Trivia Tunes: From ‘Naatu Naatu’ composer MM Keeravani seeking insights to Naushad needing special presidential access and the origins of the track ‘Chhoti Si Yeh Duniya’, here’s Bollywood music trivia for the month

When ‘Naatu Naatu’ composer MM Keeravani sought insights
M.M. Keeravani, whose song ‘Nacho Nacho’ (or ‘Naatu Naatu’ as in the original language) from RRR has now won the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice awards in the US and an Oscar nomination, often selects his singers in unconventional ways. Sometime in 2014, in a conversation with me, he had asked my views on the most promising singers after the Sonu-KK-Sunidhi-Shreya generation. When I mentioned about six newer names, he requested me to “Please send links to what you think are their best songs”. To my delight, three of them found their way into the 2015 Bahubali—The Beginning soundtrack, of which two revealed later that they had been called by the composer out of the blue!

 

Trivia Tunes: From ‘Naatu Naatu’ composer MM Keeravani seeking insights to Naushad needing special presidential access and the origins of the track ‘Chhoti Si Yeh Duniya’, here’s Bollywood music trivia for the month

 

How Naushad got special permission to attend an American Presidential event

 

Sanjay Tandon, now the chief of the Indian Singers Rights Association (ISRA) and formerly with the IPRS (Indian Performing Rights Society), remembers an amusing anecdote about Naushad when they travelled together to the US for a function hosted by none less than American President Bill Clinton. The formal invite read “Black Tie”, which meant black suits and tie as a dress code for men. Much to Tandon’s consternation, Naushad adamantly refused to wear that and insisted he will go in our national dress. Special permission had to be taken from the presidential staff, but Naushad had his way.

 

Sayeed Quadri on why he never wrote bright lyrics

 

The brilliant lyricist Sayeed Quadri, who barely gets assignments today, and was a fixture with Mahesh Bhatt at one time, once confessed that he was not really able to write bright or happy lyrics. This, he rightly felt, curtailed his capacity to do every kind of film. Known for masterpieces like ‘Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai’ (Gangster), ‘Har Taraf Har Jagah’ (Saaya) and ‘Awarapan Banjarapan’ (Jism), the writer nevertheless did a brilliant job of the frothy ‘Ji Huzoori’ in the R. Balki film, Ki & Ka.

 

The origins of the track ‘Chhoti Si Yeh Duniya’

 

Shankar-Jaikishan had sworn that they would not work without Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra, though the lyricists were free to work outside. But in one case (College Girl in 1960), they decided to break their promise, and kept this a secret from their favourite writers as they wanted to do film with Rajendra Krishan. When they realized that Shailendra had come to know of this, they began to avoid him for a while! Unfortunately, they encountered the lyricist at their mutually-loved bhelpuri stall at Mumbai’s Chowpatty. And Shailendra remarked that it was a small world where they would end up meeting someday! From this was born their famous song, ‘Chhoti si yeh duniya / Pehchane raaste / Tum kahin to miloge  / Kabhi to miloge / To poochenge haal’ for Rangoli (1962)!

 

Ravi Tandon reveals Laxmikant’s reaction

 

The late director Ravi Tandon (Raveena Tandon’s father) spoke of how his maiden production, Anhonee, went to Laxmikant-Pyarelal. “Sunil Dutt, whom I had assisted, suggested I go to a top name when I was starting out with that small film. That composer actually took my interview on how I was planning to arrange my finances and what would happen in case money ran out midway. I was disheartened. But when I met Laxmikant, he just told me, ‘Don’t worry. You look after the film. We will look after the music!’ That won my heart!” The team did seven films in 15 years. And Anhonee proved a hit along with its music, led by ‘Hungama Ho Gaya’!

 

How Pancham was roped in for Chala Murari Hero Banne

 

Actor and filmmaker Asrani talked about his maiden directorial, Chala Murari Hero Banne, and his choice of composer. “There was this young composer who had become big, and I wanted him. But he would make me wait for appointments, claiming he was busy. I got fed up and went to Pancham (R.D. Burman)!’ This is a clear indication why music composers are not always signed for obvious reasons like market value, their track-record, friendships or because a filmmaker loves them!

 

The time when Amit Khanna recommended Javed Akhtar

 

While Javed Akhtar was applauded and awarded for his lyrics in 1942—A Love Story, very few know that it was Amit Khanna who was originally approached for the songs by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. But the writer refused as he was too occupied then with multiple things and suggested Javed Akhtar’s name!

 

Gujarati composers on the rise
An interesting fact about Hindi film music in the year gone by, apart from the South influences from DSP Rockstar, M.M. Keeravani, and more, is the fact that a major share of the contribution in Mumbai-made Hindi films is from Gujarati composers!  Amit Trivedi (nine films led by Uunchai and Qala), Sachin-Jigar (three films led by Bhediya), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Gangubai Kathaiwadi), Himesh Reshammiya (Raksha Bandhan) and Achint Thakkar (Monica—O My Darling) form the 15 films scored by them!

 

Teams there were never meant to be

 

Some teams, perhaps, are not meant to be. UTV’s Hook Ya Crook, which was to star John Abraham, Genelia Dsouza, Kay Kay Menon and Shreyas Talpade and was on cricket, had music by Pritam and was being directed by David Dhawan. The director had raved to me then about his new first-time composer, his brilliant talent and how he enjoyed making music with him. The film never went to completion.

 

The curious case of a name change

 

At a time when Muslim actors and filmmakers (led by Dilip Kumar and many more) adopted Hindu names to make a career, two Hindu poets actually adopted Urdu nom-de-plumes. Qamar Jalalabadi, known for songs as varied as ‘Mera Naam Chin Chu Chu’ (Howrah Bridge) and ‘Main To Ek Khwab Hoon’ (Himalay Ki God Mein) was actually Om Prakash Bhandari in real life. “I even received a marriage proposal once from a prosperous Muslim family!’ the veteran had quipped about this. The other was Naqsh Lyallpuri, of ‘Rasm-E-Ulfat Ko Nibhaye’ (Dil Ki Rahen) and ‘Kayi Sadiyon Se’ (Milap) fame, whose real name was Jaswantrai Sharma.

 

Also Read: After Shah Rukh Khan’s songs, Pakistani actress Hania Aamir grooves to Jr. NTR, Ram Charan’s RRR song ‘Naatu Naatu’, see video

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