‘I searched for the song 10-12 years back but couldn’t find it, then two-three years back a studio called about a tape they found’
In the ’90s, when Vishal was new in the industry, he started as a composer, and was working with veterans like Lata Mangeshkar and Gulzar. “Along with Maachis, I was doing this other film which was also written by Gulzar saab, but the film never got made. Maachis release ho gayi, aur main busy ho gaya,” he tells us, adding that it was for this shelved film that the song was recorded. When we point out that the song reminds one of Maachis’ music album, Vishal laughs, and says, “Maybe because I was in that zone at that time.”
Sharing the story behind the song, he says, “I always used to think that that song was very good. Uss zamane mein cassette hua karte thay toh kahan release karte? Baat hoti rahi ki film banegi, and before I knew it, eight-10 years had passed. Phir woh gaana kahin kho gaya. Then, around 10-12 years back, I started looking for that song. Lata ji ne gaana bhi kam kar diya tha, so that was another reason to find that song, ki unka gaaya hua hai. Maine bahut dhundha, par woh mila nahi.”
Continuing the story after a pause, Vishal adds, “Then two-three years back, I got a call. It was from a studio that was about to be closed, and they said, ‘Aap ke naam ka ek tape mila hai, agar aap ko lena ho toh le lijiye nahi toh humlog fenk denge.’ There were many songs in that tape, and this song was among them. I retrieved Lata ji’s voice from that song and usko contemporarise kar liya.”
About his plans for the song, he says, “We will be releasing this song on Lata ji’s birthday. Later, I will use it (in a film). Some of the musicians who have worked on this version were not even born when it was originally recorded.”
There is so much to learn from Lata ji, Gulzar saab: Vishal
Vishal shares that in the ’90s, composers like him and AR Rahman were bringing contemporary music to the table and it had a different feel to it. So how was it working with veterans like Gulzar and Lata Mangeshkar back then? Vishal says, “Gulzar saab bahut evolved hain. I’d use a lot of contemporary music, Spanish guitar and he’d say, ‘Voice ko disturb mat karo’. When I”d try to explain, he’d listen to me. Lata ji ke saath bhi aisa hi tha.”
“When we were recording Theek Nahi Lagta, I was a little self-conscious. Lata ji stopped the recording, switched off the mic and called me. Main darr gaya pata nahi kya baat hui. She said, ‘Aap bahut self-conscious ho rahe hain. Aap mujhe newcomer ki tarah treat kariye aur bataiye aap ko kya chahiye.’ Lata ji, Gulzar saab, ye sab bahut evolved aur humble log hain. There is so much to learn from them,” Vishal says, adding, “Recently when I spoke to her, Lata ji said, ‘Aap ne mujhe bahut achha gawaya.’”
Explaining how singers used to treat songs earlier, Vishal says, “Earlier, singers would ask about the situation of the song. Woh samajhte thay gaane ko. Ab toh singer half-half line gaate hain ek baar mein. Arijit (Singh) aisa singer hai jo samajhta hai.”
