Ghazals are evergreen. A mesmerising blend of poetry, intense thoughts and simple melody, they can never go out of fashion. But when was the last time you heard them in a Bollywood film? Or for that matter, one that was promoted well?

For instance, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had two ghazals, Mujhse Pehle Si Mohabbat and Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo, but neither was promoted in the film's soundtrack. Similarly, Vishal Bhardwaj recreated Gulon Mein Rang Bhare for Haider, but it's not the most recalled track in the album. Neither is the Dedh Ishqiya version of Woh Jo Humme Tumme Qarar Tha.

That's why it's refreshing to see (late) Jagjit Singh and Rekha Bhardwaj's Teri Fariyad from Tum Bin 2 being in the limelight. Ankit Tiwari, who has recreated the track, says, “Ghazals stand out in any album. I admit that I have not composed one for a movie, but that's because they didn't have any scope for it. But in the future, I will explore this genre.“

This track has also rekindled an age-old debate: Why has Bollywood deprived itself of the most poetic means of expression? “These days, filmmakers want dance numbers, which are totally out of rhythm and have no meaning. Sometimes, even if we write something that's borderline ghazal, it's dropped because it cannot become an instant hit,“ lyricist Javed Akhtar rues. Singer Pankaj Udhas agrees, adding, “I think ghazals can fit in anywhere. People turn to them for solace. Recently, I performed in Gangtok where most people don't even speak fluent Hindi, but they love ghazals. Yes, the sound of Bollywood music has changed. But to say that ghazals won't work in that space is a misconception.“

Bollywood had incorporated this form of poetry decades ago. But the decline started towards the end of the 1990s. Singer Anup Jalota says, “Now, people make films for the weekend. This ideology somewhere defines the shelf-life of a film's music, too. Also, Westernised plots don't leave much room for ghazals. Thankfully, we have albums where we can afford to write great poetry and compose it the way it should be done.“

Muzzafar Ali whose Umrao Jaan is remembered today even today for its mellifluous ghazals, says, “We need more filmmakers driven by poetry. It's a challenge to bring out that poise in today's hurried scores. Till the sound of music doesn't become more conducive to Urdu poetry, no poet can lend himself to Bollywood. They wouldn't like to sell their souls here. They have to be inspired. The 'quickie' phase has forced even writers like Javed Akhtar and Gulzar to write below their usual standards. It's high time that we go back to our roots.“