Rang De Basanti clocks 20 years of its release
Veteran filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra “Rang De Basanti clocked 20 years of its release on 26 January. The film is embellished with Music Maestro AR Rahman’s timeless music, including Luka Chuppi and Masti Ki Paathshala rendered by Lata Mangeshkar that turned out to be a youth anthem and other songs from the film still remain popular.
As per Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, he believes the film has clocked 20 years younger instead of 20 years older. He also believes blessings come in disguise. Just when they were to shoot the film he had a severe case of jaundice and was hospitalised but started rehearsals since had everyone’s dates locked. So, had the whole film recorded like a radio program before they started shooting. Took that recording to AR Rahman in Chennai. He just sat on his piano and started making the track based on the recording that he heard.”
Sharing some trivia on Luka Chuppi the emotional number featuring veteran actor Waheeda Rehman, Mehra says, “The film was complete and we were doing the background music. When AR saw the scene he just stopped and composed that song. It wasn’t a planned song, that’s how it was born.” He shares that even Khoon Chala was inspired by a poem by Sahir Ludhianvi that Rahman turned into a song.
He goes on to say their association is much more than industry colleagues. “We have done two films together Rang De Basanti and Delhi 6 and both were smash hits. The process with AR is we talk a lot, about the film, the characters and the reason I’m making a film. He isn’t chasing a hit or the box office. Enjoy meals together, go from drives and music happens.”
Recently Rahman had said he wasn’t getting enough work, “People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also,” Mehra says there is no such thing as missing Rahman’s music in films because he will always remain relevant. He loves his music, good work is timeless. When you listen to a song by Shankar Jaikishen, Mohd Rafi or Gulzar you savour it, likewise we are blessed that AR has given us such beautiful music.”
News Edit KV Raman
