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Tag: Motivation
20 Motivational Bollywood Songs To Inspire Your Team
In the ever-evolving world of work, team motivation is key to success. Whether you’re tackling ambitious goals, navigating challenges, or simply need a morale boost, music can play a vital role in bringing your team together. Bollywood has always offered songs with powerful lyrics and uplifting melodies that inspire action, resilience, and teamwork. Here’s a refreshed list of 20 motivational Bollywood songs that will energize your team and foster a sense of togetherness.
Classic Favorites That Never Fade
1. “Chak De! India (Title Track)” – Chak De! India, 2007
From the iconic sports drama Chak De! India, this track exudes teamwork and grit. A perfect anthem to rally your team before big challenges.
2. “Roobaroo” – Rang De Basanti, 2006
A timeless AR Rahman track that captures the fire of youthful energy and courage.
From the movie ‘Rang de Basanti’, this song composed by AR Rahman and sung by Naresh Iyer, topped the charts for many weeks in 2006 and even won the Filmfare award for best lyrics! There is probably no other movie that matches with the daring courage and youthful energy as this one! And this song radiates the passion and relentless passion of youthful exuberance!
3. “Baadal Pe Paon Hain” – Chak De! India, 2007
Another heart-pumping song from ‘Chak De! India’ – is a lively and peppy number, sure to bring down stress levels of your team. This song is about the feeling of having arrived, of having achieved something in life.
4. “Kuch Kariye” – Chak De! India, 2007
This song from the movie Chak de India, starring Shah Rukh Khan as the Coach of an unruly and disorderly gang of girls from the Indian hockey team roughly translates to “Do something, Every vein of mine is boiling ,enough of all this big talk, now do something!”
A song with empowering lyrics and engaging beats, that instigates the girls to ‘get on track and start training,’ has the power to motivate, like nothing else!
5. “Kar Har Maidan Fateh” – Sanju, 2018
A powerhouse song about overcoming personal battles and embracing courage.
This one is from the movie (Sanju) and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. Based on the life-story of Sanjay Dutt, the lyrics inspire one to break free of all shackles and win every battle courageously. The lyrics will spur you and your team to proceed to fight your battles even if luck does not favour you!
6. “Aashayein” – Iqbal, 2005
This heartfelt tune motivates listeners to dream big and face challenges with hope.
A chartbuster song from the movie ‘Iqbal,’ it stokes the inner fire of an individual while urging them to dream big and to ‘let the desires in your heart bloom!’ It is a song that can inspire your team to rise against all odds and bring out a sense of purpose, while filling them with positivity and hope.
7. “Zinda” – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 2013
An adrenaline-pumping anthem that celebrates resilience and determination.
This life-giving anthem from ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ is bound to get the adrenaline pumping and bring forth the passion In everyone’s heart! An inspirational song that can motivate your team and provide that extra boost of emotion needed to finish your project successfully. The energized beats can engage your team’s imagination and show them what they are capable of becoming or doing.
8. “Ruk Jaana Nahin” – Imtihaan, 1974
This iconic song is from the movie ‘Imtihaan’ (1974) and is sung by none other than, Kishore Kumar! The lyrics inspire resilience in the hearts of every listener! The world is a tough place, indeed, but you have to keep your head and spirits high to live in it. The song beautifully mentions how victory can only be achieved by enduring pain. A great song, it sure to bring back some nostalgic memories while inspiring your team to act!
9. “Duniya Mein Rehna Hai Toh” – Haathi Mere Saathi, 1971
A song that glorifies hard work, this one has been immortalized by the evergreen voice of Kishore Da!
From the movie ”Haathi Mere Saathi.” It paints the outside world as a tough place and encourages one to be fully prepared, for anything and everything. Enumerating the efforts of hard work, it articulates that nothing comes for free in this world and you must work hard to earn your bread.
10. “Besabriyaan” – M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, 2016
This song urges one to get up and get going! From the self-titled movie on MS Dhoni, it follows his initial days of struggle. This song talks about how one can always find time for their passion!
11. “Phir Se Ud Chala” – Rockstar, 2011
A coming-of-age song from the movie ‘Rockstar,‘ this one talks about the unyielding dreams of an artist. It is about a young man, struggling to find himself, spiritually and artistically. The song will resonate better with the youngsters in the team, with its mix of rock beat and soulful music!
12. “Aas Paas Hai Khuda” – Anjaana Anjaani, 2010
A very melodious tune from the movie ‘Anjana Anjani,’ sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, this song urges you to trust in God while putting in the work, to reach your goals. Slightly spiritual in nature, this song assures humankind of God’s presence and to accept all difficulties as God’s will and get past them. The song talks about accepting life’s hardships graciously and overcoming them with confidence. A very pleasant and inspiring song to listen to – it is the perfect song to play when closing the day or an event, with your team.
