Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2019)

On October 3, National Award winning filmmaker J P Dutta brought in his 70th birthday with a surprise party organised by wife Bindiya Goswami and daughter, Nidhi Dutta. Among the guests were actors Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan and Randhir Kapoor, singer-composer Anu Malik, lyricist Javed Akhtar and singer Sonu Nigam.

Anu, who has scored the music for his Border, Refugee, LOC: Kargil, Umrao Jaan and Paltan, was accompanied by wife Anju and daughter Anmol. He informs that the filmmaker was clueless about the two-day extravaganza at a heritage property in Jaipur which started with fireworks. There were ladies strewing flowers and rose petals on the guests as they walked in, while a flautist played songs from Border and Refugee.

“Sunny was the first to arrive, and as others trickled in, J P saab grew quiet as it slowly began to sink in that this was a surprise birthday party with his team of actors, lyricists, writers, composers and singers in attendance. He doesn’t usually smile much but had one on his face and it didn’t slip all evening,” Anu recounts fondly.

A film aficionado, Anu was very impressed with J P Dutta’s Ghulami, Batwara, Hathyar and was delighted when he got a call. “He showed me pictures of the army and told me the film was about the armed forces who guard our borders. For me it was a God-given opportunity to tell the world how much I love India. 'Sandese Aate Hai' will make you realise how much heart I put into the music,” he asserts, saying when he sits across from the producer-director, the tunes just flow. “I know what he wants and he knows what I can give.” Anu bagged the coveted national honour for his Border score.

Sonu made the birthday special by singing many songs, including his National Award-winning “Sandese”. He called Anu on stage to croon another Border song, “Toh Chalun”, which made Dutta emotional as did Akhtar’s heartrending poem. “But, then, Javed saab had the guests rolling with his rib-tickling shayaris. Abhishek added to the laughs with a straight-face quip, ‘We all know how talented Anu Malik is… Except Anu himself,’” Anu chortles, adding that Kapoor came in a wheelchair as he’s not keeping well but joined in the revelry. “It was a surreal evening, we didn’t sleep that night. I left the table only at 6 am and returned home the next day with a lifetime of memories.”