Story of making the song 'Chitthi Aayi Hai'
It is about the 1980s. After ruling the film industry for almost one and a half decade, the Salim-Javed duo broke up. Salim i.e. Salim Khan and Javed i.e. Javed Akhtar. Both were 'star writers' of the film industry. Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Trishul, Don, Kala Patthar, the list is very long. When Salim-Javed separated around 1985, Salim wrote his first film alone – Naam. Mahesh Bhatt was directing this film. The music in the film was by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the lyricist was Anand Bakshi. There was a plan to 'relaunch' actor Kumar Gaurav through this film. Salim Khan also wanted to give a message to the industry that he also had a lot of contribution in the success of 'Salim-Javed' duo. That means he can write the film alone. In this film, the message of reminding Indians working abroad about their motherland was to be given.
Sanjay Dutt was cast in the film as the lead actor. Now such a scene had to be created where Sanjay Dutt realizes that he is losing a lot by living abroad. His sensibilities about his country, his family, his soil had to be awakened. It was here decided between Salim Khan and the rest of the team of the film that there should be a scene in the film itself where there would be a song and that song should be such that it would force Sanjay Dutt to think about what he was doing abroad. This idea was of Salim Khan only.
How did Pankaj Udhas enter 'Chitthi Aayi Hai'?
This is about those days when Pankaj Udhas had become quite popular. In 1984 itself, he performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Where only a very few artists get a chance to sing. In that program, Pankaj Udhas sang for the first time – Chandi jaisa rang hai tera sone jaise baal…this song became an amazing hit. Pankaj Udhas' popularity was at its peak. 'Liquor has become very expensive,' 'Don't come out naked,' 'It feels good to cry with the people you are close to,' 'On one side is his house and on the other side is the liquor, I am not ashamed of the world, I danced with so much joy today. All these songs and ghazals that Ghughroon broke were being played in every house. The lyrics of the song written by Anand Bakshi for the film Naam were – 'Chitthi aayi hai… ai hai… Chitthi aayi hai, bade din paad bade din ho hum berewatan ko yaad watan ki mitti hai'.
Salim Khan was the first to take the name of Pankaj Udhas to sing this song. For one thing, Salim Khan was sure that Pankaj Udhas would do justice to the lines of this song. Secondly, this song will also benefit from his popularity. In one such meeting it was also decided that this song would be filmed on Pankaj Udhas only. Pankaj Udhas was not only very popular at that time but his age was also only 33-34 years. He also looked good on camera. Everyone involved in the making of the film Naam agreed that there would be a scene from a live event in the film. The scene will be shot on Pankaj Udhas only. They will sing the song – Chitthi aayi hai. Sanjay Dutt will come during this program and his eyes will also fill with tears after listening to this song. The success of this song and film name is recorded in history. This film was in the top-10 list in terms of highest grossing in the 80s. This song was included by BBC Radio in the selected 100 songs of the Millennium.
When Pankaj Udhas had to apologize to the audience
Even three decades after the release of this film, Pankaj Udhas was requested to sing this song in every program. He also fulfilled this request very politely. The problem was that he often felt like crying while singing this song. Once it happened that he had to stop the program and apologize to the audience. This story is from America. Pankaj Udhas was on a US tour with his fellow artists. The organizers had organized about a dozen programs one after the other in different cities. More than a month had passed. The last program was in Washington. Pankaj ji was understanding that all the fellow artists were 'missing' their families.
Well, during the program a letter came that a request was made. Pankaj ji started singing. He had just sung the opening line of the song when a person sitting in the front row of the hall started crying. Pankaj ji's eyes also became moist, but he somehow controlled himself. He had just sung one or two more lines when Pankaj ji saw that the artist accompanying him on the tabla was crying. When he turned his eyes a little further on the stage, he saw that the violinist also had tears in his eyes. It became difficult for Pankaj Udhas to control himself. He stopped singing. Apologized to the audience. Then drank water, composed myself and then the song started again. Pankaj Udhas used to say – In my entire career of live programmes, there has been no request for any other song more than this. After this, the second request of people in film songs was – If we live then how can we live without you. Which was a song from the film Saajan.
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