace & piece.
25. Prem Chopra All Around Us
With so much of corruption & so many bastards all around us, Preem Chopra the most hated bollywood villain of all time sounds pious & innocent
26. The Last Action Hero
Amitabh Bachchan the last action hero represented the frustration of many generation. Late 90s he lost his way, got in and out of politics, now we don’t know who is truly aligned too and see him selling groceries, medicines and what not. There’s no one who now fights for Indian middle class, they all have become skin-whitening-cream-sellers.
27. CrowdSourcing Was Invented In India
We invented zero and also the crowdsourcing was invented in India. How else is it possible to survive the daily grind, we don’t help each other and pass the buck 
28. The Global Indian
The IT force, nobel laureates, mega business honchos and the world entertainers. We are the Global Indians. Long before the world heard Jai Ho, the genius was already inspirational and hypnotizing
29. The Indian Idol, The Next Khan
The world might see a rift between Hindus & Muslims in India but the the heart of this country of 1B+ people with hindu majority, is ruled by all muslim khans. The next khan or the Indian Idol may be (not so surprisingly) be from a small town, again a muslim, again a khan but with no tag of religion, he would represent the true essence of India – Unity with Diversity.
30. Happy Feets (& Heart & Faces)
There will be many difficulties in our lives but keep singing the happy tunes. And Amol Palekar we all want too see normal human beings like you back in our media, in our businesses and in our politics.
Keep coming for more and leave your comments to tell me how you felt about this slightly optimistic and heavily pessimistic effort of mine.
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