From Tamma Tamma to Tu Cheez: Bollywood is happy rehashing old tracks instead of thinking original

Humma Humma, Tamma Tamma and now Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast. The reprised versions of these songs indicate Bollywood is happy rehashing old tracks

Do you remember the super-hit song ‘Tu cheez badi hai mast mast’ from 1994 hit Mohra? The song featuring Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon had become a chartbuster and continues to be played even today. Well, you might be wondering why I’m talking about it today. Well, let me break the news. The song will soon have a modern version which will be featured in an upcoming film. WHATT???

Shocking, but true. The song which featured one of the most talked about reel and real life B-town couple will be now filmed on a newbie. Director duo Abbas-Mustan, who helmed films like Baazigar, Race and Race 2, are coming up with their film Machine. Abbas’ son Mustafa Burmawalla will make his cinematic debut alongside Kiara Advani. Udit Narayan, who had sung the original version, will lend his voice again. However, Neha Kakkar will replace Kavita Krishnamurthy in the new version.

Now, this is not the first time when Bollywood witnessed rehashing of old numbers to suit the present era. Be it Humma Humma (OK Jaanu), Maahi Ve (Wajah Tum Ho) or the latest Tamma Tamma Again (Badrinath Ki Dulhania), it seems that the makers have fallen short of original music.

For instance, the case of Humma Humma was actually baffling. The original version was composed by AR Rahman, who needs no introduction. However, the song from the Mani Ratnam film was modified with Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor making the song look sensuous on-screen with their chemistry. We also learnt that Rahman had disapproved of this song since the very beginning. Why was it still carried out is still a question!

In recent times, there have been songs which also underwent change in lyrics as per the plot of the film. For example, Vinod Khanna-starrer Dayawan‘s romantic track ‘Aaj Phir Tumpe’ was reprised in Hate Story 2. Similarly, Sunny Leone danced in the reprised version of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’s ‘Dhol Baaje’ in her 2015 release Ek Paheli Leela. By the way, we have enjoyed Sunny tap her feet on the Laila song in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees.

The problem remains the same. For how long do we need to remain content with old numbers laced with cosmetic surgery being served to us? Renowned lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya who has penned beautiful songs like ‘Channa Mereya’ recently expressed his displeasure on old songs being remixed.

“Yes, they are popular and they’re generating business, but I don’t like this approach. I’d rather have a fresh track,” the National Award winning lyricist told The Hindustan Times. No matter how hard the composers try to make the old song a new one, the original track has its own charm.

Even stars like Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan can give a new look to the song ‘Tamma Tamma’, but we would still watch Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit tapping their feet on the number. So folks, all you need to do is some serious brainstorming and come up with something original new. This copy paste and rehash methodology does not work everywhere.

Also read: Not OK Jaanu! AR Rahman disapproved the new version of Humma since the beginning

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