Song to feature in its original form in filmmaker Onir’s first romantic film
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 23, 2018)

Onir is the latest filmmaker in Bollywood to revisit a popular ’90s song with his upcoming project. Only, he will use it in its original form. The romantic “Pehla Nasha” from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Mansoor Khan’s iconic coming-of-age film with Aamir Khan as the hero, features in Onir’s Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz. The film, the director’s first out-and-out romantic film by his own admission, is headlined by National Award-winning actress Geetanjali Thapa and debutant Zain Khan.

“When I think of romance, the first memory is watching Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar with a big group of college friends and how the entire theatre would sing along when the song came on. It’s timeless,” Onir smiles, saying he shot his version in Kolkata and Shimla. In the film, Zain portrays a radio jockey who plays old Hindi songs while talking about love stories on his show. “For me, the song was apt for the situation and the film’s theme, which is experiencing true love for the first time,” he explains.

What’s more, he has also used a clip from the original song. “I was touched with Mansoor ji’s generosity. When I emailed him seeking permission to use the clip in my film, he immediately gave us the rights. Those few seconds from the original are extremely special to me,” the director shares, adding that the melody is omnipresent in his film as it also serves as its theme music. “It’s like a homage to the original, my all-time favourite song.”