The coming together of music maestro and Academy award-winner AR Rahman and Padma Shri recipient Arijit Singh is a feast to the senses. The two have collaborated on 'Jaane Tu,' a soulful rendition penned by the lyrical genius Irshad Kamil.
This timeless track is from Laxman Utekar’s historical action drama Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna. The video features the bond between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his wife, Maharani Yesubai, portrayed by Kaushal and Mandanna, respectively.
Earlier in an interview, when asked about the one quality that makes Arijit Singh charm the audience so deeply, Rahman reportedly said, “I think his hard work because he is very open as an artist, and he has got a good, gifted voice. And unlike some previous generations’ musicians, he takes his work very seriously."
Arijit Singh, the 37-year-old from West Bengal's Murshidabad, is a renowned Indian playback singer and music programmer; his first major breakthrough came with the song 'Tum Hi Ho' from the 2013 film Aashiqui 2. The song became a massive hit, and he went on to sing several other successful numbers, including 'Chahun Main Ya Naa', 'Muskurane', 'Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga', 'Ve Maahi', 'Raabta', and 'Kabhi Jo Badal Barse'.
Singh's music is known for its soulful and emotive quality, beautifully blending classical and contemporary techniques in a mix of romantic, melancholic, and introspective numbers.
He has collaborated with numerous music directors, including Pritam, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar and Mithoon, for his 200+ films. This time, though, his work with Rahman is significant for its historical relevance.
The two collaborated earlier multiple times on songs such as 'Enna Sona', 'Main Parwaana, 'Vida Karo, and 'Jaane Tu', among others.
Rahman, with his acumen and passion for music, adds heft and zing to their collaboration. Speaking about Rahman, Clint Vallardes, his global manager as well as Senior Director of Global Engagement in the Middle East and India for Berklee College of Music, tells THE WEEK over email that Rahman honours the distinct musical traditions of both Eastern and Western cultures, "which contribute to our collective sense of identity and heritage."
"For his innovative contributions to music and his commitment to leveraging its power as a unifying element, Mr. Rahman has profoundly transformed the musical landscape of India," he added.
In an earlier interview with THE WEEK, for its cover story, as Rahman went down memory lane, he spoke about how he no longer feels like the eager front-bencher of the 1990s, when he was keen to prove his musical mettle. Now, he's "a more relaxed backbencher, happy and yet more creatively ambitious, he is eyeing the larger picture—leaving his full artistic mark on the global stage."
At the launch of Chhavaa's music number, Vicky Kaushal reportedly said, "It has always been a dream to star in a film with AR Rahman's music."
The song’s grand unveiling in Hyderabad was a regal spectacle. Mirroring a pivotal moment from the track, Rashmika Mandanna performed the tilak ceremony on Kaushal at the event, adding a symbolic touch to the launch.