The best Chand songs in Bollywood include Khoya Khoya Chand (Kala Bazar, 1960), Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho (1960), Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964), Chand Chhupa Badal Mein (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999) and Chand Sifarish (Fanaa, 2006). Below are 10 moon songs, with singers, composers and the story behind each.
Hindi film lyricists have used the moon for everything: a lover’s face, a child’s lullaby, a secret message, a night of waiting. That is why “chand” turns up in some of the most loved songs across six decades. We have refreshed our original list of seven, corrected one wrong film credit and added three songs readers kept asking about.
Chand songs at a glance
| Song | Film (Year) | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Khoya Khoya Chand | Kala Bazar (1960) | Mohammed Rafi |
| Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho | Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) | Mohammed Rafi |
| Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra | Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) | Mohammed Rafi |
| Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein | Padosan (1968) | Kishore Kumar |
| Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu | Aradhana (1969) | Lata Mangeshkar |
| Chand Mera Dil | Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977) | Mohammed Rafi |
| Chand Taare | Yes Boss (1997) | Abhijeet |
| Gali Mein Aaj Chand Nikla | Zakhm (1998) | Alka Yagnik |
| Chand Chhupa Badal Mein | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik |
| Chand Sifarish | Fanaa (2006) | Shaan, Kailash Kher |
10 best Chand songs Bollywood has given us
1. Khoya Khoya Chand (Kala Bazar, 1960)
Vijay Anand’s Kala Bazar gave us this easy, breezy night song with Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. Mohammed Rafi sings it, S.D. Burman composed it and Shailendra wrote the words. The line “khoya khoya chand, khula aasmaan” still sums up a sleepless, dreamy night better than most modern songs.
2. Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho (Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960)
The title song of the Guru Dutt production compares the beloved to the full moon of the fourteenth night. Rafi’s voice, Ravi’s music and Shakeel Badayuni’s lyrics made it one of the most quoted compliments in Hindi cinema. Waheeda Rehman is on screen, and the song is still the standard way to call someone beautiful in Hindi.
3. Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964)
Shammi Kapoor at his most playful, serenading Sharmila Tagore in Kashmir. Shakti Samanta directed the film, O.P. Nayyar composed the music and S.H. Bihari wrote the lyrics. Rafi sang four solos for Shammi in this film, and this is the one that stayed.
4. Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein (Padosan, 1968)
Here the moon is a girl next door: “ek chand ka tukda rehta hai”. Kishore Kumar sings it, R.D. Burman composed it, and in the film it is part of the comic plan to win over Saira Banu’s character. It remains the go-to song for anyone with a crush across the street.
5. Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu (Aradhana, 1969)
The only lullaby on this list. Lata Mangeshkar sings it for Sharmila Tagore’s character, with music by S.D. Burman and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Aradhana also starred Rajesh Khanna in a double role, and this song became a favourite with an entire generation of mothers.
6. Chand Mera Dil (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, 1977)
Correction: our earlier version credited this song to Yaadon Ki Baraat. It is from Nasir Hussain’s Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, with music by R.D. Burman and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Rafi’s “chand mera dil, chandni ho tum” is a stage performance in the film and still a wedding sangeet staple.
7. Chand Taare (Yes Boss, 1997)
Shah Rukh Khan’s character wants the moon and the stars, quite literally. Abhijeet sings this cheerful number, composed by Jatin-Lalit with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. It is one of the best examples of SRK’s 90s screen energy. For more 90s nostalgia, head to our Bollywood section.
8. Gali Mein Aaj Chand Nikla (Zakhm, 1998)
Mahesh Bhatt’s Zakhm is a heavy film, but this song is pure longing: a lover returns and the whole lane feels lit up. Alka Yagnik sings it, M.M. Kreem (Keeravani) composed it and Anand Bakshi wrote it. Keeravani later won an Oscar for “Naatu Naatu” from RRR.
9. Chand Chhupa Badal Mein (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film had Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai flirting on a rooftop on the night of Karva Chauth. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik sing it, Ismail Darbar composed it and Mehboob wrote the lyrics. The hide-and-seek idea of the moon behind the clouds fits the scene perfectly.
10. Chand Sifarish (Fanaa, 2006)
Aamir Khan and Kajol’s Fanaa gave the 2000s its own moon song. Shaan and Kailash Kher sing it, Jatin-Lalit composed it and Prasoon Joshi wrote it. The idea that the moon itself is recommending the lover still makes it a top pick on romantic playlists 20 years later.
Why Bollywood keeps going back to the moon
The moon works for lyricists because it means many things at once. It can stand for beauty (Chaudhvin Ka Chand), distance (Chand Chhupa Badal Mein), a child (Chanda Hai Tu) or simply a long night (Khoya Khoya Chand). It also fits festivals like Karva Chauth and Eid, which films use often.
Most of these songs are easy to find on YouTube and on music apps like Spotify, JioSaavn and Apple Music under the film’s soundtrack. For more lists like this, browse our listicles section.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most famous Chand song in Bollywood?
Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho (1960) and Khoya Khoya Chand (1960), both sung by Mohammed Rafi, are the most widely remembered. Among newer songs, Chand Sifarish from Fanaa (2006) is the most played.
Who sang Chand Sifarish?
Shaan and Kailash Kher sang Chand Sifarish for Fanaa (2006). The music is by Jatin-Lalit and the lyrics are by Prasoon Joshi.
Which film is Chand Mera Dil from?
Chand Mera Dil is from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), with music by R.D. Burman and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. It is not from Yaadon Ki Baraat.
Which Chand song is a lullaby?
Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu from Aradhana (1969), sung by Lata Mangeshkar, is the best-known moon lullaby in Hindi film music.
Sources: Kala Bazar on Wikipedia, Fanaa on Wikipedia, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam on Wikipedia, Zakhm on Wikipedia.
