Kunal Ganjawala has sung Kishore Kumar's Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi in Sting style

09 January, 2013

'Imagine Sting singing Kishore Kumar's 'Ek ladki Bheegi Bhaagi si! Although I can't imitate either Sting or Kishore Kumar but that is what the thought process was behind the rendition of this song in Listen Amaya,' Kunal Ganjawala told this citizen journalist, with just weeks before the film Listen Amaya, which also has roles essayed by Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval, releases on February 1.

AFTER HEARING Ganjawala's view on his take on the iconic Kishore Kumar song, one does draw similarities between the style of Sting's band Police, and his rendition of the cult classic Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi si in Listen Amaya. The peppiness of the music, the tempo and the way it sounds does remind us of the style of music of the equally iconi rock band of the 80s - at least that's how the movie's music director Indraneel Hariharan and Ganjawala envisioned to sing Kishore Kumar's melodious number.

Talking about the song and how different it is, Ganjawala says, “Although the song was so starkly different from the original, the music arrangement was there in the head of the music director for many years and I just delivered on that. He is really happy with the outcome and so is the Producer and that makes me happy.” Talking about legendary Kishore Kumar and Kunal Ganjawala as a singer, a comparison, which this song will obviously bring about, he says, “The original song is very dear to my heart. There is nothing similar to Kunal Ganjawala and Kishore Ganguly except the letters KG.

Listen Amaya deals with a daughter coming to terms with her mother's relationship. Trailers of the film, which is about to be released on February 1, 2013 have raised a lot of interest for this film that has Deepti Naval, Swara Bhaskar and Farooq Sheikh as its lead. The evergreen song of Kishore Kumar and Madhubala Ek ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si has been remade for this film in a fun way.

Swara Bhaskar, who got noticed as the friend of Kangana Ranaut in the film Tanu Weds Manu, plays a free spirit Amaya in the film named after her character and she is seen in the role of Madhubala in the legendary song. Talking about the song she is excited and says, “It is a huge honour to be a part of that song and I am a huge fan of Madhubala. There was a fun element to the song, which we did and I feel the soul of the song was captured without going overboard. My co-star Siddhant Karnic did a wonderful job."

When asked as to how it felt to fill the shoes of Madhubala, she was quick to respond, “I don't think it is possible to fill the shoes of Madhubala. I don't think legendary songs and films can be recreated but every actor needs to make their own space. It was just a lot of fun, which we had, while filming the song in different background and different sets.

The song in the trailers looks like a background score with two couples enacting their parts in different ways. While Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh are seen waltzing around in colour, Swara and Siddhant Karnic are seen in black and white. “That is just the promotional video, and in the film, it is an actual song with three four sets,” says Swara Bhaskar.

Inspite of knowing the thought process and the feeling behind the song, one can't help but look back and compare the present number with the original score. Reacting to this, Kunal Ganjawala says that the song plays a role in the film, and that, apart from the lyrics, nothing is taken from the original track. Moreover, it was made for the younger generation and not for the generation who are well aware of the original score. It is very different but that was how it was intended.

When asked whether the song will top the list of music chart busters, Kunal Ganjawala points out, “I don't think of Chart busters. I do my job and what happened after that is not in my control. When a composer trusts you with a song, it is a huge responsibility and to deliver it well is my only focus.” Thanks to this composition, this legendary song has again been given a new life, and hopefully many parties would be livened up with it in the new year.