13. “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna” – The Legend of Bhagat Singh, 2022
An Urdu patriotic poem written by Bismil Azimabadi is as an ode to young freedom fighters of the Indian Independence movement. This electric song from the movie ‘The Legend Of Bhagat Singh’ with Ajay Devgan in the lead role, is a song made for the younger generation, oozing team spirit and the magnetic appeal of a
[ ALSO READ: https://blog.focusu.com/6-tips-to-motivate-your-team ]
Fresh Additions for Today’s Teams
14. “Apna Time Aayega” – Gully Boy, 2019
This electrifying track from Gully Boy is about self-belief and seizing opportunities.
15. “Pathaan Anthem” – Pathaan, 2023
A new-age track with thrilling beats, ideal for teams gearing up to conquer new heights.
16. “Namo Namo” – Kedarnath, 2018
With its spiritual undertones, this song inspires persistence and faith in the journey.
17. “Rangisari” – Jugjugg Jeeyo, 2022
A lively, colorful tune perfect for light-hearted moments and breaking the monotony.
18. “Deva Deva” – Brahmāstra, 2022
A song filled with positivity and energy, reminding teams of the light within.
[ ALSO READ: https://blog.focusu.com/4-strategies-to-help-build-motivation ]
Team-Centric Anthems
19. “Saathi Haath Badhana” – Naya Daur, 1957
This evergreen track reinforces the power of teamwork and unity.
An iconic song, this one inspires team-work and positivity. The lyrics roughly translate into “any weight is to be lifted together as one person alone will get tired” followed by “oceans and mountains make way for us when we are united!”
Listening to this number with your team members will surely ignite passion and unite your team in a way, no other song can!
20. “Chale Chalo” – Lagaan, 2001
A rousing anthem to inspire collective action and perseverance.
The iconic team anthem from the movie ‘Lagaan,’ it is a powerful song with very uplifting beats! This song can charge up your team with its brilliant tempo, empowering lyrics and get the adrenaline flowing. It can help the team look forward to taking new challenges with a zeal to emerge victorious and thus, urge them to face all problems, head on!
21. “Lakshya (title track)” – Lakshya, 2004
The self-titled anthem from “Lakshya” is all about finding a vision or a goal and working towards it. The song inspires teams to find a common goal, put in all their resources into it, and work with complete dedication towards achieving that goal.
22. “Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe” – Lakshya, 2004
A song that beautifully captures the spirit of togetherness.
Another motivational gem of a song from the movie ‘Lakshya,‘ it is a song which inspires your team to change the way they feel and think about themselves. This song inspires positive emotions like excitement, pride, a sense of belonging, and the thrill of achievement.
23. “Jagga Jiteya” – Uri, 2019
With its fervent energy, this track is all about working as one strong, cohesive unit.
This song from ‘Uri,’ with its Punjabi undertones and fervid patriotism, is bound to give anyone goosebumps! The song, picturized while the Indian army was preparing for its surgical strike at Uri, will inspire your team to act as one unbreakable unit towards the collective goal.
24. “Ziddi Dil” – Mary Kom, 2014
A motivational tune that celebrates the power of persistence.
The song is from the self-titled movie about ‘Mary Kom’ and her struggle to train for her national boxing championship in a predominantly male dominated world. The song traces her journey and talks about how in spite of facing opposition from everyone, this “ziddi” (obstinate) girl undergoes gruelling training sessions in professional boxing to emerge a winner, in a traditionally male dominated sport.
[ ALSO READ: https://blog.focusu.com/how-to-enhance-employee-motivation ]
Lesser-Known Gems for Unique Moments
25. “Jeetega Jeetega” – 83, 2021
Captures the spirit of an underdog team achieving greatness.
26. “Dil Dhadakne Do” – Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, 2011
A fun track to remind your team to enjoy the journey while pursuing goals.
27. “Ruk Jaana Nahin” – Imtihaan, 1974
A soulful reminder of resilience and perseverance.
28. “Brothers Anthem” – Brothers, 2015
A high-energy track to energize and unify your team.
The self-titled power anthem, starring Akshay Kumar and Siddharth Malhotra has so much energy in it that it could bring a dead person back to life! The raw energy and ferocity with which the duo train to become champions could inspire teams to put in the exertion, creativity, and sacrifice needed to exceed their own wildest expectations.
29. “Soorma Anthem” – Soorma, 2018
Celebrates triumph over adversity, inspiring your team to rise above challenges.
This self-titled anthem song from ‘Soorma’ is about Sandeep, a hockey player, who is wounded by a stray gunshot that leaves him paralysed. The inspiring part of the film is about how he overcomes his handicap and returns to the game, to finally win an Arjuna award. And this song captures the struggle and the passion needed to overcome every struggle in life, beautifully!
