Bollywood's lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar recently shared a touching little story that took one back to 1998, when Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Dil Se' was being made and 'Jiya Jale' song was coming to life. Late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was working with AR Rahman for the very first time. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
“It was her first time working with Rahman. [In his studio,] the singer won’t be visible from where he is recording. Usually, we stand right in front of the singer (in another room adjacent to the recording booth), giving instructions through gestures. Back then, unlike now, Rahman did not understand Hindi that well either," Gulzar explained.
He further said that unlike most composers who work with large teams, Rahman's studio is often quiet and minimalist, with very few people around. His solo work style involves being the only one in the room while recording, with minimal assistance from others.
So imagine this: Lata ji was inside the recording booth, ready to deliver another masterpiece, but there was no one in sight. No familiar faces, no silent nods or reassuring smiles from behind the glass. Just machines and silence. After a while, she asked, a little unsettled, “I can’t see anyone in front of me; who am I singing for? I feel very awkward because there’s absolutely no contact (with anyone). You cannot sing or even recite a poem alone," revealed Gulzar in an interview with O2india.
“I explained this to Rahman and told him that I will sit on a stool in front of the door, which is visible to both of them. Thus, she managed to get some sight of me, and that’s how she completed recording the song," he added.
'Jiya Jale' went on to top musical charts with Lata Mangeshkar's voice, Rahman’s music and Gulzar’s lyrics.
