Chhaayaageet #126 - “Ye gaana jab aayega na, tab jaan le lega”
When this song comes out, it's going to kill it.
It's been ten long years. Once upon a time he was a top composer in the industry. The filmmakers who he used to share a good relationship with in his heydays have shunned him. Knocks on doors of even the big stars have gone in vain. Phone calls have been ignored. The rejection and humiliation might drive someone insane, but he has managed to stay afloat, keeping the creativity alive within, waiting for that one chance to prove himself all over again. Still, it's been ten long years. Ten. Long. Years.
Then, one day he gets a text. "I may have something for you." It is from the head of a very popular and influential production house, with a storied history of films. The same person who he had approached for work in the past, only to meet with silence.
The head of the production house is looking at the next slate of films to go on the floors. He is done with the fast paced action romance type of films. He wants to reconnect with the soil of the earth, touch the common man and tell his story. He goes back to a script that had come to him 7 years ago. It is from a young filmmaker, who has written a few films and dialogues, directed one, but nothing of note.
The composer arrives at the production house offices, with his harmonium in tow. The industry has moved on to razzle dazzle techno pop music making, but he is a purist who always carries his harmonium everywhere.
The head honcho asks the composer as they get settled, "What are you doing these days?" The composer doesn't respond. How do you say that you have no work?
The head honcho tells him about a script. It needs rustic music, something from the heartland, something from two decades ago. But it will ultimately be the director's decision. Here is the most influential man in the film industry, who has selected a script from a no-name director, and says it is still the director's decision? How much trust and leeway!
The director is called into the office.
"Let's give you a situation and let's see", the director says. He explains the situation. Hero and heroine are newly married. It is their first meaningful interaction after marriage. The boy is upset with the girl. She has prepared his favorite food but he doesn't eat. It's not all hunky dory between them. It's night time and the location is Haridwar. We need a semi-classical song in the background. It's a montage song and not a lip-sync song.
That's the brief. They ask the composer, this veteran composer, to come back with something. The composer hears the brief and has a different interpretation. This is his golden opportunity to make a comeback. He wants to compose something that will outlive the film and stand the test of time long after people have seen the film.
The composer hangs around in the studio. The night has fallen. He starts humming a tune and plays around with it using his shehnai and harmonium. The note is stuck in his head. As he is humming, the director and the head of the production house walk in. With them, there is another new young boy.
"This is the lyricist. He is very talented. If he writes something will you make something?" They ask the composer.
"I have a tune, let me play it", the composer plays the tune.
"It is lovely", replies the lyricist. In a few days he calls the composer.
"I have a mukhada for the song", says the lyricist. They get together and jam. The opening words are from a poem the lyricist has written some years back for his girlfriend.
As they sit together, the tune and the lyrics for the antara emerge together. The director also likes what's coming out of them. The discussion turns to who should sing the song. A lot of names are thrown around. The composer rejects all of them.
"I have heard this singer in Delhi at a function. He has a very heavy bass in his voice. But he is very difficult to get hold of", the composer says. Everyone asks him to call this singer.
The phone rings. The singer picks it up. He hears what the composer has to say, and immediately agrees, "Sir mein aata hoon". Sir, I will come immediately.
The singer makes an appearance. The moment he hears the song, he turns around to the director and says, "You know what? Ye gaana jab aayega na, tab jaan le lega." When this song comes out, it is going to kill it.
The composer is filled with hope upon hearing this. These singers nowadays sing so many songs, they do so many shows, and they are exposed to so much music.
The song is recorded and everyone is pleased with it.
One day the director comes to the composer and says, "We need this song from the girl's point of view." Again, a lot of names are thrown around as to who should sing it.
The composer recalls a girl who he has seen few years ago in a reality show where he was a judge. She had left the stage in tears and he had promised her, "One day you will sing for me." He suggests her name to the film team. She has a beautiful melodious voice.
The head of the production studio hears the final recording and says to the composer, "I think this is your finest composition."
Anu Malik composed the songs, including Ye moh moh ke dhaage, for Yash Raj Films production Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), written and directed by Sharat Kataria, lyrics by Varun Grover. The film stars Ayushmann Khurana and Bhumi Pednekar, playback for this song by Papon and Monali Thakur.
DLKH was Anu Malik's comeback film after Main Hoon Na in 2004, after a long gap of 10 years during which he went without work.
The film and its music was immensely liked and a hit at the box office. It was an unusual film from the YRF stable, with Aditya Chopra having great conviction in the script and the team. Papon, Monali Thakur and Varun Grover were all nominated for Filmfare Awards in the respective categories of Best Male Playback Singer, Best Female Playback Singer, and Best Lyricist. Bhumi Pednekar won the Filmfare for Best Female Debut. Manu Anand won the Filmfare for Best Cinematography. At the National Film Awards, DLKH won Best Feature Film in Hindi, Monali Thakur won Best Female Playback Singer, and Varun Grover won for Best Lyrics.
Enjoy the video of Anu Malik and Papon rehearsing the song.
Enjoy the video of Papon and Monali Thakur performing the song live.
Music: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Varun Grover
Singers: Papon, Monali Thakur
*ing: Ayushmann Khurana, Bhumi Pednekar
Director: Sharat Kataria
Production: Aditya Chopra, YRF
Film: Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)