If You Like This Song, You Will Like…: THE BOLLYWOOD EDITION

Back when I was filming BookTube videos (which I miss doing, I will admit), I had the bright idea to do a book recommendations video based on Bollywood songs I was enjoying at the time. Now, the books are a little on the older side since it’s been a few years, and the songs even more so, but maybe I’ll revisit this series and do more editions as I get back into reading. I have a long TBR that keeps growing, after all, and a very extensive Spotify playing.

In the meantime, most of these books are still on my ‘I HIGHLY recommend these’ lists to anybody who asks. All of them by Asian diaspora authors, all of them I would reread in a second.

–Thodi Der > Empire Of Sand & Realm Of Ash by Tasha Suri

Tu thodi der aur thehar ja, soneya, ( o beloved, please stay for some more time,)
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja. ( please stay for some more time. )
Nahiyo lagna nahiyo lagna, tere bin dil mera, ( without you, my heart doesn’t like anything )

Between the lyrics and the melody, I feel like they just scream slow burn, the ache of yearning, of wondering, of waiting. The Ambha duology hold a very special place in my heart not least because of how unapologetically heavily it leans into the heritage and culture of a people forced into either hiding or running or servitude for their existence. The pain, the shame that some carry due to the words and actions of others – the fear and the loneliness as well. The love stories are simply icing on top of a very, very tasty cake.

– Dil Kyun Yeh Mera > There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Shuru ho gayi kahani meri, ( my story has started, )
Mere dil ne baat na maani meri. ( my heart did not listen to me. )
Hadh se bhi aage yeh guzar hi gaya. ( it has crossed all the limits. )
Khud bhi pareshan hua aur mujhko bhi yeh kar gaya. ( it was yearning and made me yearn as well. )
Dil kyun yeh mera shor kare? ( why does my heart make this noise? )
Idhar nahi, udhar nahi, teri ore chale. ( not here or there, it’s moving towards you. )

The sweet melody and lyrics of the song really evokes the loveliness of first loves. Something about it just reminds me of Sweetie and Ashish’s development and attraction. There’s a wonder about falling in love, a joy to be found in it that is reminiscent of Sweetie’s as she embraces herself and her feelings.

– Tujhe Bhula Diya > Descendant Of The Crane by Joan He

Har pal har lamha ( every second, every moment )
Main khud se yeh kehta rehta hoon ( i’m telling this to myself )
Tujhe bhula diya, oh. ( oh, i’ve forgotten you. )
Phir kyun teri yaadon ne ( Then why are your memories )
Mujhe rula diya. ( Making me cry. )

Okay, this one I chose because I’m still sad about us not getting a sequel to this story. Through no fault of Joan’s! Still, this story? Hesina’s story – her growth and her worries and her strength? Unforgettable.

– Samjhawan > The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Main tenu samjhawan ki, ( how should i explain this to you, )
Na tere bina lagda jee. ( without you my heart is nowhere. )
Tu ki jaane pyaar mera. ( what do you know about my love? )
Main karoon intezar tera. ( i’m waiting for you. )
Tu dil tu yun jaan meri. ( you’re my heart and my soul. )

Why yes, another love song for another love story. The Star-Touched Queen was the first time I really felt seen in a book, not because of the story or characters actually, but because at one point, the MC was recounting a myth she grew up learning, and I recognised the myth. It was one I grew up knowing, and I had to put the book down to scream on Twitter and make sure I was not imagining things. (I was not, and as such this book will forever hold a piece of my heart for reminding me that my history and culture have value and are worth telling.)

These books will forever be important to me as they also inspired me to infuse my own history and culture into my writing instead of trying to – inauthentically – cater to an audience that already has themselves in so much of media. Representation matters, and I’m grateful to these stories, these authors, and so many others, for fighting to show themselves and their stories to the world.

• Are there any novels these songs may remind you of?
• Would you like to see more of these sorts of lists?
• What song would you have me try and recommend something based on?

Hopefully, I’ll be back to reading more as the kids grow older, but thank you for sticking with me through my bouts of inactivity and now lessened schedule. I appreciate each and every one of you.

If you like my content, consider leaving me a tip on Ko-fi.