Ajay Devgn seems to have a fondness for the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Not that anyone can question that. The late great qawwal had quite a few numbers worth listening to eternally. But Devgn's latest film project, Raid, will feature another famous song from the great Khan — 'Sanu Ek Pal Chaiyn Na Aave'.
Picturized on Devgn and Ileana D'Cruz's characters, the song takes on the theme of love and separation. As Devgn's income-tax officer, Amay Patnaik, sets off to work, he leaves behind a wife looking forward to empty days. The visuals take on the theme of love deepened by separation and the intense work that occupies the life of these two characters.
But it is the song itself that deserves greater introspection. The song remains one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's more famously reinterpreted works. For Raj Kumar Gupta's film, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan takes over from his late uncle. Rightly so, since the singer learnt his ropes in his uncle's troupe, and even contributed during the 'alaaps' of the original song.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's vocals seem to fit in with the familiar lyrics and flow of the song with ease. While his vocals don't have the complexity and nuances that the original did, they do convey the expression with a pleasant ease.
Tanishk Bagchi creates a more mellow rhythm as compared with the high-pitched original. The addition of a few modern instruments like the guitar and keyboard rhythms makes it sound like an improvised cover. The composer refrains from adding too many complexities to the score, keeping it simple and allowing Khan's vocals to take over.
Manoj Muntashir's lyrics create a more Hindi undertone to the famous Punjabi song. That is understandable since the film's genre demands such improvisation. Though it does not deviate too much from the original, traditionalists might not be too pleased.
Incidentally, this is the second Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan song to have been remade by the same team. The last song to feature Devgn and D'Cruz and composed by Bagchi (and sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as well) was 'Mere Rashq-e-Qamar' in Baadshaho (2017).
Raid is directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, and stars Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'Cruz and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The film is set to be released in theatres on 16 March 2018.
Watch the 'Sanu Ek Pal Chaiyn Na Aave' song from Raid and enjoy the original by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan below.
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