Chhaayaageet #156 - “Ye koi TV serial nahin hai, meri agli film ka music aap compose rahe ho.”

The composer is busy with his latest film. It has been quite a journey from being just a music assistant or an arranger and now being able to compose his own music. He had a partner composer for part of the journey who unfortunately is no more. The show must go on.

The phone rings. There is a female voice on the other end. “Bhai saheb, ek music album ke baare mein baat karni thi. Hum chahte hain ki app iska music compose karen.” Brother, I wanted to talk to you about a music album. We want you to compose the music.

The composer wants to know more. “Kya album hai ye aur gaane kaun ga raha hai?” What is this album about and who is singing the songs? She responds right away. “Ye, Didi ka album hai. Sai bhajans ki album hai ye.” This is Sister's album. The songs are Sai bhajans. Oh, this is Didi’s album. Who doesn't know Didi? Who in their right mind wouldn't want to compose for her?

The recordings begin. The composer had gotten his first break from a film based on Sai Baba. He and his late partner had a knack for bhajans. They were known to use the big orchestra but the melodies touched people like they were sitting in a temple.

There is a strange man who accompanies Didi during each recording. After recording each song in the album, he asks the composer, “Is this your composition?” And each time the composer replies, “Yes, it is my composition.” Sometimes the compositions are from his late partner but they were a team. It's very perplexing. Why does this man care?

This goes on for a while. Finally, the composer is tired. “Why do you keep asking me after every tune? Don’t you trust me?” The strange man responds, “You see we are planning to do a film out of a TV serial. We would like you to compose the music. Are you ready for that?” The composer has a smile on his face. “Humara kaam hai compose karna to zaroor karenge.” Our job is to compose music and we will definitely do that.

Both of them discuss a few situations for tunes. A week later, the composer calls the man home to listen to the tunes. The strange man has a big grin after he hears the tunes. “Kya aap ye tunes Yashji ko sunana chaahoge?” Would you like to play these tunes for Yashji? What!!! Nobody ever says no to Yash Chopra in this industry. A meeting is fixed.

The composer reaches Yash Chopra's residence. He walks Yashji through the tunes that he has already prepared. Yashji is quite impressed and gestures to a few folks including his wife, Pam, to come and listen. They all like what they hear. Yashji turns to the composer, “Papaji, aap dher saari tunes compose karne ke liye tayyar ho jaiye. Hum aapko situations bataate hain.” Papaji, get ready to compose a whole bunch of tunes. We will provide you the different situations.

4-5 months go by.

The composer is back at Yashji’s residence with all tunes prepared. The team goes through all the tunes. Yashji says to the composer, “Papaji, hume jo chhaiye thi woh tunes humne select kar li hai.” Papaji, we have selected the tunes that we want. But it looks like Yashji has something more to say. “Ek aur baat. Ye koi TV serial nahin hai, meri agli film ka music aap compose rahe ho.” One more thing. This is no TV serial. You are composing my next film's music.

The next step is to get some lyrics written down for those tunes. Everybody is invited again back at Yashji’s residence. The lyricist is running late. There is one tune that is on the borderline of getting chopped. You can sense everybody’s indifference to that tune. The composer has also started doubting himself.

Just then Yashji’s younger son, Uday, walks into the room. “Arre Uday, yahan aa aur baith. Mein tujhe ek tune sunaata hoon.” Uday, come sit here. I want you to hear this tune. The composer plays the tune. The tune has a completely different impact on Uday. He turns towards Yashji, “Papa, this tune is fantastic.” This makes everyone come back to the edge of their seat. Maybe they were all wrong about this tune after all. Yashji excitedly tells the composer, “Kuch lyrics dallo iss tune mein.” Put some lyrics in this tune.

The composer tries his best to insert meaningful words and replays the tune on his harmonium. No reactions from anyone. He tries something different. Still no reaction. The composer feels this tune is probably back on the chopping block.

Just then the lyricist walks in the door. The composer once again walks him through the tune and Yashji explains him the situation. The lyricist has a different urgency. “Mein abhi bas bathroom jaakar aata hoon.” I will go to the bathroom and be back. What is this attitude? He comes in late, and now he is off to the bathroom. There is a sense of frustration in the room for his behavior. In the film industry, you have to deal with the idiosyncrasies of the talented people. The lyricist returns back. He is still wiping his hands with his handkerchief. He sits down. “Bajao woh tune ek baar phir.” Play the tune again. As soon as the tune rolls, the lyricist starts dropping pearls, which becomes the mukhda of the song.

Uttam Singh composed the music for the song Arre re arre ye kya hua in the film Dil To Pagal Hai with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The film is produced and directed by Yash Chopra and other family members. The playback is provided by Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan. The song is picturised on Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit.

Uttam Singh was a very unusual choice for Yash Chopra. His previous romantic hit Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge was composed by Jatin Lalit and the next one Mohabbatein was again with Jatin Lalit. But he made an exception with Dil To Pagal Hai. The reason was Sanjiv Kohli. When Uttam Singh was doing the Shirdi Sai Baba album with Lataji, Sanjiv Kohli was engaged with them during that period. He heard the compositions that Uttam Singh made for the album and told Yash Chopra about him. Yashji pressure-tested him on several tunes before he was convinced and then revealed that he would be composing for Yashraj films.

The tune for the song Are re are ye kya hua was something Uttam Singh played for the Yashraj team for over 5-6 months. They were not impressed with what they heard until they heard the lyrics from Anand Bakshi. To his credit, Anand Bakshi made the lyrics over a bathroom trip. Everybody loved the tune and lyrics when they came together and the rest is history.

At the 43rd Filmfare Awards Dil To Pagal Hai bagged several awards. Uttam Singh won for Best Music Director, Yash Chopra for Best Film, Shah Rukh Khan for Best Actor, and Madhuri Dixit for Best Actress.

Lataji and Udit Narayan performing this song live on stage.

Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Uttam Singh
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan
*ing: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit
Producer/Director: Yash Chopra
Film: Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)