Musical tambola, also called musical housie, is the kitty party favorite where tickets carry song titles instead of numbers. These free Bollywood musical tambola tickets have 15 songs each, in 3 rows of 5, from a list of 70 famous Hindi songs. Print up to 200 different tickets with a caller list and a rules page, or play musical tambola online on phones.
Musical tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show the musical tambola tickets: a page of six tickets in color, the same in black and white, the caller list with all 70 songs, and the one-page rules for the prizes. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the songs, the title and the number of tickets.
Musical tambola tickets: what is on a ticket
Each ticket has 15 squares in 3 rows of 5, and every square names a song with its film. The tickets are drawn from the same list of 70 songs, so the number of different tickets is huge: choosing 15 songs from 70 can be done in about 7.2 × 1014 ways, which is more than 700 trillion.
The 70 songs fall into four moods, which helps you plan the playlist:
| Mood | Songs | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Dance floor | 38 | Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna, Chaiyya Chaiyya, Bole Chudiyan, Say Shava Shava, Maahi Ve, Dola Re Dola |
| Romantic | 17 | Tujhe Dekha To, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Koi Mil Gaya, Tum Hi Ho, Raataan Lambiyan, Kesariya |
| Friendship and spirit | 8 | Kal Ho Naa Ho, Apna Time Aayega, Senorita, Kun Faya Kun, Masakali, All Izz Well |
| Retro classics | 7 | Mere Sapno Ki Rani, Yeh Dosti, Mehbooba Mehbooba, Lag Jaa Gale, Ek Do Teen, Chura Liya Hai Tumne |
How to play musical tambola
- Give every player a ticket and a pen, and keep the caller list yourself.
- Play a short clip of one song, usually the first lines.
- Players who find the song on their ticket strike it off.
- Early Five: the first player to strike off five songs.
- Top, Middle and Bottom Line: all five songs in a row.
- Full House: all 15 songs on the ticket.
Song tambola and musical housie: other names for the same game
Song tambola, musical housie and musical tambola are the same game, and the names depend on the region and the host. Hindi songs tambola, with the songs of Bollywood, is the most popular version at kitty parties in India, and you can see the same game played with film songs from other languages.
How long does the game last?
The prizes arrive at predictable moments. This simulation uses the 70 songs and tickets of 15 songs, with 10, 20 and 40 players, and shows the clip number at which each prize is usually won, with the middle half of the results in brackets.
| Players | Early Five (call) | First line (call) | Full House (call) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 players | 12 (10 to 14) | 34 (29 to 39) | 60 (57 to 62) |
| 20 players | 11 (9 to 12) | 30 (26 to 34) | 58 (55 to 60) |
| 40 players | 9 (8 to 11) | 26 (23 to 30) | 56 (53 to 58) |
The Early Five arrives after about 9 to 12 clips and the first line after about 26 to 34, so a typical game of three lines and a full house needs 60 clips. At 25 seconds a clip that is about 25 minutes, which is a good length for a kitty party game.
Musical tambola tickets for kitty parties
Musical tambola tickets suit a kitty party because they need no skill beyond knowing the songs, and the prizes can be as small as a chocolate. The host plays the clips and a helper strikes the songs on the caller list. Print one ticket per guest, and a few spares for latecomers.
Bollywood musical tambola tickets: how to choose songs
Bollywood musical tambola tickets work best when the list matches the guests. For an older group, replace the recent songs with 1960s and 1970s classics such as Lag Jaa Gale and Chura Liya Hai Tumne. For younger guests, add chart songs from the last two years. Keep at least 45 songs in the list, so tickets are different from each other.
Hindi songs tambola with antakshari
Hindi songs tambola goes well with antakshari. Play tambola first for a calm, seated game, and then turn the room into teams for antakshari. If you prefer numbers, use kitty party tambola, and if you want bingo cards instead of tickets, try Bollywood music bingo.
Run the game in six steps
- Choose the songs: keep the 70 starter songs or edit the list.
- Print: print one ticket for each guest, the caller list and the rules page.
- Prepare the playlist: save the songs in one list and shuffle it, or play from the caller list in order.
- Play: play a clip of 15 to 30 seconds and let guests sing along.
- Strike and claim: players strike off the songs and shout when they complete a prize.
- Check: the host checks the ticket against the caller list before giving a prize.
Prize ideas for the winners
- A box of chocolates for the Early Five
- A small pot plant or candle for each line
- A kitchen gadget or a gift voucher for the Full House
- A mock microphone for the best singer
- A set of movie posters for the group that sings loudest
Tips for the host
- Play just the mukhda of each song so the game moves quickly.
- For an older crowd, add more classics; for teenagers, add this year’s hits.
- Let guests sing along: a musical tambola should be noisy.
- Tick the songs on the caller list as you play them, so you can check a claim.
Wikipedia’s tombola article explains the history of the game and how the tickets are laid out.
Play Bollywood musical tambola online
Press Create game and share one link on WhatsApp. Every guest gets a different ticket on their phone, and you check winners by ticket number on your screen. You can personalize the songs before you start, and Download these cards (PDF) prints the same tickets for guests who prefer paper.
Musical tambola: frequently asked questions
What is musical tambola?
Tambola where each ticket has song names instead of numbers. The host plays the songs, and players strike off the titles on their ticket.
How many songs are on each ticket?
15, in three rows of five, like the 15 numbers on a normal tambola ticket.
Is musical housie the same as musical tambola?
Yes. Housie and tambola are two names for the same game, so musical housie, song tambola and musical tambola all mean tickets with songs instead of numbers.
Can I change the squares?
Yes. Every square is editable in the generator: add names, inside jokes or your own list, and the cards, the caller list and the online game all use your version.
Is it free to download and play?
Yes. Printable cards, the PDF download and the online game are all free, with no app and no sign-up.