The recreation of this iconic track from the 1994 film Main Khiladi Tu Anari has die hard fans questioning why is there even a need for such endeavours
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 7, 2021)

Remaking old classics is a trend which refuses to die down. And the latest to join the list is Chura Ke Dil Mera, which featured in the 1994 Akshay Kumar-starrer Main Khiladi Tu Anari. Filmed on Kumar and Shilpa Shetty Kundra, the song has been a favourite for decades, and has now been recreated by the original composer, Anu Malik for Hungama 2.

Taking over the vocals are Benny Dayal and Malik’s daughter Anmol. Fans, however, are not pleased with it.

Ever since the song dropped on Tuesday, social media has been abuzz with people missing the original singers Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik.

“#ChuraKeDilMera is one of my fav 90s songs... STOP ruining 90s classics... nothing can bring the old charm back... (sic),” wrote a Twitter user. “They Couldn’t Match the 1% of the Original Song... don’t spoil the old songs please” wrote another.

Many liked Kundra’s avatar, but missed Kumar. Meezaan, actor Jaaved Jaffery’s son, has stepped in his shoes.

When we reached out to Sanu and Yagnik to know their take, the former tells us, “Mujhe naya wala sunke bauhaut achha laga. I didn’t know it was being recreated.” Yagnik, too, says she did not know about this new version coming out. “It sounds cute, very different from the original,” she adds.

People who have been in the music world for long are not too pleased with this trend. Lyricist Sameer, who has seen a lot of his songs such as Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare and Dilbar be recreated, says, “The question is not about recreation, it is about not destroying the originality. Try not to disturb the basic structure. If there is a song Lata Mangeshkar ji has sung, and you take a new singer (for recreation); what are you doing? You will ruin the song.”

Singer Abhijeet adds that he liked Anmol’s voice, but is not in favour of old songs being touched. “The original music director recreated it. I won’t say this is a good attempt, but gaali mile ya tareef, it is for the original composer. In this song, the male voice dominates, that has been changed. I didn’t like it. Logon ke dimaag mein original baitha hua hai,” he asserts.