Parsons Playlists: Indian/Pakistani Classics

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Ibrahim (class of 2028) and features a selection of classic Indian and Pakistani popular music.

Indian/Pakistani Classics

My playlist comprises old Indian and Pakistani music, ranging from the 1970s to the 2010s!

Kishore Kumar – “Pyaar Diwana Hota He”

Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar – “Dekha Ek Khwab”

Vital Signs – “Aitebar”

Vital Signs – “Wo Koun Thi”

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Shankar Mahadevan, Ravi “Rags” Khote – “Pretty Woman”

Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal – “Main Hoon Na”

Quratulain Baloch – “Wo Humsafar Tha”

Swanand Kirkire, Amitabh Bhattacharya – “Monta Re”

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – “Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaye”

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Sadhana Sargam, Sujata Bhattacharya, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam – “Maahi Ve”

Mukesh – “Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon”

Kishore Kumar – “O Mere Dil Ke Chain”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn1FZYDh2o3veunCJ8hG4KMLQkKC6fOTW&si=X48wE1QbcB03Xx7H

Arachnophonia: Main Hoon Na

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Kiran (class of 2024) and features the 2004 Bollywood film Main Hoon Na. Thanks, Kiran!

Main Hoon Na

“Main Hoon Na – The Importance of Support During College”

Main Hoon Na - movie poster

Growing up, I didn’t understand much about my culture. It wasn’t until I was in middle school that I really started to appreciate my ethnic background. Bollywood movies changed my entire perspective on a hidden part of my identity that I had neglected to explore. I began to immerse myself in India’s film industry, enamored by the music, dancing, and storylines. Main Hoon Na (I am there) quickly became one of my favorite movies and a staple pick for family movie night.

Main Hoon Na explores the journey that a young soldier (Ram) takes to find his half-brother after the death of their father in the midst of a peace treaty between India and Pakistan. Indian terrorists threaten to destroy this peace and are after Sanjana, the Indian General’s daughter, who happens to attend the same college as Ram’s half-brother. Ram goes undercover as a student and must protect Sanjana without compromising his position for his half-brother. What follows is a charming and action-packed adventure that will test them all.

College, especially after COVID-19, has proven to be a mental challenge for both students and professors. We continue to see deaths of college athletes by suicide and a rise in demand for mental health resources. We often forget that it’s ok to reach out for help, and that we don’t have to go through college alone. Main Hoon Na is a reminder that we can lean on our support systems, no matter what. Although fictitious, every Bollywood movie has real-world lessons or morals to learn from. Ram’s dedication to his family and his friends when they need it the most carries over into our daily lives – we can both give and receive support.

You can check out Main Hoon Na and other Bollywood movies at Parsons Music Library. If you or someone you know is seeking mental health resources, click on this link to learn more about CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) at the University of Richmond.