Fading Echoes: Why Hindi cinema struggles to honour its musical legends on-screen

Hindi cinema has been a hub for many musical legends since the beginning of motion pictures in India. From KL Saigal, Kanan Devi, Mukesh, to Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi, the Hindi film music scene has witnessed timeless legends.Western cinema successfully ventured into musical biopics with films such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (2018), 'Rocketman' (2019), 'A Complete Unknown' (2024) and 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' (2025). However, despite celebrating musical icons of the Hindi film industry, Indian filmmakers have not made any official announcements regarding the same so far.advertisementArtists from Bollywood have often expressed interest in exploring the lives of iconic singers and composers. Nevertheless, Hindi film audiences are yet to experience the cinematic depiction of legendary musicians.
Why are Indian storytellers not seizing the untapped potential of biopics on Indian music icons? Can Bollywood biopics on Indian musicians and singers resonate with Gen Z in the digital age? IndiaToday.in delves into the possibilities for musical biopics in Hindi cinema.Hindi cinema's rich musical legacyThe songs of Kishore Kumar, Rafi, Asha Bhosle have been timeless masterpieces which haven't lost their relevance even after decades. From family functions to college fests, yesteryear's music has aged like fine wine. Be it the remixes or the reels by Gen Z influencers, everyone has raved about the golden musical era of Hindi cinema.advertisementDespite Bollywood music having a great impact on pop-culture and being a crucial element of India's soft-power, not much has been done to celebrate the legacy of the musicians and singers. Raj Kapoor's classic 'Awaara' remains iconic in Russia. The title track of the film is known to everyone, from the public to the Russian diplomats, indicating the foundation of Indo-Russian ties. Yet we see very less focus on documenting the journeys of Shankar Jaikishan, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri and Mukesh.There have been many reports about the biopic on Kishore Kumar's life, with the names of Ranbir Kapoor and Aamir Khan doing the rounds. However, there has not been any official confirmation regarding the cinematic adaptation.Actor Ayushmann Khurrana who has also sung for his own films, had also shown his interest in a musical biopic in an interview with India Today. He had said, "I would love to do a biopic on Kishore Kumar. I am a huge fan of his. He was quirky, he was crazy, supremely talented, full of life. It will be very exciting for me to do that. I have been manifesting this for three years. So, let's see if that happens."Actor Akshay Kumar and Producer Bhushan Kumar also came up with the idea of a biopic on the life of the legendary Gulshan Kumar in 2018. However, the film about the late Indian film and music producer also went on a backburner due to alleged creative differences,advertisementIt is understandable that research work on biopics and getting the consent of family and close ones associated with the artists could be a long process. Yet it is imperative to highlight the reasons behind the inability to materialise movie adaptations on music legends.If films and shows about revolutionaries, scientists, sports icons, actors and even gangsters could be made, why could stories about music composers and singers not be transcended on the silver-screen?Biopics, an ode to musical legaciesMusical biopics aren't just meant for aesthetic storytelling. Their influence has been felt even though there aren't any official adaptations on musicians so far.The Netflix documentary series 'The Roshans' (2025), based on the three generations of a Bollywood family legacy, is a testament to the charisma of iconic composers. While audiences were overjoyed to see the filmmaking and acting journeys of Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan respectively, they also appreciated the documentation of Rajesh Roshan and Roshan Lal Nagrath's careers in Hindi film industry.advertisementDespite being a much-revered name in the Hindi music scene, the late Roshan's contributions weren't much known to the current generation (Gen Z). There was a lack of enough documentation or promotion on his life and career. It took a mainstream actor-director father-son duo to back a show on their family's cinematic feat.Similarly, the docu-series 'Angry Young Men' (2024) based on the screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar was instrumental in unpacking their life story. Had Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, not taken the intiative to back the project, today's youth would not have known the struggles of an iconic partnership that created classics of Hindi cinema.However, it is also worth noting that not many artists have the privilege or the resources to document or adapt their life on celluloid. In such a scenario, what happens to the musical legacy of these mavericks?Musicians and singers not given importanceWhy have Indian filmmakers not been able to unravel the lives of Hindi film musicians and singers on-screen, despite their rich musical legacy? As Hollywood has paid a musical ode to the artistic contributions of Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Bob Dylan and Elton John, Hindi cinema still awaits biopics on Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, and KL Sehgal.advertisementSinger Kumar Sanu, who is credited with recording over 18,000 songs in his musical career spanning four decades, in an exclusive interview with India Today, emphasised how the contributions of playback singers are often overlooked in the Hindi film industry.Sanu feels that in the Indian entertainment industry, singers are not given as much importance as they are given in Hollywood. He said, "In Hollywood, singers and actors are given the same amount of respect and importance. In Bollywood, however, singers are not considered as important as actors, even though they truly are.""Every singer listed has helped build the careers of many, but because the audience only sees the actor on screen, they often overlook the contributions of singers," the singer went on.Sanu also mentioned the possible perception regarding biopics on music legends not being profitable to producers. He further said, "Maybe Bollywood thinks it wouldn't be profitable to make biopics about these legends, but people would, and definitely should, watch them."Music has also been regarded as the USP of Hindi cinema. Yet not much has been documented about yesteryear composers and singers. Sanu, while reflecting on the lack of awareness about Hindi music legends, said, "The music industry used to be very underrated. Back then, they didn't have social media platforms, so all the fame and admiration artists received was natural and purely talent-based."advertisement"Today's generation mostly talks about what they see on their phones. There should be more awareness, but that has to be initiated by the industry and, unfortunately, they don't prioritise that," he added.If no films were made about Indian music icons at par with Hollywood, how would the country's youth resonate with them? How can a cinematic depiction of Bollywood's musical legacy influence the present generation?Sanu, known for his reigning aura and fame in 90's Bollywood, reflected on how the struggles of yesteryear's composers and singers could be an inspiring success story for the youth.The 'Aashiqui' (1990) singer, whose father Pashupati Bhattacharya was a music teacher, highlighted how today's generation could connect with artists from humble beginnings, creating exceptional music.He said, "The most powerful thing that any generation can connect with in the stories of music icons is their struggle and passion. Not everyone is privileged.""Seeing how someone like RD Burman made music out of everyday objects, or how composers created songs anywhere, anytime, even without instruments, can be deeply inspiring. Just because someone doesn't have the tools doesn't mean they're not good enough," the singer added.Tanishk Bagchi, who dons many hats of a composer, singer, lyricist and music producer, in an exclusive interaction with India Today, linked the relevance of musical biopics in influencing youth.Bagchi, born to musician parents Nand Kumar Bagchi and Sharmistha Dash, said, "As someone who lives and breathes music, I believe musical biopics on legends like Kishore da, Rafi sahab, or Lata ji aren't just nostalgia, they're masterclasses in emotion, resilience, and timeless artistry. For aspiring musicians, they show that it's not just about talent, but truth in every note."Potential of musical biopics as soft-powerThe music maestros of Bollywood have not just brought creative innovations to the music scene but also celebrated India's cultural legacy. Songs based on ancient ragas and collaboration with classical instruments like Sitar, Sarod, Veena, Shehnai, Tabla, etc. add up to the novelty of the golden period of Hindi film music.From devotional prayers, to folk music and jazz, hip-hop as well as songs about family bonds, multiculturalism, humanity and art, Indian musicians and singers have time and again proved their artistic finesse. Why can't India's iconic music be used as its soft-power, especially when every country pushes its artistic legacy in the digitally global age? Do we lack zeal and ability to promote our artists at par with K-Pop?Musical biopics are not mere cinematic adaptations to create sensation or add commercial value. It's also about honouring the musicians and singers who struggled through adversities to create world-class music. To honour the composers, singers and lyricists, aspiring filmmakers also need a better understanding of their journey.Films such as 'A Complete Unknown' (2024) or the upcoming Springsteen biopic resonate with the youth due to their depiction of the real-life challenges of musicians. The humane side of Dylan or Springsteen universally connects with audiences across language and cultural barriers. Hindi film music that has touched billions with its magic, can also amicably strike a chord with global audiences through musical biopics.While there is a lot of awareness related to filmmaking, the importance of music often gets neglected. Audiences and the entertainment industry will give more prominence to musical legends after a deeper understanding of the collaborative efforts. With inquisitive audiences who seek digital technology not just for entertainment but seeking knowledge and wisdom, there couldn't be a better time to explore the lives of Bollywood composers and singers.The effective use of modern-day storytelling can definitely pave the way for promising musical biopics in the long-run.Trending Reel

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