Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai recently shared an interesting anecdote about the making of his 1999 musical romantic-drama Taal, highlighting the challenges faced by music composer AR Rahman and lyricist Anand Bakshi. In an interview with Radio Nasha, Ghai revealed how the two legendary artists struggled to communicate during the production due to a language barrier. While AR Rahman was not proficient in Hindi, Anand Bakshi couldn’t speak English, which initially led to difficulties in their collaboration.
Language Barrier Challenge
Ghai recalled their first meeting, where he placed a harmonium between the two, expecting a musical jugalbandi to emerge. However, the two artists remained silent for 15 minutes, each urging the other to start first. Ghai said, “One didn’t know English, and the other didn’t know Hindi.” This communication gap became evident early on, but despite these challenges, Rahman and Bakshi eventually found a way to bridge their differences.
AR Rahman would compose the melodies first, after which Anand Bakshi would craft the lyrics, resulting in the timeless and soulful music of Taal.
About Taal
Taal featured Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna, and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles, supported by a stellar cast including Amrish Puri, Alok Nath, and Mita Vashisht. The film’s plot revolves around the class divide between two lovers, Manav, a wealthy businessman’s son, and Mansi, an aspiring singer. When Manav’s family humiliates Mansi’s father, she rises to stardom with the help of music composer Vikrant, played by Anil Kapoor.
The film’s music, composed by AR Rahman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi, became a huge success, contributing significantly to the film’s widespread appeal. The soundtrack remains one of Bollywood’s most celebrated albums, blending classical Indian music with modern beats.
Taal was not only a box-office success but also premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2005 Ebertfest: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival. In 2014, it was retrospectively featured at the 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in the section “Celebrating Dance in Indian Cinema.”
Subhash Ghai’s Contribution to Bollywood
Subhash Ghai is a prolific filmmaker known for his blockbuster movies such as Karz, Khalnayak, Ram Lakhan, and Dil Se. His last directorial venture was Yuvvraaj (2008), starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Ghai continues to be remembered for his iconic films that shaped the landscape of Indian cinema, with Taal being one of the standout productions in his illustrious career.
Sources By Agencies
