Dil Chahta Hai (soundtrack)

Dil Chahta Hai
Soundtrack album by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released 22 June 2001 (India)
Genre Film soundtrack
Label T-Series
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology

Aalavandhan
2001
Dil Chahta Hai
2001
Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
2001

Dil Chahta Hai is the soundtrack album to the 2001 Hindi film Dil Chahta Hai, directed by Farhan Akhtar, starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna. Since its release, the music has received widespread critical acclaim and is considered a milestone in the history of Bollywood film music.[1] It was featured in the BBC Asian Network's Top 40 Soundtracks of All Time list[2] and Planetbollywood's 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks list.[3]

Background

Initially, director Farhan Akhtar had approached A. R. Rahman for composing the music. But since Rahman was busy with other engagements, he did not accept the offer.[4] Later Rahman commented that he was glad that the project went to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and he personally loved their work in the film.[5]

Development

The album has a universal sound, unlike other Bollywood soundtracks of the time. The trio had various influences, including Irish and ethno. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy along with Farhan Akhtar, Javed Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani went to Khandala to finalize the songs, which took a mere three and a half days. When they came back, they booked a studio and completed the recording in three weeks.[6] They also used the Australian instrument Didgeridoo, a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia at least 1,500 years ago[7] for the song "Jaane Kyon".[8] They've also used various other traditional instruments like Dholak, Kanjira, Tabla and Flute.

Tracklist

All lyrics written by Javed Akhtar, all music composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy.

No. TitleArtist(s) Length
1. "Dil Chahta Hai"  Shankar Mahadevan, Clinton Cerejo 5:11
2. "Jaane Kyon"  Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Caralisa Monteiro 4:49
3. "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan"  Shaan, Kavita Krishnamurthy 5:06
4. "Kaisi Hai Yeh Ruth"  Srinivas 5:29
5. "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe"  Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, KK 5:46
6. "Akash's Love Theme"  Michael Harvey 2:10
7. "Tanhayee"  Sonu Nigam 6:10
8. "Dil Chahta Hai (Reprise)"  Shankar Mahadevan, Clinton Cerejo 4:18
9. "Rocking Goa"  Chorus 2:06

Awards

Won

Nominated

Filmfare

Zee Cine Awards

Reception and Legacy

Dil Chahta Hai is considered to be pathbreaking and one of the best soundtracks to have emerged in contemporary Indian music.[1] The soundtrack stayed away from traditional Bollywood sounds and instead set a new standard for edgy, rock-influenced sounds.[11] The way Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy used thickly layered orchestration and conveyed meaning through Timbre, Pitch and Melody rather than text, was then, probably new to Bollywood.[12] Planet Bollywood's 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks Ever read, "What made Dil Chahta Hai album special at that time was that it was an experimental album and it worked a huge way."[3]

See also

References