Chhaayaageet #128 - “I will share the tune with you in the car and you can come up with lyrics on the way.”
The filmmaker is in New York to attend the New York Film Festival. He is promoting his current film which had been released earlier that year. While he is there, why not catch up with old friends.
This one happens to be an established psychologist. They start catching up on old times. But he is a psychologist by trade. The line of questioning changes. It shifts to his love life or rather the lack of it. It’s hard for the filmmaker to hide his pain.
His life has been a story of unrequited love. So much love to give from one side and only emptiness from the other side. In spite of the pain, he always believed unrequited love was so much bigger. Nothing to divide. All that love, just for one person.
As he is walking back to his hotel, a story starts to build up. There is something to be said about New York City. No wonder it is known as "a city of broken hearts".
The next 30 days he spends writing the screenplay. Music will be the soul of the film. Otherwise, it is hard to communicate unrequited love. This is close to his heart. Pretty much his own story.
The composer and lyricist have been decided. They have worked with each other in the past. The lyricist is a wordsmith with lightning speed. The composer is a master of delayed gratification. He knows that his best work comes when he takes his time and allows his ideas to mature. Not exactly a match made in heaven.
There is a meeting scheduled with the filmmaker for that evening. The filmmaker is known to approve or reject tunes on the spot. He has made it clear. The songs have to be on specific situations and not any unnecessary romantic melodies.
The lyricist has been trying to get in touch with the composer since morning. Phone call after phone call but no response. The clock is ticking and anxiety is rising. Let me try again. The composer finally picks up.
Lyricist: “Where are you? I have been trying to get in touch with you since morning. We are meeting the filmmaker in the evening. I need the tune soon.”
Composer: “I know. I am working on it and will send it to you right away.”
This makes the lyricist feel better. He goes about his routine. Another couple of hours go by. Nothing from the composer yet. The anxiety meter is up again.
Lyricist: “What happened? You promised to send the tune. I need some time to write the lyrics”
Composer: “I am almost done. I promise.”
It is late afternoon now. He starts talking to himself. “If he sends it sometime soon, I can still do my magic.” Another couple of hours pass by. There is a knock on the door. Who is bothering him now at this hour?
He opens the door with a frustrated look on his face. Lo and behold! It is the composer himself there at his doorstep.
“Let’s go. It’s getting late. We have a meeting with the filmmaker.” The composer is making the lyricist feel guilty instead. “What do you mean? You haven’t given me the tune. I haven’t written anything. What are we going to play for him? We have to postpone this meeting.” The lyricist is pleading at this point. “Don’t worry. We have to go to Khar. From Oshiwara to Khara, it will take almost an hour with traffic. I will share the tune with you in the car and you can come up with lyrics on the way.” The lyricist is perplexed. He feels the composer is talking under the influence of a controlled substance.
They both hurry to the car downstairs. While the driver maneuvers them through the Mumbai traffic, the composer shares the tune and the lyricist comes up with the necessary lyrics. They both show up on time at the filmmaker’s place. Being spontaneous, the filmmaker doesn't waste any time. He loves the tune and approves the song on the spot. He even decides to change the title of the movie to match the song lyrics.
Pritam composed the music and Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote the lyrics for the song Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which was also the title song of the namesake film. Karan Johar not only produced and directed but also wrote the story as well as the screenplay. The film is loosely based on Karan Johar’s adult life and his experiences with unrequited love.
Amitabh wrote the lyrics of the song sitting in the backseat of a car while he and Pritam were on their way to meet Karan Johar. The song was approved by Karan Johar immediately after listening to it for the first time. Prior to listening to the song he had tentatively put down Ae Dil as the film title but after the song he changed it to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. An optional track to the title track was also recorded called Tu Jo Mila but was later used for the soundtrack of the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Pritam initially wrote the lines as Kyunki Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, but it was later updated by Kausar Munir to Kyunki Tu Dhadkan, Main Dil for Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
The music of ADHM was very situational with every song exhibiting specific emotions felt during that particular scene. This is what Karan Johar communicated to both, Pritam and Amitabh as his expectations and they both delivered beyond what he expected. Among the more popular songs, Bulleya incorporates the Sufi genre whereas the song Channa Mereya is a fusion folk track but both songs reflect the emotional sentiment of the protagonist. On the picturization of the title track, the entire first stanza of the song holds focus on Ranbir Kapoor’s eyes. He is singing and the entire expression and the mood of the song is reflected through his eyes.
The film was the subject of controversy due to the casting of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. This was opposed by some Indian political parties and groups, who argued that it was inappropriate to cast a Pakistani actor in a Bollywood film due to recent terrorist attacks.
Arijit Singh won the Filmfare Best Playback Singer for this song. Pritam won the award for Best Composer and Amitabh Bhattacharya won the Best Lyricist.
Music: Pritam
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer: Arijit Singh
*ing: Ranbir Kapoor
Producer/Director/Story/Screenplay: Karan Johar
Film: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)