[ ALSO READ: https://blog.focusu.com/moving-from-extrinsic-to-intrinsic-motivating-your-team ]
Build Your Playlist
Music unites us and offers a way to bond, uplift, and recharge. Whether you choose timeless classics or modern hits, these Bollywood songs are sure to inspire your team to strive for excellence. Have a favorite motivational track? Share it in the comments and help us expand this ultimate playlist!
Think we missed a great track? Or have a favorite that always gets your team going? Share it with us in the comments—let’s build the ultimate motivational playlist together!
“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.”
– Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
When we are down in the dumps, facing stiff competition in this dog-eat-dog world and want to stop trying and give up, a good movie can quickly re-ignite our passion and enthusiasm. Movies not only entertain us but they can also inspire us to give our best to everything in life! An inspiring story can even motivate one to get through difficult times.
Here are a few such movies that can re-kindle the dormant leadership traits within us and assist us in reaching greater heights.
Swades (2004)
A true-life story of a non-resident Indian who returns to his homeland, the story resolves around Mohan Bhargava who initially works as a Project Manager at NASA in the United States. After learning that electricity inconsistency and frequent power cuts are a big problem in Charanpur, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, where his nanny lives – he decides to set up a small hydroelectric power generation facility from a nearby water source, after mobilizing the reluctant villagers. The story ends with Mohan succeeding against all odds and the village finally getting sufficient, consistent power from it.
Leadership lesson:
The movie projects how leading change calls for leaders to take others along. Despite having a noble vision himself, it is only when he is able to influence the villagers at the micro-level and nudge them towards change that he is finally able to succeed in his endeavour.
Lagaan (2001):
It is an epic musical sports film set in the early 1890s, during the late Victorian period of India’s colonial British Raj. The story revolves around a small village in Gujarat whose inhabitants are unable to pay the high taxes and are challenged by an arrogant British officer to a game of cricket. The villagers would be absolved from paying all taxes, if they manage to win a game, against the British. The movie documents how the villagers, under the leadership of Bhuvan, learn the nuances of the game that is alien to them and with great determination and teamwork, finally win the game against the British to change their village’s destiny.
Leadership lesson:
The story is a shining example of leadership and building a high performance team. Bhuvan displays how leaders should model the way through his selflessness, viewing every problem as an opportunity, setting a vision, executing well, showing steely determination, assigning people to apt roles, and leading with confidence.
Chak De! India (2007):
A movie was based on the real life story of an Indian hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi, who faced allegations of letting down his country in a match against Pakistan. The film follows the journey of the Indian national women’s hockey team from being a ragtag group of players from diverse backgrounds to their win at the Manchester Commonwealth games, after being trained by Kabir Khan, who played Negi’s character.
Leadership lesson:
The movie is a masterclass in showing resilience in the face of all odds. It also showcases the value of a leader, Kabir Khan and how he coaches an unruly gang of girls to think like a team and overcome impossible odds to rise above themselves and succeed.
Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015):
Dashrath Manjhi is a poor man from a low caste, living in a remote village cut off from the world by a rocky mountain range. After he loses his wife to an accident – where she falls down a mountain while crossing it, he decides to carve out a path through the mountain, so that no one else would suffer his fate. Undeterred by the harsh elements and adversities, he sets out on a mission that spans for a period of 22 years carving a path through the mountains, all by himself, with just a hammer and a chisel.
Leadership lesson:
The movie is a stirring lesson that faith, resolution and hard work can truly move mountains. And being a leader does not need titles. Leadership is for anyone and everyone who is willing to take it up – as James Kouzes and Barry Posner say in The Leadership Challenge.
Super 30 (2019):
An inspiring true life story of the life of mathematics educator Anand Kumar and his unique educational program, this movie won both awards and hearts! Moved by the plight of poor students, who quit studies due to poverty, he starts his own coaching centre to impart free coaching to poor, yet bright students. The movie follows the torments, trials and tribulations he faces in this arduous journey. He gives them practical training and encourages them to learn all concepts in an easy and logical way. He is rewarded for his efforts when the first batch of 30 students take the IIT exam and all of them qualify successfully.
Leadership Lesson:
Anand Kumar exemplifies a leader’s role in motivating his students to always be ravenous for success. Very often, individuals lose the battle in their minds. Be it – poverty, hunger, lack of money or criminal attacks- he teaches them to face it head on, thus emphasizing the importance of having faith in self through adopting a growth mindset.
