Films and Eid have long been intertwined. Special Eid screenings of classic films have been a cherished tradition, while new releases are strategically timed to capture the festive spirit. Many songs in the region have been specially created to celebrate Eid ka chand (the Eid moon) and Eid ka din (Eid day) moments.

The songs capture the joy, anticipation and festivity of the occasion, making them unforgettable and impossible to miss. On these special days, they are played on the radio, shown on TV and shared as reels on social media.

One of the most frequently played songs on Eid is ‘Eid ka din hai galay hum ko laga kar.’ Interestingly, the challenge lies in the fact that two songs from nearly the same era feature the same lead actor and have surprisingly similar lyrics. Old-timers still debate which rendition of ‘Eid ka din hai galay’ is the most captivating.

One version was filmed on legendary actor Nadeem and the doe-eyed Nisho in Farid Ahmed’s film Angaaray (1972), while the other, released two years later in the S. Suleman-directed Intezar, featured one of the most favourite pairings of Lollywood, Nadeem and Shabnam.

Even though ‘Muslim socials’ have died out, memorable Eid themed film songs continue to bring people closer in the festive season

Adding to the intrigue, these two songs are performed by three different voices: Mala and Ahmed Rushdi bring ‘Eid ka din hai galay’ to life with A. Hameed’s composition, while Mehdi Hassan lends his soulful voice to the solo rendition composed by Nisar Bazmi in Intezar. To truly appreciate them, one must listen to both.

‘Muslim socials’ — as films depicting Islamicate culture were dubbed in India — had mostly vanished from screens by the late ’70s and, by the ’80s, even India was producing fewer ‘Muslim socials’ than in the early ’70s. However, there were a few exceptions.

The song ‘Eid ke din galay mil le Raja’ from Subodh Mukherji’s Teesri Aankh (1982) featured the legendary voices of Mohammed Rafi and Manna Dey, who lent their vocals to action stalwarts Dharmendra and Shatrughan Sinha.

Mohammed Rafi joined Asha Bhosle for a duet in Deedar-i-Yaar (1982), produced by the ever-energetic Jeetendra. The song ‘Eid ka din hai galay aaj tau mil le zaalim’ featured Rishi Kapoor lip-syncing to Rafi’s vocals.

The essence of these four songs can be traced back to a couplet by the renowned poet Qamar Badayuni (1876–1941):

Eid ka din hai galay aaj tau mil le zaalim,

Rasm-i-dunya bhi hai, mauqa bhi hai, dastoor bhi hai

[It’s Eid day so at least let us embrace today, cruel one/ It’s tradition, the occasion allows it and custom demands it]

This beautiful verse, blending romance with the festive spirit of Eid, has inspired multiple songs over the years.

Another unforgettable Eid melody comes from the Bharat Bhushan-Madhubala-starrer Barsaat Ki Raat (1960). ‘Kaisi khushi le ke aaya chand’, exquisitely sung by Lata Mangeshkar to Roshan’s soulful composition, perfectly captures the joy and anticipation of the occasion. Penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, the song was filmed on Shyama and Ratna Bhushan.

A similar sentiment echoed in Lollywood, inspiring another timeless classic that has captivated generations. From the Punjabi film Pagrri Sambhaal Jatta (1968) emerged ‘Chan chan de saamnay aagya’, a mesmerising track penned by Waris Ludhianvi and composed by Tufail Farooqi.

The song, filmed on the graceful Firdous and Aaliyah, was soulfully rendered by Mala and Naseem Begum. Decades later, it was revived in two films — Soutan Meri Saheli (1996) where Shazia Manzoor and Saira Naseem lent their voices for Reema and Neeli, and Chan Chaudhary (2002), where Naseebo Lal revived its magic.

As Pakistani cinema gradually shifted focus away from Eid-centric narratives, Bollywood eagerly took the lead, incorporating festive songs into its films with great success. Between 1996 and 2011, Bollywood incorporated Eid into its songs more frequently than Lollywood.

Whether it was through Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar or even ‘Circuit’ (Arshad Warsi), Bollywood has delivered several memorable, foot-tapping Eid songs. These tracks allowed singers to showcase their vocal range and gave lead actors a chance to flaunt their dance moves.

Salman Khan, known for his blockbuster Eid releases, has made Eid-themed songs a staple of his festive film formula. One of the most iconic is ‘Mubarak Eid mubarak’ from Tumko Na Bhool Payengey (2002), where he dances alongside former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, with vocals by Sonu Nigam, Arvinder Singh and Sneha Pant.

Sonu had earlier energised Eid celebrations with ‘Milo tum galay sab se, aayi hai Eid, mubarak mubarak’ in Hero Hindustani (1998), where he lent his voice to Arshad Warsi.

In Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan (2010), Salman Khan made a cameo in the Eid-themed song ‘Walla re walla’, filmed on Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, in the perfect Eid setting. At the time, Salman was riding high on the success of Dabangg, and the song even included a subtle nod to his blockbuster hit.

Mostly now, films have moved beyond Eid-centric themes, and now eid, galay milna, rasm have become forgotten words. But whether it’s Rushdi, Rafi or even Sonu, classic Eid film songs continue to bring people closer, making the occasion even more special.

It remains a mystery whether Eid keeps these songs alive or if these songs make our Eid even sweeter.

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 6th, 2025