Celebrate Krishna’s birth with a foot-tapping playlist that blends devotion and pure Bollywood magic!
Whatever the occasion, music sets the mood and how! And when it comes to Janmashtami, a festival that celebrates the birth of the mischievous, flute-playing Krishna, the vibe is incomplete without the right playlist. Whether you're swaying to devotional bhajans, gearing up for a thrilling Dahi Handi event, or simply soaking in the festive spirit at home, Bollywood has always had your back. But if you're wondering what to play this Janmashtami to get everyone dancing, or simply feeling festive, here’s a handpicked list of Bollywood songs that will elevate your celebration like never before.
“Yashomati Maiya Se Bole Nandlala” narrates the image of a curious Krishna, tugging at Yashoda’s sari and asking innocent, metaphysical questions. Penned with lyrical precision by Pandit Narendra Sharma and set to a tender melody by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, this duet (rendered in the golden voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey) is soaked in maternal warmth. There’s a softness to its orchestration that rocks like a cradle.
Radha’s jealousy (as eternal as her love) gets a sparkling musical treatment in this gem from 'Lagaan'. It’s a song steeped in rasa, that Sanskrit aesthetic of emotional flavour. A. R. Rahman folds folk traditions into classical scaffolding, while Javed Akhtar’s lyrics tease and play. And the banter between Asha Bhosle and Udit Narayan gives the track a lived-in warmth, while Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh enact the eternal drama on screen.
(Credit: Sony Music India)
There’s no room for subtlety here, and that’s precisely the point. “Go Go Go Govinda” bursts onto the scene like Krishna himself leaping for the curd pot. Mika Singh and Shreya Ghoshal bring full-throttle energy to Himesh Reshammiya’s composition, and Prabhu Deva’s choreography, paired with a surprisingly nimble Sonakshi Sinha, turns it into an audiovisual explosion.
(Credit: T-Series)
If Krishna were to be introduced on a grand cinematic stage, this would be his entrance music. “Woh Kisna Hai” is reverent and full of musical gravitas. The collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Ismail Darbar yields something almost operatic in its scale. Sukhwinder Singh, Ayesha Darbar, and Shailaja lend vocal weight, along with tabla beats and orchestral swells. It’s a song that insists Krishna isn’t just a playful child or charming lover, but also the cosmic force that moves the universe.
(Credit: Tips Bhakti Prem)
This one arrives with a wink. “Maiyya Yashoda” is all giggles and mock accusations, as the Gopis tattle on Krishna’s antics. But the mischief is laced with affection, like a mother being told that her son is too charming for his own good. Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, and Kavita Krishnamurthy bring a playful vocal chemistry to Raam Laxman’s festive composition. Onscreen, it’s a wedding dance, but in spirit, it’s pure Janmashtami.
(Credit: Bollywood Classics)
A contemporary love song with the soul of a bhajan, “Kanha” explores the ache of that eternal distance between Radha and Krishna. Composer duo Tanishk-Vayu craft a modern ballad, and Shashaa Tirupati sings it like a prayer.
(Credit: Eros Now Music)
And we circle back to the streets. “Radhe Radhe” is unapologetically flamboyant. With Ayushmann Khurrana front and centre, the song stages a full-scale Dahi Handi celebration, complete with dizzying beats and garlanded chaos.
(Credit: Zee Music Company)
These songs, drawn from decades of Hindi cinema, remind us how powerfully Krishna continues to move through our music, shaping not only soundtracks but also sensibilities.
