Debarati S Sen (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 8, 2026)

Nearly three decades after Aankhon Se Tune Kya Keh Diya from the Aamir Khan starrer Ghulam, became one of Bollywood's most-loved romantic melodies, the iconic track has found a new life now with Aankhon Se Tune 2.0 (in the film Bhai Tera Star Hai). Bringing together the original voices of Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik with Palak Muchhal and Dev Negi, the recreated version introduces the classic to a new generation while retaining its nostalgic charm.

Aankhon Se Tune Kya Keh Diya has been recreated after nearly three decades. What was your reaction when you heard Aankhon Se Tune 2.0?
I originally sang this song with Alka ji, and hearing the recreated version after so many years has given me immense joy. It reminded me of the time when we first recorded it. The song became very popular back then, and seeing the recreated version connect with today's audience honestly makes my heart full. When we recorded the original, we never imagined that the song would stay with people for so long and come back in a new form years later. I have always been very fond of this song, and hearing it again brought back many memories of that time. I am happy that the song is reaching today's listeners as well, and I hope they give the new version the same love and affection that they have given the original over the years.

Your songs continue to be recreated for a new generation, often with electronic beats and altered arrangements. Do you believe these recreations help preserve the legacy of the originals, or do they dilute the emotion and craftsmanship that made those songs timeless?
Ye depend karta hai ki kaun bana raha hai. There are some composers jo original song ke soul ko intact rakh ke usme new elements add karke banate hai. Some composers retain the soul of the original while adding fresh elements to make it appealing for today's listeners. When that's done with sincerity, these recreated versions help the songs reach a new generation. I'm happy to see that happening because it gives classic hits a new life and makes people rediscover and fall in love with them all over again.

There is growing criticism that Bollywood relies too heavily on remakes because it has run out of original musical ideas. As one of the defining voices of the 1990s, do you think the industry today is taking the easy route instead of investing in fresh melodies and new composers?
I definitely feel new composers ko chance milna chahiye to create the kind of music they want. Aaj kal production houses ka pressure bahut rehta hai, aur purane gaanon ko recreate karna ek easy way hota hai sure-shot hit ka. That's because those classics had strong compositions, meaningful lyrics and soulful singing that stay with people for years.

Having said that, it's not true that original music isn't being made anymore. We have immensely talented composers like Mithoon, Amaal Mallik, Sachin-Jigar and Shashwat Sachdev, who have already proved they can create excellent original music. Bas unhe aur creative freedom milni chahiye. If they're trusted to experiment and express themselves, we'll hear many more memorable original songs.

If a filmmaker wanted to recreate one of your iconic songs today, what would make you say yes? Do you think original singers and composers should have a greater say in how a classic is reimagined?
The first thing is that the rights to most of these songs are owned by the music labels. So, anyone who wants to recreate them only needs permission from the label. Unfortunately, as singers, we don't really have much of a say in that process. What I would always request is that the soul of the original song should remain intact. You can certainly add new elements and give it a contemporary sound, but don't lose the emotion that made the song a hit in the first place. Audiences get upset only when their favourite songs are spoiled. Composers should remember that these classics are deeply connected to people's hearts, so they deserve to be recreated with great care and respect.