Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Swades remains one of the most memorable films of his career. In a recent interview, playback singer Madushree shared the intriguing story behind recording the film’s Ramleela song “Pal Pal Hai Bhaari”. Madushree disclosed that she was called by AR Rahman on short notice to record the song urgently and she sang it in a hotel room in the presence of Shah Rukh Khan, director Ashutosh Gowariker, lyricist Javed Akhtar and 20-25 other people.
Recalling the challenging experience, Madushree told O2 India, “Rahman sir always calls suddenly to record a song. I was told that the shooting of the film was the next day so the song needs to be recorded urgently. I felt the song belonged to Alka Yagnik, because she recorded all the songs in the films. I was prepared that Alka ji might finally sing it but whenever Rahman sir calls, I go. It was a 7-8 minute song. Normally it takes 2-3 days to record a song but since shooting was supposed to happen the next day, I had to sing it immediately and it was such a difficult song with three ragas.”
The singer detailed the nerve-wracking recording session that took place in a hotel room. She said, “I recorded the song in a hotel room with 20-25 people present. I was sitting in the room and Shah Rukh Khan was sitting in front of me. Javed Akhtar, who penned the lyrics of the song, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, and his staff everyone was there. I got nervous. When I started recording the song, I wasn’t saying the word ‘Bipata’ correctly and listening to me Javed sahab’s expression would change, and seeing him, I would get more nervous. Javed sahab wasn’t liking it. So, Rahman sir realised that I am nervous. So, he announced a break and during that break, he turned my chair so that I wouldn’t be able to see anyone. This helped and I completed the song.”
Madushree candidly admitted uncertainty about her version making it to the final cut in the film Swades. She said, “Rahman ji told me that he will call me for final dubbing but that call never came. However, I was called for the music launch event of the film and I was surprised. I realised they have kept the version of the song that I sang in the hotel room.”
The singer also revealed an interesting tidbit about Raavan’s part in the song being sung by Ashutosh Gowariker. She said, “An artiste was supposed to come and give voice to Raavan’s part in the song. But he couldn’t make it. So, Ashutosh Gowariker stepped in and gave voice to Raavan’s part. Despite so many people present, there was pin drop silence as if spirituality engulfed us.”
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