Lalit Pandit spoke to Subhash K Jha about his feelings about remixes of his songs, and especially talks about the new version of ‘Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya’ from 1998’s Ghulam in Bhai Tera Star Hai.
What do you think of the remixed version of your song from Ghulam, ‘Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya’?
For any composer, a remix will never connect in quite the same way as the original creation. That is only natural. After all, when you have composed, arranged, and lived every note of a song, you are deeply invested not just in the melody, but in its sound, structure, and emotional journey. It is relatively easy for even a half-baked musician to remix a hit song, and that is often what happens.
So is the remix a complete washout for you?
I wouldn’t say that. There is also something interesting about hearing your composition reimagined with a fresh dance treatment. As a composer, I have realised it is best to take remixes lightly, much like watching a David Dhawan film. You do not overanalyze every creative liberty. You simply enjoy it for what it is.
Have you ever enjoyed the remix of any of your compositions?
There have been a few remixes of my songs that I genuinely appreciated. The ‘Bin Tere Sanam’ version sung by Javed Ali was interesting, and I thought Salim Sulaiman’s take on ‘Pehla Nasha’ was handled with great sensitivity. Some of the piano work Salim added was particularly beautiful.
And what do you like about the remix of ‘Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya’?
I feel the beat and the constant bass line work well. They successfully transform what was originally a seductive, situational melody into a dance number. As I mentioned earlier, one has to overlook the new harmonies and certain structural changes that, from a composer’s perspective, may feel technically incorrect, whether done knowingly or otherwise. There is one decision I particularly liked about this remix.
What is that?
One decision I particularly liked was retaining the original voices of Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. Whoever made that call deserves credit. Their voices carry the soul of the song. New singers, more often than not, alter the emotional essence because they have not experienced the song through the original composer’s vision.
Unlike your brother and former composing partner Jatin, you seem quite okay with the remix of ‘Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya’?
I have often disliked, even hated, many remixes of our music. But in this case, I genuinely enjoyed listening to it. Perhaps that is also because I have learnt to be a little more lenient with time, and less rigid or overly critical. Sometimes it is nice to simply feel happy that a song you created continues to be loved, rediscovered, and introduced to a new generation of listeners. Overall, well done on the remix.
