Five Bollywood Songs On Women's Sexual Desires That Stay Away From Objectification

Be it on-screen or off-screen, men are the ones who rule the fraternity of Bollywood. Women, as directors, actors or singers, have to fight tooth and nail to throw the spotlight on womankind and the issues that plague it. However, things seem to have changed to an extent over the past few years, with more and more women-centric films launched every year. But what about music in Hindi films? How many Hindi film songs aptly capture women's desires, for instance, without objectifying or sexualising them?

Now there is no dearth of songs with talk about female pleasure and sexual desire, but what makes them regressive is the gaze. These songs reduce women to sex objects, whose would purpose is to entice men and make them feel good about their sexual prowess. Thus songs talking about women's desires are more about male machismo. However, we have also witnessed songs that swim against the tide and capture what women want, with the focus firmly resting on our kind.

Here are five Bollywood songs on desire you should check out:

"Meri Jaan" from Gangubai Kathiawadi

The song sung by Niti Mohan and starring Alia Bhatt lets the woman be in charge. She tells her lover how she wants to be touched and when. The song also points out the difference between consensual and non-consensual sex. The woman says that even though her sexuality entices many men, she doesn't allow everyone the access to her body. She loves the man involved in the song and so she is allowing him to touch her.

"Meri aakhon se kam gehra

Nasha paimano ka

Inme hi to doobna chahe dil mehmano ka

Ek teri hi khatir ye jaam hai chalka"

This song is powerful because rarely do we see women seducing men and expressing their sexual prowess. What makes the song even more special is the fact that the man doesn’t speak a word about his sexual desires and is rather enticed by the words of the woman. This song has been written by lyricist Kumaar and composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who also directed this film.

Suggested Reading: Enough With The Sexist Headlines Objectifying Women!

"Mohe rang do laal" from Bajirao Mastani

Sung by Shreya Ghoshal and starring Deepika Padukone as Mastani, "Mohe Rang Do Laal" is another song that depicts &t=507s">women’s sexual desires. Worded by lyricists Siddhart and Garima, the song metaphorically uses the colour red to depict love, desire and passion. However, it is the woman who is proposing to a man or expressing her desire to have sex with him.

“Dekhu dekhu tujhko main ho ke nihaal; Chhu lo kora mora kaanch sa tan; Nain bhar kya rhe nihar?”

What makes the song special is the fact that the woman urges her lover to touch her body with her consent. She also tells him not to tease her and instead fulfil her desires.

“Chhero nahi bas rang do laal.”

"Zara Zara Behekta Hai" from Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein

The song, even though it belongs to a very sexist movie, is a perfect depiction of a woman’s sexual desire. The song shows the desire of a woman to be in the arms of her beloved and also her consent to be physically intimate with him. In every stanza of the song, the woman tells the various ways in which she wants her beloved to love her. Usually, women are not allowed to say what they like during sex. It is always about what a man wants to do.

“Meri khuli khuli latto ko suljhaye

Tu apne unglion se

Main toh hu isi khwahish mein”

"Zara Zara", composed by Harris Jayaraj, has been sung by Bombay Jayashri.

"Prem Mein Tohre" from Begum Jaan

"Prem Mein Tohre" from Begum Jaan, starring Vidya Balan, has been sung by Asha Bhosle. The song captures the emotional turmoil of a love-struck woman. In the song, the woman says that her love for the beloved heals the wound of the man while incurring new wounds on herself (an obvious sexual innuendo).

“Aata hai chhup ke tu mere dar par

Ghayal dil or dhadkan banjar

Haldi mali jo ghav pe tohre

Har zakhm mera hara ho gya”

The song is being sung by a prostitute in the film, and thus it validates her feelings, identity and importance in society. The song is thus rejecting the stereotyping of prostitutes as women who have no right to love. Penned by Kausar Munir, Anu Malik composed the song.

Suggested Reading: Six Sexist Bollywood Dialogues Against Men

"Le Li Jaan" from Lipstick Under My Burkha

"Le Li Jaan" is a playful song that depicts the sexual dreams of four different women of different age groups and this is what makes it an anthem for women irrespective of age.

“Laali chadhi hoton pe

Khwabon ke gulab ki

Jaali chadhi aakhon pe

Chahat ke nakaab si”

These lines show how women would wear their desires on sleeves, if only there were mediums to express them where they wouldn't be judged. It normalises the fact that women of different ages can have sexual desires and dreams, as the movie also depicts.

Moreover, the lines, speak about the intoxicating power of desire that these women experience.

“Bina piye behki si

Mehkano ki baat ho

Kitabon mein jaisi thi

Rumani si raat ho…”

Again, the song gives women the agency to speak up about what they like or what gives them pleasure during sex. The song has been sung by Zebunnisa Bangash and worded by Anvita Dutt.

The views expressed are the author's own.