Veteran writer-lyricist Gulzar says he was overjoyed when he got the opportunity to collaborate with popular singer KK on a track called Dhoop paani bahne from Srijit Mukherji’s Hindi film Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga.
Krishnakumar Kunnath, also known as KK, died last week at the age of 53 after suffering massive cardiac arrest following a concert in Kolkata.
Gulzar, who first collaborated with the playback singer on his 1996 film Maachis, said the recently released song will always be special to him. “Srijit did me a favor at Sherdil. Not only was I able to write for such a beautiful film, but I met KK after ages. KK had first sung one of my songs in Maachis, Chhor Aye Hum Woh Galiya. latest songs. It’s like he came to say goodbye,” the 87-year-old lyricist said in a statement.
KK was best known for his memorable movie songs such as Tadap Tadap, Beete Lamhe and Aankhon Mein Teri, as well as indie pop songs such as Pal and Yaaraon. Mukherji said working with Gulzar and KK on his film is a dream come true. “We grew up with the poetry of Gulzar saab. We grew up befriending the voice of KK in every matter of the heart. So it’s a double dream come true for me,” he said. Sherdil is presented as a family entertainer and tells an insightful story about the negative effects of urbanization, human-animal conflict and poverty, which leads to a bizarre practice in a village on the outskirts of a forest. Pankaj Tripathi, Neeraj Kabi and Sayani Gupta play the lead roles.
T-Series, Reliance Entertainment and Match Cut Productions have released Monday Night’s song Dhoop paani bahne. The song was composed by Shantanu Moitra.
According to Moitra, KK was enthusiastic about the song and sang it as if it was “his own”. “He told me that this song gave him back Gulzar sahib after two decades. He was also happy to sing this song at live concerts because it is about conservation and young people must listen to it.”
Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga hits theaters on June 24.
