Some interesting and amazing facts about Bollywood music – New Era

I have added a few posts related to this category, which deals with interesting facts related to artists and music belonging to old generation and new generation of Bollywood cinema. In this column, I shall add a few interesting and less-known facts related to Bollywood music since 1990s, which can be tagged as ‘New generation’. You can also check interesting facts about Bollywood, Bollywood actors, actresses and music of old generation here.

1. In 1993 Kumar Sanu recorded 18 songs in a single day, a record still to be broken.

2. Actor Fardeen Khan’s flop movie, Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein‘s film title was derived from a less-known Mukesh-Lata Mangeshkar song of 1960s – Pyar Ka Fasana Bana Le Dil Diwana, filmed on his father Feroz Khan and actress Kalpana. The movie – Teesra Kaun (1965) was one of the early works of R. D. Burman as a composer. 

3. Sameer, the son of popular lyricist Anjaan has been officially recognized as the most prolific Bollywood lyricist with maximum number of written songs by Guinness World Records. He has penned more than 3500 Bollywood songs.

4. “Tamma Tamma” from Thanedar (1990) and “Jhumma Chumma” from Hum (1991) have the same tunes and were released almost at the same time. Same is the case of “Nazarein Mili” of Raja and “Dhola Dhola” of Baazi, both released in 1995. Tamma Tamma was later revived in 2017 for Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya.

‘Tamma Tamma’ song from Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya, featuring Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt

5. Similarly the popular track of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mein Yaar Yaar has been used multiple times in Bollywood cinema. The song was used in Bal Brahmachari as ”Nazrein Ladgaiya” (Mein yar yar Kehna) and “Ankhein Yu Ladti Hai (“Yeh Pyar Pyar Kya Hai“), interestingly both in 1996 as dance sequences, and also the female voice is same – Kavita Krishnamurty. Two decades later the song was reused in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Zero in 2018 as ‘Tanha Hua’ (Mein Baar Baar Tanha), recorded in the  voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

6. Kumar Sanu is the first artist to win Filmfare award in a particular category consecutively for five years without any break. He won it for the first time for 1990 film, Aashique, followed by Saajan, Deewana, Baazigar and 1942: A Love Story. Interestingly he has never won the musical award even after 25 years, though has been nominated multiple times. His 25-year old record was finally equaled in year 2020 by Arjit Singh.

7. The title track of Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo with 15 minutes duration is the lengthiest Bollywood song.

8. Since Kareena’s debut film Refugee in 2000, Anu Malik composed songs of 5 Kareena movies in a row, and all her movies released in 2000 & 2001, except Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The other movies are Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Yadein, Ajnabee and Asoka. In 2003 also, Anu Malik composed three of her films in a row – Khushi, Mein Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and LOC Kargil. Isn’t it a strange co-incidence? He recorded maximum songs in Alka Yagnik’s voice, followed by Chithra and others.

9. ‘Bebo Mein Bebo‘ from Kambakkht Ishq and ‘Urmila Re Urmila‘ from Kunwara are some of the songs specially written for the actress who was actually featured in that particular song. Let me add, there is one similar song on actress Sridevi in a Tamil movie – Vaazhvemaayam, for which Kamal Hassan sings for her in SPB’s voice – Devi Sridevi…….. Vani Jayaram (of ‘Guddi’ fame renders female vocals. In the mid-1980s, Naukar Biwi Ka movie has one dance number – Kya Naam Hai Tera, featuring Rishi Kapoor and Reena Roy, where both the actors address themselves with their real names.

10. Anu Malik composed music for one B-grade Malayalam movie in the late 1980s named Kalpana House. The movie starred less-known actor Kapil Dev, and also featured a Hindi song recorded in Alisha Chinai’s voice – Jawan Dil Hain.

11. Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander is the first Bollywood song to be filmed in slow motion fully. Such songs have been filmed earlier too, though in bit parts. Jogi Jogi from Lakhon Mein Ek filmed on Mehmood is one such, where some of the portions were in low pace.

I shall add more facts whenever I get time. Keep watching this space.