Come again?: Bolly Sound-Alike Songs ...

Remember back in 1991 when "Jhumma Chumma" and "Tamma Tamma" both came out at the same time, and everyone was scratching their heads and saying "Gosh, those songs sound exactly alike!"?

Then word got out that both Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Bappi Lahiri had simultaneously copied their songs from Guinean artiste Mory Kante's hit song "Tama" (this song is seriously SO made of win - you must watch it). Both were busy accusing each other of copying, hilariously, but it ended up not mattering much as both songs became super hits.

I bring this up because lately I've been thinking about songs that sound alike ... and by that I don't mean Hindi songs that were copied from American/African/Chinese/Arabic/etc. songs because we'd pretty much be talking about the entire database of filmi music, but I mean two Hindi songs that sound eerily similar.

It could either be because they are in the same 'raaga' (melodic phrase) or a similar baseline, chord progression or rhythm. It happens pretty often in Bollywood and I thought I'd share some of the ones I thought of and see whether you folks could help me identify some more (particularly with older or newer songs, since my area of expertise is pretty much the 80s and 90s). Some of these combinations may seem strange, but I assure you if you listen to both songs you will see what I'm talking about.

To begin with - there are the obvious ones. Songs that are copied from something, such as:

Jhumma Chumma - Hum (1991) vs. Tamma Tamma Loge - Thanedaar (1991)

 

Na Hai Zameen - Khel (1992) vs. Neendh Churayi Meri - Ishq (1997)

 

 

Don't Break My Heart - Mohabbat (1997)  vs. Chad Zid Karna - Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)

And then there are the less obvious, more strange and familiar ones. When you hear a song and you're like "What does that sound like???" ... this happens to me a lot and it's terribly distracting until you figure it out.

Here are a few that I came up with:

Pyar Karnewale - Shaan (1980) vs. Aaj Ki Raat - Don: The Chase Begins Again (2008)

 

Husn Pahadon Ka - Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) vs. Meri Sahibaan - Sahibaan (1992)

 

 

Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam - title song (2002) vs. Dil Laga Liya - Dil Hai Tumhara (2002)*
(*credit to Kavs of The Diva For Bollywood for reminding me of this one)
(these also vaguely remind me of "Mohabbat Hai Kya" from Prem Rog, but that might just be me)

Uff Teri Ada - Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) vs. Tum Hi Ho Bandhu - Cocktail (2012)

 

 

Dil Haara - Tashan (2008) vs. Banjaara - Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
(credit to @MapleBrownie on Twitter for figuring this one out!) 

 

 

(Also, @PareshG from The Currysmugglers pointed out that the chorus of "Banjaara" sounds somewhat similar to "O Mere Sanam" from Suraksha)

Switty Tera Pyar vs. Teri Jawani Badi Mast
(seems weird but particularly when you hear the alaaps during the verse of Switty it is very similar)

Sheila Ki Jawani - Tees Maar Khan (2010) vs. Boom Boom - Star (1982) 

 

I'm going to stop myself here because I'd really love to get some more of these 'sound-alike' songs from all of you! If you think of another one, please let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!