Chhaayaageet #211 - "Gullu, yeh to gaana ho gaya!"
The composer and lyricist have a deep friendship. They frequent each other's apartments even outside of any work, so much so that the composer would call up the lyricist's wife and ask her to cook something special for him. This would be a normal occurrence three to four times a week.
The composer would grow green chillies in a small pot in his apartment and would take them along with him. He is also a wonderful chef himself.
One day he calls the lyricist's home and talks to the lyricist's wife, "Anju, mein tere liye jhinga machhli banake laa raha hoon. Tu mere liye saag bana." Anju, I am making prawns for you and bringing it over. You make spinach curry for me.
The composer takes his culinary creation over with him. They sit down to eat.
The lyricist wonders what happened to his friend's cooking today. The prawns his dear friend has made are not tasting as delicious like they normally do. He wonders how to tell this.
The composer senses something to be amiss. He asks the lyricist, "Gullu, kya hua, aaj kuch pasand nahi aaya tujhe?" Gullu, what happened, didn't you like it today?
The lyricist confesses, "Haan yaar, aaj acchi nahin bani hai." Yes my friend, today it has not turned out good.
The composer clarifies, "Yaar aaj maine Bangali wali nahin banayi. Aaj maine Marathi wali banayi hai." Friend, today I have not prepared it Bengali style. Today I have prepared it Marathi style.
The lyricist registers a complaint, "Aise kyun experiment karta hai tu? Gaane ke saath karta hai theek hai. Tu Bangali jhinga machhli banata hai to Bangali hi banaya kar." Why do you experiment like this? You experiment with songs, that's ok. You always make Bangali style fish then just make Bangali style.
The lyricist finishes his food. The composer is still working on the spinach curry made by Anju, the lyricist's wife.
The lyricist feels bad that he expressed displeasure about what his friend has so lovingly prepared. He speaks out his mind, "Yaar, tu kitne bhi sitam kar le magar ye pyar to na hoga kam." Friend, you can oppress us as much as you want, but this love for you will never lessen.
The composer's ears perk up and his eyes grow bigger. He says, "Gullu, kya bola tu? Phir se bol." Gullu, what did you say? Say it again.
The lyricist doesn't know why the composer is asking him to repeat. "Yaar, kitne bhi tu kar le sitam, ye pyar to na hoga kam." Friend, no matter how much you oppress us, the love for you will never lessen.
The composer jumps up, "Gullu, ye to gaana ho gaya!" Gullu, we have a song here.
The composer washes his hands, gathers some utensils right there in the kitchen and starts playing a tune. The lyricist, his wife Anju, and the composer all join forces to create the song.
The lyricist wonders out aloud, "Yaar, lekin isko kaunsi picture mein dalenge?" Friend, which film can we put this song in?
The composer assures him, "Fikar mat kar, Gullu. Picture aa jayegi." Don't worry, Gullu. The film will come.
RD Burman, also lovingly known as Pancham, composed the song Kitne bhi tu kar le sitam for Sanam Teri Kasam (1982), with lyrics provided by Gulshan Bawra. The song is filmed on Kamal Haasan and Reena Roy. The film is produced by Barkha Roy, Reena Roy's sister, and this is her first production. The male version is sung by Kishore Kumar, and the female version by Asha Bhosle.
RD Burman won the first of his three Filmfare Awards for Best Music Director for Sanam Teri Kasam, after almost a decade of nominations. His earlier nominations were:
- Caravan (1972, Shankar Jaikishan won for Mera Naam Joker)
- Amar Prem (1973, Shankar Jaikishan won for Be-Imaan)
- Yaadon Ki Baarat (1974, SD Burman won for Abhimaan)
- Aap Ki Kasam (1975, Kalyanji Anandji won for Kora Kagaz)
- Khel Khel Mein & Sholay (1976, Rajesh Roshan won for Julie)
- Mehbooba (1977, Khayyam won for Kabhi Kabhie)
- Hum Kisise Kum Nahin & Kinara (1978, Laxmikant Pyarelal won for Amar Akbar Anthony)
- Shalimar (1979, Laxmikant Pyarelal won for Satyam Shivam Sundaram)
- Shaan (1981, Laxmikant Pyarelal won for Karz)
- Love Story (1982, Khayyam won for Umrao Jaan)
When Pancham won in 1983, the other nominees were Bappi Lahiri (Namak Halaal), Khayyam (Bazaar), Laxmikant Pyarelal (Prem Rog), and Ravi (Nikaah). The entire soundtrack of Sanam Teri Kasam was extremely popular with songs such as Dekhta hoon koi ladki, Jaane jaan o meri jaane jaan. One wonders if the film was named Sanam Teri Kasam since the song already had those words in it.
Sanam Teri Kasam is Kamal Haasan's second Hindi film after Ek Duje Ke Liye. Barkha wanted to cast Jeetendra in the lead role, and expected that he, being a friend of Reena Roy's, would reduce his fees, but when that didn't happen, she decided to cast Kamal Haasan. The film went on to be a commercial success.
Music: RD Burman
Lyrics: Gulshan Bawra
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
*ing: Kamal Hassan, Reena Roy
Producer: Barkha Roy