Glossary · glossary · 1 min read
Mukhda
मुखड़ा; the hook of a film song
Mukhda, literally “face”, is the opening section of a Hindi film song, with its first lines sung to the main melody. These lines return after every verse and usually give the song its title.
What does mukhda mean?
Mukhda literally means “face”. In a Hindi film song, it is the opening section: the first lines, sung to the main melody. These lines return after every verse and usually give the song its title.
Think of the part of a film song you recognise from the first two seconds and hum for the rest of the day. That returning opening tune is its mukhda.
This is a short definition with one example. For the full explanation, read Mukhda and antara: how a film song is built.
Where can I read more about mukhda?
That BeatRootRaga learning page moves from this brief definition and example to the full explanation of how a film song is built.
It explains the relationship between the mukhda, the returning opening section, and the antara, a verse with new words and melody. In a typical Hindi film song, the opening lines return after every verse. Those lines are sung to the main melody and usually give the song its title.
Keep going
- Mukhda and antara: how a film song is built · In a typical Hindi film song, the mukhda is the returning opening section, while an antara is a verse with new words and melody. This pattern comes from Hindustani classical music; listen for the verse climbing higher, then leading back to the opening tune.