Chhaayaageet #261 - Aur pataa chala Dhirubhai Ambani beech mein khade hokar nach rahe hain...kaisa lagega?
And you find out Dhirubhai Ambani is standing in the center and dancing...how will it look?
Why mess with a good thing? The young filmmaker is fresh from the blockbuster release of his first film. He decides to bring the same team together for his second venture. The same hero, heroine, and the other heroine that form the triangle, the same lyricist, the same music composer duo. But this time he ups the ante. He signs up the biggest actors and actresses in the industry. Three superstars, one each of their generation.
With such a stellar and massive starcast on board, the pressure starts to build with every passing day of the film’s planning. The word has spread that this might be the biggest star cast ever assembled. A casting coup of sorts. And how did the young filmmaker pull this off?
As the music is being discussed, the music composer duo start to wonder how will they pull off some of the songs, which practically have every leading actor and actress singing. The lyricist is also in a quandary. How will he write for such a generationally and demographically diverse group of characters all singing a few lines in the song?
The filmmaker has no time to waste. Either you are delivering what he wants or you are out. For a young filmmaker, this takes guts. He sees the hesitation in the music department, and makes changes. The music composer duo is still on board to compose a few songs. But he brings in new composers to do a song or two.
Meanwhile, the biggest superstar invites the lyricist for a meeting.
“Bhaiya, ek kaam kariye, ye gaana jo hai na, aap solo likh dijiye,” he instructs the lyricist. Brother, do one thing, this song, you write it as a solo.
It is a simple, polite request. But coming from the biggest superstar, the lyricist knows it is more than a simple request.
The lyricist is confused. The brief he has gotten from the filmmaker is quite different. He shares his understanding of the song.
“Arre dada, lekin ismein to usne bola ki itne log gayenge,” the lyricist replies. But sir, he has told me that there will be many people singing in this song.
The superstar dismisses the lyricist’s response.
“Arre nahin nahin. Us sasure ko mein theek karta hoon. Aap solo likh dijiye. Mein usko convince karunga.” The superstar insists. Oh no no. I will set him straight (referring to the filmmaker). You write it as a solo. I will convince him.
The lyricist is left with no choice but to agree.
“Theek hai, sir, “ he replies. Yes, sir.
The lyricist comes back home, and over the next day or two, he writes the song as a solo song for the superstar.
Everyone gets together for the music sitting, the lyricist, the superstar, the filmmaker, and the new music composer.
The composer starts playing the tune that he has composed for the song. The lyricist narrates the lyrics to the tune. The filmmaker is confused. This is supposed to be a multi-starrer song, with two superstars, two heroines. When and how did this turn into a solo song? He turns to the lyricist and asks:
“Sahab ye kya hai? Maine aap ko bola is gaane mein kaun kaun hai aur sab gayenge.” Sir what is this? I have told you who all are in this song and they’re all singing.
The lyricist looks at the veteran superstar. He is quiet. The lyricist wonders why isn’t the superstar saying something and trying to convince the filmmaker as he had promised.
The lyricist decides to spill the beans. He gives an honest answer to the filmmaker.
“Dada ne bola ki ismein inko solo gaana karna hai.” Sir said that he would like to have this as a solo song.
The filmmaker realizes where this is coming from. He laughs as he looks at the superstar. He turns to the superstar and says:
“Uncle, aap ko pataa hai na is picture mein aap ka role kya hai?” Uncle, you do know what your role is in this film, right?
The superstar assures the filmmaker:
“Janab, kya baat kar rahe ho. Mujhe bilkul pataa hai.” Sir, what are you saying? I know very well.
The filmmaker now tries to convince the superstar why this should not be a solo song.
“Uncle, mein aap ko ek visual deta hoon. Agar aap mujhe convince kar do, to mein yeh gaana solo kar doonga.” Uncle, let me give you a visual. If you convince me, I will make this song as your solo.
The superstar is ready to listen to the filmmaker.
“Bol, kya hai?” Tell me, what is it?
The filmmaker weaves his narrative.
“Uncle, aap ka ismein role hai, you are a tycoon. Itna bada businessman hai. Itna rich aadmi hai. Aap imagine kariye ki Dhirubhai Ambani ne ek party di hai. Usmein Bajaj bhi aaye hain. Tata bhi aaye. Saari duniya aayi hai. Aur pataa chala Dhirubhai Ambani beech mein khade hoke naach rahe hain aur sab log dekh rahe hain. Kaisa lagega visually?” Uncle, your role in this (film), you are a tycoon. Such a big businessman. Such a rich man. Now imagine that Dhirubhai Ambani is hosting a party. The Bajajs have come. The Tatas have come. The whole world has come. And you find out Dhirubhai Ambani is standing in the center and dancing and everyone is watching. How will it look visually?
The superstar sees the point. He replies:
“Haan yaar, kuch ajeeb lag raha hai.” Yes, my friend, it feels a bit strange.
Turning to the lyricist, the superstar says:
“Panditji, ek kaam kariye, solo ko hataiye. Ye jo bol raha hai vaisa hi kariye.” Sir, do one thing, remove the solo. Do it as he wants.
The lyricist is happy to have the dilemma resolved, but realizes he now has to rewrite the whole song, and this time write for every character that’s going to be singing in it.
He admires the filmmaker’s conviction. This young man knows exactly what he wants in his film and it doesn’t matter who is sitting across from him. The lyricist decides from then on to not listen to anybody and just follow the filmmaker’s conviction for all the songs in the film.
Sameer wrote the lyrics of Say Shava Shava in Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), music by Aadesh Shrivastava. Sameer wrote the lyrics of all the songs, except for Suraj Hua Maddham, which was written by Anil Pandey.
K3G was Karan Johar’s second directorial venture after the resounding success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He retained the same team, but also added Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, in addition to the existing star cast of Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji.
Jatin-Lalit composed the music for the film, including the title song, Bole Chudiyan, and Yeh Ladka Hai Allah. Sandesh Shandilya composed the songs Suraj Hua Maddham, You Are My Sonia, Deewana Hai Dekho, and Soul of K3G.
K3G was the most expensive film of that time, made at a budget of 300-400 million Rupees. It became one of the highest grossing films of Hindi cinema, with Karan Johar and the film receiving a lot of praise for it’s production values and performances. The music of the film was also very popular and much appreciated.
The film won Filmfare Awards for Best Actress (Kajol), Best Supporting Actress (Jaya Bachchan), Best Scene of the Year, Best Dialogue (Karan Johar), Best Art Direction (Sharmishta Roy), and a host of nominations.
Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji performing this song live in concert:
Lyrics: Sameer
Music: Aadesh Srivastava
*ing: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kajol
Singers: Amitabh Bachchan, Sudesh Bhonsle, Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alka Yagnik, Aadesh Srivastava
Director: Karan Johar
Film: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)