From ‘FA9LA’ to ‘Kaho Na Kaho’: Arabic music that shaped Bollywood’s biggest hits

Bollywood has always been a melting pot of cultures, especially when it comes to music. Over the decades, Hindi cinema has borrowed, blended and beautifully reimagined sounds from around the world. One of its most striking musical relationships has been with Arabic music. From hypnotic folk refrains and mystical Sufi undertones to bass-heavy rap and desert-inspired beats, Arabic influences have shaped some of Bollywood’s most unforgettable songs.From retro classics to viral chartbusters, here is a timeline of how Arabic music carved its space in Hindi cinema.