Special songs often draw large audiences easily. A single exciting hook step and a catchy rhythm can quickly captivate young viewers. We have seen this repeatedly, with tracks like “Oo Antava” and “Kudichi Madatha Petti” consistently reaching billions of views online. However, 2025 proved to be an unusual year for this genre. Several supposedly guaranteed hit item numbers were released, but most failed to generate any significant buzz.
The first entry on our list is “Madira,” featuring Arjun Reddy star Shalini Pandey. This track comes from the upcoming Bollywood movie “Rahu Ketu,” which also stars Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma. The song felt uninspired, lacking any memorable hook, energy, or glamorous appeal. It attempts to be alluring but ultimately sounds uncertain of its own mood. For a special song, that essential spark is everything.
Next up is Shriya Saran’s “Kanakam” from the film “Non-Violence,” which includes Metro Shirish. Even with Yuvan Shankar Raja’s composition, the song lacks momentum. There was no chemistry between the performers, and its visual presentation was unremarkable. The track appears to strive excessively for sexiness, losing sight of the need to be entertaining.
The third spot goes to a song from the major Tamil production “Genie,” starring Jayam Ravi and Krithi Shetty. This particular track features both Krithi and Kalyani Priyadarshan, who are known for their strong screen presence. Despite this, the energy somehow failed to connect. It comes across as polished but empty, much like an attractive picture frame missing its core.
Number four on our list is the item track “Akeli Laika” from “Baaghi 4,” featuring Tiger Shroff and Sonam Bajwa. Both the song and the movie struggled to find an audience. It had no spark and no lasting impression. While Sonam certainly looks good, the music itself offered her little to work with.
Rounding out the list at number five is “Poison Baby” from Rashmika Mandanna’s horror-comedy “Thama,” featuring Malaika Arora. Despite a prominent name, an iconic dancer, and a promising concept, the song made almost no impact. It appeared and disappeared as if in a rush.
However, 2025 was not a complete drought for special songs. Tamannaah Bhatia kept the genre alive with two successful tracks: “Ghafoor’s track” from her Bollywood web series and “Nasha” from “Raid 2.” Both songs delivered the excitement, rhythm, and confidence that many other releases throughout the year seemed to miss.
This list highlights the item songs from 2025 that, despite high expectations, failed to make a lasting impression on audiences.