MUMBAI: Bollywood music is considered to be the yardstick of popular music in India. It has seen its own journey for over a century. Music has played a pivotal part in the success or failure of a Hindi movie.

The year 2018 began with the controversial Padmavat and its song Ghoomar. While the song garnered over a million views within no time, the picturization of the song created quite a stir. However, the song sung by Shreya Ghoshal is still loved and became an instant hit. The rest of the tracks of movie like Khalibali, Binte Dil, and Ek Dil Ek Jaan were well received too.

With Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, partygoers got a groovy album. From Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Dil Chori Sada to Chote Chote Peg, the music had a lion’s share in making the film a 100 crore member. Raazi’s music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, although incidental in the movie, made a mark with the heart touching Dilbaro and Ae Watan.

However, not every super hit film had phenomenal music. Sanju, that made superlative business, had only two memorable songs namely, Main Badhiya Tu Bhi Badhiya and Kar Har Maidan Fateh by Sukhwinder Singh. Whereas, some average grossers had remarkable music. Laila Majnu, for instance, had soulful music with a distinct sound. The music composed by Sitar maestro Niladri Kumar was received well.

If 2017 saw the trend of below the par remixes, 2018 continued the trend. Did it hit the bull’s eye this year? Well, not exactly! The remix of the cult hit Ek Do Teen in Baaghi 2 will haunt the composers as well as the audience for a long time. The year ends with the remix of Aankh Mare from Tere Mere Sapne incorporated in the movie Simmba. The reaction of the audience is exactly that of Karan Johar’s at the opening of the video- ‘Oh God! Another remix.’ The only remix that found audience appreciation was the new of version of Dilbar Dilbar from the movie Satyameva Jayate.

The year 2018, however, belonged to the music composer duo Ajay-Atul, with three major projects releasing in one year - Dhadak, Thugs of Hindostan and Shahrukh Khan’s Zero along with the critically acclaimed Tumbbad. While Dhadak had similar tunes like that of the original Marathi movie, Sairaat, Thugs of Hindostaan and Zero had some original tunes and definitely worked as a saving grace for both the movies.

While the music in 2018 was largely popular, it is difficult to recollect one single chart-bursting song that was played on loop throughout the year. We wish to see more of original and signature-styled music in 2019.