Bollywood composer Pritam Chakraborty felt “intense pressure” when making music for Dilwale, the upcoming film starring the hit pair Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan.
Between the two actors, they have a rich catalogue of chartbusting songs that are perfect for weddings, dance parties and festivals — think Suraj Hua Madham from the blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.
“When I heard it’s a film with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, I knew [that] their legacy of hit songs is rich, but I told myself not to be bogged down by it or to think about that too much. I couldn’t let the pressure get to me,” said Pritam, via video at a press conference held in Dubai on Tuesday, at which he played three out of the seven songs in the film.
However, the highlight of the afternoon was a message from Shah Rukh Khan who gave a shout-out to his fans in the UAE and hinted at the possibility of being in Dubai soon.
“I will be in Dubai soon, inshallah,” said Khan, in a video message, adding that it was the first time that the audio of songs were being released before the official music launch to select press.
The songs Gerua and Janam Janam are mushy ballads, while Manma Emotion is club anthem.
“Shah Rukh Khan [also the producer of Dilwale] is one of the most charming men I have ever met and he’s very supportive of his team. Director Rohit Shetty was very clear about the songs that he wanted. If the songs didn’t sound right, he didn’t mull over it for long. He told you right away. They both were actively involved in the creative process and it was a lot of fun,” said Pritam, who has composed for films such as Barfi!.
The scenes for Gerua were filmed in Iceland, and Pritam is convinced that it will be visually stunning. At the reveal in Dubai, only the audio of the songs were revealed.
Dilwale will release in the UAE on December 17.
