Sure(sh)ly, it was a run-of-the-mill number

If the seven songs from Mimi on this blog were arranged in the alphabetical order, Yanne Yanne would be the last.

And it was a newcomer who was entrusted with the task of rendering it – her name is Rakshita Suresh.

However, there’s no two ways about the fact that though it was a run-of-the-mill song, it was undoubtedly a dream come true for the reality show alumna, because it was none other than A R Rahman who composed the track, which was three minutes and 24 seconds long, and was written by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Rahman’s daughter Khatija sanG(arth)a duet

There are numerous instances of songs from films that have released in the last 10 years which have served as lullabies and put many an insomniac to sleep.

But the most popular lullaby – Rock A Bye Baby – inspired the title of a song from Mimi.

It was three minutes and 45 seconds long, and was the only duet in the film – it was sung by Khatija Rahman and Julia Gartha.

If the former’s last name is familiar, it is because she’s the daughter of A R Rahman, who composed the track (which Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote).

Rahman’s solo was the longest

Not only did A R Rahman compose Rihaayi De, but he was the man who rendered it as well.

And if the subject of the previous post was the shortest song on the soundtrack of Mimi, this song was the longest – it was half-a-dozen minutes and five seconds long.

The title of the song – which was written by Amitabh Bhattacharya – seemed to be the collective plea of people the world over, because they have been confined to their homes for the better part of the last 18 months – it could be translated to, “Release me”.

Shilpa’s solo was the shortest

Although Mimi was a July 2021 release in India, and had nothing to do with Diwali, there’s no two ways about the fact that Phuljhadiyon wasn’t a cracker of a song.

However, in this context, the song has nothing to do with the festival of lights – it could (colloquially) be translated to, “Beautiful women”.

The track, which was rendered by Shilpa Rao, was the shortest of the seven songs from the film on this blog – it was a couple of minutes and 59 seconds long.

Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote the song, which A R Rahman composed.

This SonG became quite popular

Seldom have songs from films released in the last decade managed to make their mark.

However, there are a few exceptions, but their popularity has been short-lived.

By no means would it be incorrect to state that Param Sundari, from Mimi, falls into that category.

And the lion’s share of the credit for that goes to Shreya Ghoshal, who rendered it.

The track – which could be translated to, “Eternal beauty” – was written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, and was composed by the one and only A R Rahman.

It was three minutes and 20 seconds long.

Shashaa was the go-‘tu’ singer

Hututu is an indigenous game that seems to have caught the fancy of many a person associated with Hindi film music.

And the latest to join the list – which includes the likes of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Gulzar – was none other than A R Rahman.

Of course, he knew hu tu turn to (read: who to turn to) to render the song – the lady chosen for that job was Shashaa Tirupati.

Amitabh Bhattacharya – a KISSer when it comes to lyrics (because he keeps it simple, silly!) – wrote the song, which was three minutes and 52 seconds long.

Indeed, Kailash’s class was evident

It is always a pleasure to listen to a singer who happens to be an old favourite, and more so if his voice is unique.

There’s no two ways about the fact that that word perfectly describes the voice of Kailash Kher, who rendered Chhoti Si Chiraiya (which could be translated to, “A little bird”).

If the seven songs from Mimi (2021) on my blog dedicated to A R Rahman’s compositions were arranged in the alphabetical order, that track – which was four minutes and 35 seconds long – would be the first.

Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote it.

Indeed, (Moh)it was (Ghosh)alovely song

Taare Ginn was released as the second single from Dil Bechara on July 15, 2020, and was viewed a whopping 17 million-plus times on the second day itself.

(Moh)It was rendered by Mr Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal, and there’s no two ways about the fact that it was a relatable song – it depicts the thrill experienced by two youngsters when they realise they have fallen in love with each other.

The track was four minutes and 17 seconds long.

It was penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, and composed by the one and only A R Rahman.

Poorvi rendered AN ‘introductory’ number

If the songs on a film’s soundtrack are arranged in the alphabetical order, the penultimate song can’t be called an introductory track, but as I have already mentioned in one of my previous posts, the working title of Dil Bechara at one point was Kizzie Aur Manny.

