The day I got introduced to Binaca Geet Mala by one of our family friends and my mentor in the late eighties, I became a fan of Ameen Sayani, Radio Ceylon, and Bollywood songs. Slowly, as I started understanding the lyrics, I became an avid fan of the Bollywood lyricists, music composers, and singers of old Bollywood songs. Even to date, Hindi songs keep playing mostly on a loop on my mobile or radio at home.
When Pragun and Alapana decided to run the #BollyExpress based on old Hindi Songs, I thought of penning down my parenting lessons from Bollywood songs that I share with my kid. My kid has also turned into an avid fan of old Bollywood songs, and he realizes that Kishore Kumar is one of my favorites. So I feel that I had succeeded in introducing him to the melodious era of music.
Parenting Lessons from Bollywood Songs:
1. Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai:
Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai is one of the first songs my Kid learned. He is an ardent fan of Indian Railways and always wants to travel by train. His aim at one point in time was to become an Engine driver when he grew up. But being a kid, he always used to procrastinate things. So I started singing this song to make him understand that it’s time to get ready and keep moving…he loves the Engine whistle in this song and wants to drive a steam Engine one day.
Don’t you all agree that this song’s lyrics have a deeper meaning that we need to teach our kids that “Change is Constant in Life“?
2. Har Gadhi Badal Rahi hai Roop Zindagi ki:
My kid became a cricket fan after watching the World Cup 2019 and started getting anxious about whether he could play international cricket at some point in life or not. So for a few days, we used the song “Que Sara Que Sara” to tell him not to worry about the future. But we found out that he was going crazier about Cricket and stopped living in the present as he started dreaming only about playing international cricket. Then we hit upon this song, which emphasized the importance of living in the moment. We played this movie for him on Netflix and explained the importance of living in the moment and not getting too stuck in the future. This song is really a big help for us.
Another important lesson we learned as parents is that we should give more experiences to our kids and make them take their time out to smell the roses en route and make lots and lots of memories before they go to achieve their dreams. Dreams are only destinations and not the whole journey.
(You may also like to read: 4 Parenting Tips from the Family Man)
3. Zindagi ki Safar mein guzar jati hai jo makam
Last year my kid had to undergo a lot of grief as he lost his grandfather, who was his only best friend in life. Just being a 6-year-old kid, it was hard for him to digest this fact. Whenever the doorbell or the phone rang, he used to come running, saying that Tata (dada in Telugu) had returned from god. It took us a lot of time and effort to make him understand that his granddad can not return in the exact form again. It’s still painful for all of us to recount those dark days. But being an avid Kishore Kumar fan, this song used to play at the back of my mind, and I used to take my support from the lyrics of this song to give back the required strength to my kid. The Lion King movie has given my kid a kind of solace, and now he is trying to find his granddad’s image in the clouds. We still have a long way to go in this healing journey, but time will heal it “Aane Wala Pal Jaane Wala Hai” isn’t it?
4. Yeh Kahan aa Gaye Hum:
As a parent, it’s upon us to introduce our kids to various experiences rather than giving them materialistic goods. Experiences teach them a lot. Once, we took our kid on top of a lighthouse to watch the early morning sunrise. The joy and sheer bliss on my kid’s face, while he was sitting on top of the lighthouse was just priceless, and he kept on saying that where we come, how beautiful this place is, etc.
So as a parent, we learned another lesson, and we plan all our trips so that we can mingle more closely with nature without destroying its pristine beauty.
5. Aye Zindagi Gale Laga le:
Isn’t it the most important lesson we should teach our kids? This life is given to us as a gift from God, and we need to live it to the fullest by living each and every moment. At the same time, we must also instill compassion towards other forms of life on the earth in our kids, along with social responsibility, right? Then only as a parent can we say that we have fulfilled our role.
(You may also like to read: The Greatest ICC World Cup and its Lessons)
Aane wale Saal ko Salam, Jaanewale Saal ko Salam.
Lastly, since yesterday evening, my kid was in a somber mood, and when asked, he told me that he is worried about 2019. Where would 2019 go, and has it died like his granddad? Then why is no one crying for its death, but rather than partying and welcoming 2020? Like a typical 7-year-old kid, his questions are never-ending about 2019. I think I need to make another story and tell him how happy 2019 is for leaving then; maybe my kid would embrace 2020 with more warmth.
