EXCLUSIVE: Composers Salim-Sulaiman reveal ‘Maula Mere’ was recorded only a week before the release of Chak De! India; was originally meant for Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dor : Bollywood News

Musician brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have moulded their own unique legacy in the Indian music industry. In their career spanning almost three decades, Salim-Sulaiman have given us some iconic music albums, and one of them is undoubtedly Chak De! India. In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, the musician duo talked about it while revealing ‘Maula Mere’ was not created for the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer.

EXCLUSIVE: Composers Salim-Sulaiman reveal ‘Maula Mere’ was recorded only a week before the release of Chak De! India; was originally meant for Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dor

For the unversed, the song Maula Mere is featured in the last 20 minutes of the film in two sequences; one when SRK looks at the flag of India after winning the match, and the second when he goes back to his old home. Speaking of the same, Salim recalled, “A week before the film’s theatrical release, the team watched it. We had a background score on these scenes. However, Yash Chopra suggested that there should be a song.”

He further added, “We came to the studio the same night, and we had made a song for the film called Dor. But Nagesh Kukunoor (director of Dor) didn’t like the song, because he wanted some positive song for a particular sequence starring Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia.”

Salim went on to elaborate that the writer of the film, Jaideep Sahni quickly changed the lyrics of the original song in a few places. Meanwhile, Sulaiman added that they came to the studio at 7 or 8 in the evening, and by 2 o’clock at midnight, they were done with the recording of the song. Salim concluded by saying, “It’s a timeless song.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant on Chak De! India music: “The pressure was crazy, at one point we were ready to give up the film,” watch