Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 27, 2017)

Sukhwinder Singh’s “Kaawan Kaawan” from Mira Nair’s 2001 film Monsoon Wedding now finds its way to Nikkhil Advani’s Lucknow Central, which has Farhan Akhtar in the role of a prisoner and is directed by Ranjit Tiwari. “We were looking for a blockbuster song which can evoke that kind of nostalgia and can be converted into an anthem. After much deliberation, we zeroed down on 'Kaawan Kaawan”', which is popular even today at social gatherings. People dance to it when it’s played,” says Nikkhil.

The recreated version has been sung by Divya Kumar and composed by Arjunna Harjaie. “Farhan and his jail mates don’t have musical instruments in the prison, which is why they use mouth and body percussions. Taufiq Qureshi and Omkar Sulankhe have created two songs, including this one with the same technique and no musical instruments, which have panned out really well,” Nikkhil reveals, adding that it’s a dance number choreographed by Bosco.

Prod him on why he chose to recreate an old song and he says, “If somebody recreates 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', 'It’s The Time To Disco' or 'Maahi Ve' it will be for an audience who may be 14 but were four then. I think it’s wonderful for the younger generation to experience great music from that time. I hope we make Mira Nair, Mychael Danna (Monsoon Wedding composer) and Sukhwinder Singh proud,” Nikkhil says.