As a parent, it’s our foremost responsibility to answer all our kids’ questions rather than scoff them off. What say, friends? These are my parenting lessons from Bollywood songs that I want to carry forward with me. What about you?
kya zamana yaad dila diya.. Radio, Ameen sayani aur geetmala… waah!!! bahut khoob… aise geet banate rahen jo hume jeevan raah sujhaate rahen… jai ho Bollywood kee.
Haan re, thats the golden era of Hindi Music. I still keep listening to the Geetmala collections as they are the best
Wow, parenting lessons from Bollywood songs, must say songs have special place in your life and in your parenting journey.
Thank you Meenal
Never thought the Bollywood songs can be used as lessons of life. Enjoyed reading as you taught your kiddo with melodious Bollywood songs:)
Thank you Aditi
U nailed it girl with this prompts,really liked the different take on the prompt. Each song gives a lesson for life. I truly admire Ur writing
Thank you Jameela for your kind words
Wow suhasini, that’s a unique post I must say, Parenting lessons form angle of a child never thought this way. And loved how you have found lessons form simple to listen songs.
Giving exposure and experience to kids, explaining them change is constant, time heals, showing compassion and responsibility you have connected all these important points with these songs perfectly.
I wish he embraces 2020 with a more innovative and inquisitive way.
Lovely post, Glad to have you on #ALPxGUN #BollyExpress Blog-Hop
Thank you for your kind words Pragun
Thank you for your kind words Pragun
Wow!Such an interesting take on the prompt..A lovely way to connect life and songs..I loved reading it and in fact it will be very useful to apply in various situations in life…
Yes Pashmeena these songs could be applied to various stages in life. And it all depends on how we like to view/hear them
That’s a new thing to read, from a new perspective. Very well written.
Thank you Rashi
What a unique post and a new perspective. Loved the post. It is amazing how these amazing Bollywood songs can teach so many important life lessons to kids. Happy new year. 😉
Thank you Arushi. We as parents are always on the lookout to teach something or the other to the kids isnt it??
kids observe and teach us more than we can teach them, amazing compilation of songs and lessons both
Very True Ujjwal. Kids observe us very keenly
Refreshing post Suhasini. Yes, I can’t agree more. Bollywood has given us many wonderful songs not just to remember while humming but also to find the deep meaning hidden in those words.
Thank you Alpana for your kind words. Yes, most of the old Bollywood songs have deeper meanings and thats the creativity of our Bollywood lyricists at that point of time
This is interesting. Linking parenting with Bollywood songs got me thinking. I so loved this post
Thank you Shivani. Coming from you means, my efforts towards this post are successful
Love the way you make those valuable lessons from these beautiful songs. We have been listening to them since Long. However, they are more than just being movie songs?. Every song gives a precious hope and inspire us to live life positively.
Thanks a lot for your wonderful comments
Bollywood beyond entertainment…wow!
Yeah, its how we look at these Songs Isha
Learning from Bollywood. You think beyond. A good read!
Thank you ISha
What an inspiring and thought provoking post. Never thought in such a way before. Bollywood indeed plays a very important roles in our live, I must say .
Thank you Anjali
That’s Awesome something very unique to read …Parenting lessons that too from our favorite bollywood songs, so loved it.
This is such a unique take on the prompts. Parenting lessons from bollywood surely need to be followed by all parents.
Thank you dear for such encouraging words
Loved reading how you are using songs for parenting and it makes so much sense..and Yes we as parents are responsible to explain each and every thing our child is curious about..
Thank you Tanvi
This is one of my favorite posts in this blogging event. Loved the interpretations and the incidents that you have talked about from your life as a parent.
Thank you Anupriya for your kind words
Awww such a nice post. All of us have thought of life, love, marriage, friendship and dreams but never imagined that we can have a lesson or two on parenting from bollywood songs too.
Thank you Aakhanksha. That old timer lyricists have done an amazing job while penning down the songs as we can apply them to any situation it just depends on how we look at those songs
What an interesting topic. Loved it.
Thanks for dropping by!!
This is such an amazing post!! Great collection of the evergreen classic songs, and the way you have related each to parenting is beyond words. Hats off!!
Thank you Kanwaldeep for your kind words
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