Armaan Mallik to Gauahar Khan: Songs that make celebs think of their mother!

Ma, mom, mummy, aai... call her by any name but for every child, their mother is the first friend he/she makes and the closest confidante they have in their lives. Over the years, hundreds of songs have been written in praise of mothers, some describing her qualities, some in praise of the unique bond she shares with her children. And while there are so many songs, there is always one that resonates with us when we think of our mothers. Celebs tell After Hrs about the one song they would like to dedicate to their mother, on the occasion of Mother’s Day today...

Kunal Rawal, fashion designer

Strawberries Cherries by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood is my mother’s favourite song and is loaded with memories. From as long as I can recall, the Nancy-Lee album would always play when parties would be hosted in our house. It’s stuck in our collective memories and it reminds me of her. It’s gone on her cakes too (laughs). Her younger childhood memories are related to the song and that’s the connect we have with the song.

Surily Goel, fashion designer

Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. Because no one loves you as pure and unconditionally as your maa.

Gauahar Khan, actor

I would like to dedicate the song Mumma from the film Dasvidaniya. I feel that it is the most innocent way that anyone has described a mother, and the tune sounds very real. Also, when I think of my mother, it’s all about innocence and how cute and loving she is and sometimes she can be silly and a terror because she has been very strict all through my childhood. But now, she has become a child so it’s the irony of it that makes me laugh and I find that song the cutest.

Candice Pinto, model

I would like to dedicate Hero by Mariah Carey to my mother. She has been a pillar of support to our family through thick and thin and has always guided my siblings and me to do what’s right. She’s brought us up with love and to be responsible and humble, no matter where life takes us.

Armaan Mallik, singer

My mother is my whole life. Whatever I am today or will be in the future I owe to this beautiful, loving and caring woman I call my mom. The song I would like to dedicate (actually, it’s a reverse dedication) is Fix You by Coldplay, wherein I feel these are the lyrics she is singing for me. When there’s any problem in my life, she’s the only one to tell me it’s okay and she is my guiding light.

Arjun Kanungo singer

I dedicate Boys 2 Men to my mom because the song is about someone who helped someone learn how to be a man. And she is that for me.

Ankit Tiwari, singer-composer

I would like to dedicate the song Ma Hai Mohobbat Ka Naam by Mohommad Rafi from Ma Ka Aanchal, it’s an old song and Mohommad Rafi sir is one of my favourites. The song emits a perfect emotion a mom has for her children.

Nikhita Gandhi, singer

I see my mom as the protagonist of a really cool modern-day superwoman comic series! She is a practicing dental surgeon in Kolkata aka fighting crime and protecting people from dental trauma since 1987, juggled that career with raising me, being there for every dance and music recital, wore yellow in every sports day of mine, supervised my studies so I didn’t have to take a tuition in my life, fights and argues with me like a sister, posts about every song and article of mine even before I come to know about it! She is literally superwoman. I couldn’t wish for a better role model! The song I want to dedicate to her is  Oh My Mama, by Alela Diane, which I had sung for my mum a couple of years back.

Gino Banks, musician

I want to dedicate Lady in Blue to her. It’s a song dad (Louiz Banks) wrote for mum. It’s got a pretty melody but also some sections with beautiful yet intense harmony. A great amalgamation of sound that defines mum.

Manasi Scott, singer

Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings. My mom is my hero and the lyrics are apt for her.

Sorabh Pant, stand-up comedian and writer

I think we had Bieber fever right now, I’m going with Bieber for dedicating for my mom. Everyone’s very emo and s*** like all ‘let’s dedicate all senitmental songs to my mother’ and stuff like that. I think I want to dedicate two songs to my mom. One is Baby and the second one is Sorry because I assume those are the two thoughts my mother had before and after she had me (laughs).  

Nakuul Mehta, actor

Lukka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti is a song I’d like to dedicate to my mother this Mother’s Day. There hasn’t been a single occasion when I’ve heard this song and not thought about my own mother. Also, this film itself and the juncture where this song comes is was so beautiful and heartbreaking that it is hard not to have your own associated memories with it. It takes me to my childhood, all those memories I so fondly cherish with my mother.

Anuvab Pal, stand-up comedian and writer

My mother is always scolding me for dressing badly at my shows so I’d like to dedicate The Rolling Stones song, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Which means, I bought a clean shirt to wear at my next show.

Maria Goretti, celebrity chef and food enthusiast

I would dedicate Que Sera, Sera to my mom. My mum embodies this song. It encourages you to live every moment of your life in the now. You have to make the most of what you have, and you also have to know that no matter what happens in your life whether really fabulous or completely terrible it will eventually lead you to a place that is good for you.

Gautam Rode, actor

Maa Meri Maa Pyaari Maa Mumma from Dasvidaniya. It’s the best song I have heard which is woven around mother and son relationship and the lyrics are apt.

Deepti Gujral, model

One of my favourite songs is I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. It’s an incredible song and I would love to dedicate this to her as I know she loves it too.

Payal Singhal, designer

Ajeeb Daastan Hai Ye from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi. It’s filmed on Meena Kumari and is my mom’s favourite song. It also kind of embodies her spirit in life.

Sumeet Raghvan, actor 

My mummy will turn 77, this September. She is an ardent Lata didi fan so I would love to dedicate Lag Jaa Gale on Mother’s Day to her. In fact, any old Hindi song is a perfect dedication for my mother.

Ashiesh Shah, architect

I would like to dedicate Angels by Randy Travis to her. To the love that is most unconditional and selfless just like an angel. She’s my guardian angel.

Rakhee Vaswani, chef

I would pick Tu Kitni Achhi Hai by Neha Kakkar for her as this song describes what she is as a person. She is the most generous, helpful and supportive pillar of my life. She has always helped me not only with my personal life but also my business. She never says no to me and is always looking out for me and that is why I would like to dedicate this song to her.

Falguni Peacock, fashion designer 

My dad passed away when I was 16. What I am today is because of my mother. She taught me that nothing is impossible. So I would like to dedicate the song Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

Alesia Raut, model

I would dedicate the song Mama from Spice Girls to my mother. I really like the lyrics of the song and can totally connect with it because for me, my mother is also like a friend.

Nachiket Barve, fashion designer

I would like to dedicate the beautiful Pi’s Lullaby track from the OST of Life of Pi to my mother. It reminds me of the lullabies she would sing to me as a child and there’s something so beautiful about the soothing love that a mother has for her children in the notes of that song. It’s the sound that puts children to bed and comforts and soothes them to sleep.

Arzan Khambatta, sculptor and artist 

The only song that comes to mind is Maa by Shankar Mahadevan from Taare Zameen Par. It touches my heart every time I hear it. It’s the only song, which perfectly exemplifies the feeling I have for her. And as I said before it automatically triggers a connect for me.

Kushal Tandon, actor

The song I would want to dedicate to my mother is Maa from the movie Taare Zameen Par, because I can relate to the situation and emotions of the song. I was four when I was sent to a boarding school.