From ‘Fa9la’ to ‘Eena Meena Deeka’: When Indian audiences went crazy for unconventional lyrics

Before playlists, reels, and algorithms took over, Indian cinema was already having fun with lyrics that made no literal sense but felt irresistible. The latest reminder is ‘Fa9la’ from ‘Dhurandhar’, which has set the internet buzzing with its swagger-heavy beats and unusual phrasing. Featuring Akshaye Khanna in a strikingly intense avatar, the song proves that mood and the vibe of song, often matters more than meaning. From playful gibberish to cultural mashups, these tracks show how unconventional lyrics have always thrilled Indian audiences.

Ever since ‘Fa9la’ hit the internet it has become the talk of the town. Originating from Bahrain, 'Fa9la' brings together artists Flipperachi and Daffy, with DJ Outlaw handling the music. The song, from 'Dhurandhar' which featured Akshaye, combine hip-hop beats with a traditional Khaleeji flair. The term 'Fa9la' is said to mean "fun time" or "party," perfectly matching the song's lively and celebratory vibe. The song went viral because the intense, swag-filled vibe of the song perfectly matched Akshaye Khanna’s calm yet dangerous on-screen persona.

This track became an instant sensation in late 2023, marking the entry of the villain, Abrar in the movie. The song is actually a reinterpretation of an old Iranian folk choir song titled ‘Jamaal Jamaaloo’ from the 1950s. It is reinterpreted by Harshavardhan Rameshwar. Bobby Deol who featured in the song also shared a personal memory from his childhood. He recalled, when he would visit Punjab during summer and winter holidays, men would drink at night, and when music played, they would dance with glasses and bottles on their heads. Inspired by this, Bobby decided to try it himself, not realizing that his unique dancing style would become so popular.

Famous for revealing SRK’s six-pack abs, this song was a satire on meaningless item numbers. For this song’ director Farah Khan asked lyricist Javed Akhtar to write "gibberish" or specifically "like Gulzar sahab". Accepting the challenge, Javed jokingly wrote the nonsensical lyrics in just five minutes. He also admitted later that writing gibberish was surprisingly difficult. Sukhwinder Singh’s energetic voice turned this spoof into a genuine hit, proving Bollywood can turn an inside joke into a massive party anthem.

Released in 2011, this song redefined viral fame in India. It was composed by Anirudh Ravichander in just about 10 minutes for the movie ‘3’. Sung by Dhanush himself, it was marketed as a "Soup Song," slang for a song by a guy who failed in love. It became a global phenomenon because of its relatable, broken "Tanglish" (Tamil-English) lyrics. Dhanush completed the song in about 20 minutes of playful singing and writing. The first line he sang was, ‘Why This Kolaveri?’ It was the first Indian video to cross 100 million views on YouTube, proving that raw appeal works better than polish.

This song is the ultimate definition of 90s street romance. Its humorous lyrics about eating ice cream and bhelpuri made it popular. The song captured the colorful, carefree spirit of the decade. It became a cult classic thanks to Govinda and Karisma Kapoor's sizzling chemistry and coordinated dancing moves. It is often mentioned as the perfect illustration of David Dhawan's filmmaking style which was entertaining, loud, and unpretentious. The track was so iconic that it was remade for the 2020 version of the film.

This 1958 hit is credited with launching Helen as the undisputed "Cabaret Queen" of Bollywood. The song was sung by Geeta Dutta which features a catchy and exotic-sounding. Helen's energetic performance and the song's lively tempo made it renowned. Qamar Jalalabadi wrote the lyrics and chose the title "Chin Chin Chu" to give the character an East Asian identity in keeping with the film's noir concept. Because of its unique and lively sound, it is still one of the most well-known songs from the golden age.

This classic track from 1957 is the grandfather of unconventional lyrics in India. The song, which featured the renowned Kishore Kumar, introduced "scat singing"—a jazz vocal style that uses wordless syllables, to the Indian listeners. The lyrics "Eena Meena Deeka" are pure gibberish, meant to sound like a foreign language to the local audience. It got famous for its high energy and the "rock and roll" vibe which was new to Bollywood back in 1957. It showed Kishore Da’s genius in using his voice as an instrument.