From heartbreak ballads to high-octane anthems; the Bollywood playlist that summed up a year.

2025 gave us a soundtrack that felt personal playlists that moved from cosy heartbreak to stadium energy in a single scroll. Here's a thoughtful rundown of how each track shaped moods across India this year.

“Pardesiya” from Param Sundari

A tender, nostalgia-tinged ballad made richer by a classic playback voice and film visuals that leaned into old-school romance. “Pardesiya” quickly became a reels favourite and the kind of song couples tag each other in soothing, evergreen and singable. The single’s release and early reactions helped build buzz for the film.

“Aavan Jaavan” from War 2

When you needed an instant energy hit, “Aavan Jaavan” delivered. The action-packed visuals plus a hook step made this song a social-media trend within days of release, gym playlists, dance covers and celebrity reactions followed fast. Its stadium-ready production mirrored the scale of the movie itself, turning it into 2025’s adrenaline anthem.

“Saiyara” (entire album)

Saiyara’s album became the year’s intimate companion: acoustic textures, yearning lyrics and fragile vocals made it a go-to when the mood was soft or pensive. Critics and listeners split between calling it “comforting” and “a little safe,” but it nonetheless became a staple for late-night playlists and slow-motion montages.

Metro... In Dino (entire album)

Anurag Basu’s spiritual successor soundtrack proved that a well-curated album can still frame an entire city’s mood. Pritam’s melodies and the album’s measured release strategy made the tracks feel like moments rather than one-off singles; several songs quietly became the background for late-night city drives and metro commutes. 

Tere Ishq Mein (entire album)

When a film’s score becomes a talking point, it’s usually because the makers has something to say. The Tere Ishq Mein title track produced with a rich, emotional palette dominated conversations, trailers and promotional events, establishing the soundtrack as a key part of the film’s identity going into release season.

“Tere Pyar Mein” from Badass Ravikumar

A massy, feel-good number with a retro-pop flourish, this track was a sangeet favourite, playful, theatrical and designed to get people up on their feet. It doubled as a promotional tool for the film and a dependable dance-floor moment at functions.

“Tu Hai Toh Main Hoon” from Skyforce

A soulful duet often used in film trailers and TV promos, “Tu Hai Toh Main Hoon” captured companionship in difficult times, perfect for scenes about loyalty, teamwork and sacrifice. The song’s warm orchestration made it a quiet winner on streaming playlists.

“Kaun Kinna Zaroori Si” from Loveyapa

A heartbreak ballad with a simple melody and aching lyricism, it became the tear-jerker on story-montages and the “post-breakup” song for many. Its emotional directness made it shareable and widely covered in acoustic versions.

“Ishq Mein” from Nadaaniyaan

A glossy romantic single with contemporary production: easy hooks, duet dynamics and a video that doubled the song’s reach. It worked as a millennial/Gen-Z romance pick and saw heavy rotation on curated love playlists.

“Jaane Tu” from Chhaava

Composed by an established maestro and sung with absolute tenderness, “Jaane Tu” was the soundtrack’s soothing closer, the perfect song for that one drive when everything feels in focus. It proved that a well-placed romantic number still holds emotional currency in 2025.

Across the list you’ll find two constants: emotion and context. Songs that succeeded this year weren’t just catchy, they were tied to characters, scenes, or promotional moments that amplified their impact.

Some tracks fueled celebration; others held space for heartbreak, but all of them stitched into how people actually lived the year: on commutes, in cars, at parties, and in private headphones.