Chhaayaageet #158 - "If you scold me, I will leave."
The producer from the South approaches the superstar with a script. The superstar takes a read. He doesn't like it and expresses his inability to do the film. The producer is intent on wanting him. So he comes up with an idea. He hires the superstar's director friend to direct the film and tells him, "Now it is your responsibility to sign him to act."
The director and superstar are friends dating back to the superstar's first blockbuster hit. The masterstroke by the producer works like a charm. With the superstar on board, the rest of the star cast falls in place in no time.
The musician they bring on board as composer also has a good equation with the director and the superstar. They have delivered some great hits. He gets to work composing the title track.
At one music sitting, the composer sings the song for the lead singer. It is a long mukhda. Almost like a rap song. He sings about nine to ten lines of the lyrics without taking a breath.
The singer is astonished. He wonders if he is up to the task. He is not sure of himself. This doesn't happen usually. He relishes a challenge. But this? To sing like this? Without taking even a single breath?
"I can't sing this in one take", the singer tells the composer.
"Why don't you try at least?", the composer insists, trying to convince the singer.
The singer reluctantly agrees to give it a try. And to his utmost surprise he is able to sing it in one take, without taking a single breath. Wow! He is able to do it. He is in disbelief.
A date is set for the recording in the studio. Everyone is present at the appointed time. A few rehearsals take place. The composer's trained ear notices something. The singer is cheating! He is taking quick breaths while singing the long mukhda. The composer is not happy.
"Dada, you are not singing in one take. You need to sing in a single breath", the composer instructs the singer.
The singer is not having it. He has practiced and rehearsed this difficult song in the best way that he can sing it, and no one is going to tell him how to sing it.
With a deadpan look, he looks at the composer and says, "If you scold me, I will leave."
The composer smiles and they record the song the way the singer wants to sing it, taking quick and barely noticeable breaths in between.
Rajesh Roshan composed the music for Do Aur Do Paanch (1980), directed by Rakesh Kumar, produced by Sandow MMA Chinnappa Thevar. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi and Hema Malini. The title song Tune abhi dekha nahin is sung by the inimitable Kishore Kumar, lyrics by Anjaan.
Rakesh Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan were close friends from the days of Zanjeer, where Rakesh was AD to Prakash Mehra on the film.
In this version of the song, Amitabh pulls pranks on Shashi Kapoor. If you listen closely, you can notice the places where Kishore Kumar takes a quick breath.
There is an alternate version in which Shashi Kapoor turns the tables on a hapless Amitabh. The alternate version is sung by Rajesh Roshan, himself.
The tune of the antara, Jo soche jo chahe, is inspired from the Mexican song La Cucaracha.
Do Aur Do Paanch had both Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor in comedic roles playing off their chemistry together on screen and was very well enjoyed by the audience.
Music: Rajesh Roshan
Lyrics: Anjaan
Singers: Kishore Kumar (Amitabh Bachchan), Rajesh Roshan (Shashi Kapoor)
*ing: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor
Director: Rakesh Kumar
Producer: Sandow MMA Chinnappa Thevar
Film: Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)