13 hit songs from flop films

If the song reminds you of Amitabh Bachchan doing a Jack Sparrow, you're ...wrong. This famous qawwali was sung by Aziz Nazan, a famous qawwal in a film so forgettable that even its makers would not want to remember it. Just for your information, 5 Rifles had the duplicates of Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor starring in the lead roles. 

Hey, don't blame us for including Kaalia as a flop film! Blame the box office. The 1980 Amitabh starrer did not make half as much money as it was expected to. But this audaciously arrogant number from RD Burman is just as cool 30 years later. 

A qawwali written by Amir Khusro for the saint Nizamuddin Auliya, the song was famously recreated by the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Shashi Kapoor used it beautifully to open his war romance set in Lucknow. Though the film has grown into a cult classic, it was not as well received on its release. 

If you've ever been to a wedding in India, chances are you've heard this song. Rajesh Roshan composed this number for his brother's film Bahar Aane Tak. Less said about the film better, but the song entered the cultural psyche. 

This was a song that dates back to the most difficult times of Amitabh Bachchan's life. It also dates back to a time when Daler Mehndi was the unquestioned King of Bhangra Pop. This song from the dubious Mrityudaata launched him into the consciousness of the Bollywood fan forever.  

Sonu Nigam really had the romantic note down to the T back in the 90s. This beautiful song was completely out of place in a thrilling murder mystery, Sangharsh. But, who cares? It is beautiful. 

Those were the days when Dino Morea and Rinke Khanna were future stars of Bollywood. Nobody remembers the film, so don't ask; but this beautiful number by Vishal Shekhar, sung by Shaan, became a hit across college campuses in the country. 

It is time Anu Malik was redeemed from the copycat hell that he has been relegated to. A talented composer, Malik has some beautiful hits to his name. Like this one from Abhishek and Kareena's debut, Refugee. Sonu Nigam's voice soared like the film never could. 

Audiences turned away from Pooja Bhatt's directorial debut like the sin it was named for. Its only redeeming point was this beautiful sufi number sung in the magical voice of Raahat Fateh Ali Khan. 

Vishal-Shekhar have composed music for some really dubious films, but De Taali takes the cake. The album and the film made no dent, except to Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh's careers, but this one song caught fire among listeners at marriages and seriously drunk parties. 

Quite how this film managed to screen at Tous Le Cinemas Du Monde of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival is a mystery of Hitchcockian proportions. Yet, Bipasha Basu's credentials as the item queen of Bollywood was down to this peppy number by Pritam, sung by Anand Raj Anand and written by the ever young Javed Akhtar. 

Yes, we admit. The film was much better than any others listed, but it still did not make a mark on the box office. Amit Trivedi marked his debut as music director in a courageous film. This beautiful song carries all the traits that would make him the rebirth of 'RD' in the future. 

The film launched Kay Kay Menon, Chitrangada Singh and a certain Shiney Ahuja as faces to watch out. But it was the song that made the most of the airwaves. This beautiful song sung and written by Swanand Kirkire is about as good as poetry can get.