Hence, a song titled Mera Naam Kizzie does make a great deal of sense.

It was rendered by Aditya Narayan and Poorvi Koutish (a finalist in the sixth season of Indian Idol, which aired in 2012).

Amitabh Bhattacharya penned the track, which was composed by A R Rahman.

Hriday did bag (Chauh)another track

If the soundtrack of Delhi-6 (2009) had a track titled Masakali, that of the 2015 film Tamasha had a song titled Matargashti.

And, in Dil Bechara, composer A R Rahman tried to take what seemed to have become a fixation with the letter M to the next level with Maskhari.

Unfortunately, it was not catchy.

The track, which was three minutes and 15 seconds long, was penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

It was Hriday Gattani’s second song in the film, and on this occasion, he was joined behind the microphone by none other than Sunidhi Chauhan.  

Undoubtedly, Ms Gandhi sanGa(tta)niftily-arranged number

Although Main Tumhara was one of the weakest tracks on the soundtrack of Dil Bechara, there’s no two ways about the fact that its arrangement was outstanding.

Composed by A R Rahman, it was the longest of the eight tracks in the film – it was four minutes and 18 seconds long.

The male vocalist was Hriday Gattani, who – like Shashwat Singh, who bagged the lion’s share of the songs in the composer’s previous outing, 99 Songs – is a K M Music Conservatory alumnus.

Jonita Gandhi shared singing credits with him.

Amitabh Bhattacharya penned the track.

(Arij)It was rendered by Shashaa

On one hand, the decision of Sushant Singh Rajput to take his own life – cutting short a promising career – is deeply baffling, and on the other, it is a post about a song that inspires people to live life to the fullest (Khulke Jeene Ka).

The track, from Dil Bechara, was composed by A R Rahman, and was four minutes and half-a-dozen seconds long.

(Arij)It was rendered by Mr Singh, who was joined behind the microphome by Shashaa Tirupati.

By no means would it be incorrect to state that Amitabh Bhattacharya penned an apt swan‘song’.

It was A Relatable track

Almost everyone, everywhere, has been friendzoned at some point.

But trust A R Rahman to compose a song about it. And if that weren’t enough, render it too.

Interestingly, the relatable track in question was titled Friendzone.

It was actually a slightly longer version of the title track of Dil Bechara – it was three minutes and half-a-dozen seconds long.

The one and only Amitabh Bhattacharya penned it.

When Rahman crooned the line that went, “Tu mujhe miss bhi na kare”, I could almost hear Sushant Singh Rajput’s fans sigh, “Bahut miss karte hain hum aapko”.

Rahman didn’t just compose it

Dil Bechara was originally titled Kizzie Aur Manny (after the respective names of the characters essayed by the film’s lead pair, Sanjana Sanghi and Sushant Singh Rajput).

But the rechristening of the film was inspired by this track, which was penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya. People expecting it to have colloquial lyrics – his trademark – certainly weren’t disappointed.

A R Rahman’s involvement in the song wasn’t restricted to composing it, but he penned it too.

It was the shortest of the eight songs in the film – it was just a couple of minutes and 43 seconds long.

This tRacK waS(ana)a tad disappointing

Quite literally, ladies first seemed to be the mantra, because if the eight tracks of Dil Bechara (2020) were arranged in the alphabetical order, Afreeda – which was rendered by Sanaa Moussa and Raja Kumari – was the first.

By no means was the song – which was three minutes and 21 seconds long – every Hindi film music buff’s cup of tea, because it was a run-of-the-mill song with Arabic strains.

And as far as those were concerned, authenticity was the buzzword – Moussa is a Palestinian singer. 

The A R Rahman composition was penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

ItS RHythM was itS USP

Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, the song from Yaadon Ki Baaraat, inspired the title of a film that released in 2014.

While its soundtrack wasn’t among A R Rahman’s best, one of its tracks – Khalifa – went on to become pretty popular with the youth, and those who like electronic dance music (EDM) in particular.

The song, which was five minutes and three seconds long, was penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

It was rendered by a quintet, led by none other than the composer himself.

The others were newcomer Hriday Gattani, Mahesh Vinayakram, Shweta Pandit and Suzanne D'Mello.