Ismail Darbar Says ‘Tadap Tadap Ke’ Was Not Originally Composed for ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’

Mumbai — Composer Ismail Darbar has revealed that “Tadap Tadap Ke,” one of the most memorable heartbreak songs from “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,” was not originally composed for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film.

Darbar said the song was first being recorded as a scratch track for another major project before it eventually became part of Bhansali’s 1999 blockbuster.

“Yeh uss waqt ki baat kar raha hoon jab mujhe ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ nahi mili thi. Ye kisi aur badi film ke liye mai scratch kar raha tha,” he said. “I am talking about a time before I got ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.’ I was recording the scratch version for another big film.”

The composer, reflecting on his struggles before his breakthrough, said Bhansali later called him for the film and spent months working with him before hearing the song.

“Kyu ki Tadap Tadap ki zindagi banni thi na bhai. Kuch arse ke baad Sanjay Bhansali ne bulaya. 6 mahine footage khaya. Uske baad jab usko ye gaana sunaya, tab usne mujhse kaha tha, ‘Aaj Ismail, maine meri film kaha interval karna hain, kaha end karna hain. Aaj maine apni film complete ki,’” Darbar said.

He recalled that Bhansali told him after hearing the track that he had finally understood where the film should reach its interval and how it should end.

Darbar made the remarks during an upcoming episode of “Indian Idol,” after contestant Manraj Veer’s performance prompted him to revisit the story behind the song and his first meeting with late singer KK.

“Jab first time mai ye gaana kar raha tha na, tab mai peheli bar mila tha KK se. Aur maine usko gaana sunaya. Bandra mai Purple Haze Studio hain, waha par iss gaane ka maine scratch kiya tha. Aur jab KK ko gaana sunaya, uski honesty thi. Usne sabse pehla word kya bola hoga? Batao, maan jaunga. Kya bola hoga usne gaana sunke?” he said.

Judge Vishal Dadlani guessed that KK’s first reaction was that the song did not suit his style.

“Usne bola hoga, ‘Mai kaise gaaunga ye? Ye mera style heen nahi hain,’” Dadlani said.

Darbar praised Dadlani for the response and said KK had reacted almost exactly that way.

“Usne pehela word ye bola, ‘Ismail bhai, peheli baat to yeh, meri style ka gaana nahi hain, toh yeh gaana to mai gaa nahi sakta hu,’” Darbar said.

The composer said he was convinced KK’s voice was right for the song and persuaded him to trust the process.

“Maine kaha, ‘Yaar KK, tera kaam hain sirf gaana gaana. Teri jo aawaz hain na, uski length mujhe pata hain. Low note tera lagta hain, middle note bhi tera accha lagta hain aur high range ka note bhi barabar tu lagata hain. Mujhe sirf uski zarurat hain. Aur kaise tujhe gawana hain, vo mera kaam hain. Vo tera kaam nahi hain. Mai tujhe gawa dunga,’” he said.

Darbar said KK eventually agreed, though he remained unsure at first.

“To phir usne haas ke bola, ‘Dekho, phir baad mai bhadak mat jana mere upar. Maine pehele hi bol diya, mai nahi gaa sakta,’” he recalled.

Darbar also shared an emotional memory from the recording session, saying the song had an immediate impact.

“Jab usko gaana yaad karwaya aur jab usne gaya, to yakeen mano, sabse pehele KK ki wife roi hain uss gaane ke upar,” he said.

“Tadap Tadap Ke” was mainly picturized on Salman Khan as Sameer, with glimpses of Aishwarya Rai as Nandini. (Source: IANS)