Lakshya (2004):
This war–drama film portrays Karan Shergill, a character that develops from being an aimless young man into an army officer. The story unveils the metamorphosis of Karan after he joins the Indian Military Academy. Unable to handle the strict military discipline and tough life there, he initially runs away. Later, after reconciling with the situation, he returns to the academy and becomes a focused, disciplined officer cadet and eventually commissions into the Indian Army as a Lieutenant. During the Kargil war, after being promoted as captain and heading a team of 12 men, he is assigned a tough and perilous project, which he completes successfully against all odds.
Leadership Lesson:
Lakshya is a beautiful story of individual self-discovery. It is about how discovering one’s purpose completely catalyses a person towards a meaningful life.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
It is a biographical sports drama film based on the life of Milkha Singh, “the flying sikh” – an Indian athlete who was a national champion and an Olympian. Losing his parents at an early age to the partition violence, he grows up in impoverished refugee camps, until he gets noticed by a havildar in the army, for his fast running skills. The movie goes on to trace how he goes on to achieve greater heights by overcoming greed, pain, hostility, mistakes and various challenges to finally win gold medals in the Asian Games.
Leadership Lesson:
The movie demonstrates that by following your dreams – setting goals, getting inspiration from people around you, adapting to different situations, having faith, earning things you desire with hard work and dedication –you can turn all your dreams into reality.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
This is another brilliantly made biographical sports film based on the life of former Test, ODI and T20I captain of the Indian national cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The movie shows the inspiring portrayal of Dhoni’s initial days as the wicket-keeper of his school’s cricket team and how he is encouraged to improve his batting skills by the cricket coach. There is also the portrayal of his struggle during the days he works as a ticket collector in the Railways, while trying to wedge- in time for cricket practice. Realizing his passion in life to be only cricket, he quits his job and trains hard for professional cricket. Leading and developing his team of men, he achieves fame by winning the T-20 World Cup match in the climax of the movie.
Leadership Lesson:
The movie inspires one to have faith in oneself and not get de-motivated by failures. More importantly, it spurs you to chase your dreams until your hard work pays off. Our destiny is in our hands!!!
Are there other Bollywood movies that inspired leadership in you? Do join the conversation!
It was going to be morning soon, the sun had begun rising. It’s a very different kind of a warmth when you see sun at an elevation of 8848 m. The summit was almost visible too. The moment we reached there, we were at the highest mountain possible on Earth. Our faces were lit, not just by the sun light but also the ear to ear smiles that just refused to leave any of our faces. All it took was a childhood dream, years of practice and hikes, innumerable adventures and accidents, and the determination to not quit.
10 minutes later, we began the descent.
Reimagining the Concept of Conquering
When people tell Deeya that she has conquered Mt. Everest, she just wants them to know that there is no such thing as ‘conquering nature.’ Instead, every feat is just a journey that makes one discover things about nature and yourself. It’s the kind of education that wouldn’t be possible at any learning institution.
The Journey to the Summit
Deeya Bajaj became a part of the first father-daughter duo to climb Mount Everest, at a very early age. Her session is an enriching experience, in every way possible. A life-long mountaineer, she has accompanied her father on hikes for as long as she can remember. This spark is what, having nurtured well, resulted into igniting the fire that led them to climb the unattainable Mt. Everest. A life-long commitment to adventure and learning how to do it right has not only enabled her to climb the highest peak on this planet but also continues to give her the courage to overcome all and any difficulties in achieving goals that she sets for herself.
A Story of Bravery and Choices
One example of her bravery and the true spirit of a go-getter is the following anecdote from her journey up the Everest, with her father –
While their ascent up the mighty Everest, a point came wherein her father started running out of breath and had to stop midway. However, the passage they were on was a narrow one. This meant that if they both waited, all the other mountaineers in their batch would have to wait, as well. This is when Deeya had to make an impossible choice – she could either wait to be with her father while help arrived or continue with the climb. She was torn between the two choices but finally with her father’s selfless motivation, she decided to continue the climb and reach the summit. And even though, she was worried sick for her father, she didn’t let her fear drive her focus away from the her ultimate goal – which was climbing to the top. She managed to conquer the unattainable Everest peak, but experienced true euphoria only when her father finally made it to the top, as well. It was one of the greatest moments of both of their lives and continues to inspire her, even today!
Deeya Bajaj: A Masterclass in Resilience
We are honoured to have her as a part of our Masterclass series! Her indomitable spirit and a taste for the roads less travelled inspires one into striving for greatness while her experience and wisdom guides the listeners into formulating the right action steps to achieve set goals!
In her Masterclass session, Deeya delivers messages about leadership and teamwork, women’s empowerment as well as sustainability and environmental concerns. Having travelled some of the toughest terrains in the world with a single minded pursuit and discipline, she talks about how to think, take decisions, lead and be a team player in times of adversity. We encourage you to experience a potentially life altering session by this powerful woman, with us, today!
The below article has been contributed by Andy Pan, Director of Training at Right Impact Training, Singapore.
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