MUMBAI– Veteran playback singer Udit Narayan, a beloved voice of 1990s Bollywood, recently recorded the title track for the upcoming film Maine Pyar Kiya Phir Se, and he promises it delivers on what he believes is missing in today’s music scene—melody.
In a conversation with IANS, Narayan shared his thoughts on the film’s soundtrack and the emotional depth of the title song.
“Maine Pyar Kiya Phir Se—what a beautiful title, and the music is equally beautiful,” he said. “This film’s songs are all written by the producer, Rony, with music composed by Dilip Sen and Sameer Sen. My solo song was already recorded, and today we completed the title track. It’s a romantic, sad number—but a very beautiful one.”
Narayan, known for timeless romantic hits, emphasized the enduring power of melody, which he feels has become rare in modern Bollywood music.
“Melody never dies. It’s immortal,” he said. “All the songs in this film are rich in melody. Dilip and Sameer Sen have composed for so many top films, and now, after so long, they’ve got a big project again. They’re putting their heart and soul into it.”
The film also stars Bollywood veteran Dharmendra and Arbaaz Khan, adding to the excitement around the project.
Shifting gears, Narayan also commented on the recent controversy surrounding language politics in Maharashtra, where tension has arisen over the imposition of Hindi in schools and the backlash from Marathi-speaking communities.
“I’m an artist. Mumbai is my workplace, and my job is to entertain,” he said. “Marathi is necessary—you have to learn it when you’re working in Maharashtra. But all languages in our country are important.”
The controversy stems from an April 2024 directive by the Maharashtra government, which mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools. The move sparked widespread protests from local groups and political leaders, including a rare show of unity between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, who joined forces to oppose the decision.
Following the backlash, the state government reversed its decision. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced that Hindi would now be an optional subject, with Marathi and English remaining the primary languages of instruction.
The tension escalated further with reports of violent incidents involving Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers targeting individuals in Mumbai and Pune who refused to speak Marathi.
Amid the unrest, Narayan struck a diplomatic tone, reinforcing the importance of linguistic respect while focusing on his role as a unifying cultural figure through music. (Source: IANS)
