Colorful pillars, pots and drums, dancers in jhatak 80s style dresses… it really was a place full of jhatkas and matkas (pun intended!). On the sets of Himmatwala, BollySpice was present to watch the shoot of one of the most iconic songs of yesteryear – ‘Tathaiya Tathaiya’. Present were Sajid Khan (who is directing this remake), Ajay Devgn in a white jacket (well, you can’t have a Jeetendra song without white, can you!) and the extremely gorgeous Tamannaah with whom we had a tete-a-tete.
While Farah Khan, who is choreographing this song, was busy with the side dancers, we managed to catch hold of the stars as they took a break. One would have thought that they might be apprehensive about stepping into the huge shoes of Jeetendra and Sridevi but both the lead actors are confident that the audience would accept them on their own strength without any comparisons. Talking about the song shoot, Tamannaah-in a lovely white costume said, “It’s been fantastic. It’s been a day’s shoot so far and it’s like all friends getting together and shooting – very warm.” So how different would be the song from the original? Says Sajid, “I have not altered the songs much. There are two songs from the original Himmatwala, ‘Tathaiya Tathaiya’ and ‘Nainon Main Sapna’. Sajid Wajid’s version is very similar in terms of the tune and keeping with those times. The lyrics are literally the same. Those two songs are very popular and are still remembered and I didn’t want to alter the song. Picturization of the songs are completely different. In fact this is more surreal than the original and Farah’s touch to it has made it more magical.”
Surely a song this iconic would get an equally special unveiling? “We have got the entire PR department working on it and they are going step by step,” said the director, “Very rarely does it happen that in the first week of January you are still shooting for a film which is releasing in the last week of March!”
Head of Music at Saregama India Ltd. Adarsh Gupta added, “Saregama is looking forward to the association with versatile Director Sajid Khan & Disney UTV for their upcoming block-busters. Together we will revive the very happening era of music from the 80s”
Well, until the song comes out, check out the exclusive stills from the shoot.
