Aamir Khan’s 60th birthday has his dost-voice Udit Narayan exceptionally revved up. “We started at nearly the same time. When Aamir Khan was being launched in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, the director Mansoor Khan needed a young vibrant youth anthem , a song that described the uncertain adventures of the young as they stepped into the real world . They wanted to make their parents proud . Majrooh Sultanpuri Saab captured the essence of youthful aspirations, although he was 60-plus years old back then,” recalls Udit.
The music composer for QSQT was supposed to be Rahul Dev Burman , but Anand-Milind did the needful.
Udit explains, “The producer Nasir Hussain Saab who was the director Mansoor’s son, had always worked with Pancham Dada(RD). He wanted Mansoor to work with Pancham Dada. But Mansoor couldn’t vibe with Pancham Dada. He opted for the newcomers, brothers Anand-Milind who are the sons of the late composer Chitragupta. And what a score Anand-Milind gave!”
Udit gives credit for ‘Papa Kehte hain’ where it is due. “No singer can lift a bad composition. It is because Anand-Milind came up with such a winsome tune that ‘Papa kehte hain’ became so special. I owe my career to that song. Interestingly later , much later , I did a song in a film titled Papa Kehte Hain . The song was ‘Ghar se nikalti hi’ and I am very fond of that song too.”
Recalling his long playback association with Aamir Khan, Udit says, “I sang a number of hits songs for Aamir after ‘Papa kehta hain’, like ‘Khambe jaisi khadi hai’ in Dil and ‘Pehla nasha’ in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar which is also an iconic song. In Akela Hum Akele Tum I sang for Aamir while my son Aditya sang for the child who played Aamir’s son. Purane zamane mein singer-actor ka Rishta bahot gehra hota ttha, jaise ke Raj Kapoor Saab and Mukesh Saab, Rajesh Khanna Saab and Kishore Da…I would like to think I shared something similar with Aamir.”
