“Pani Pani Re”, which was originally sung by the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar for the 1996 Gulzar directed film ‘Maachis’, has been reprised by singer Monali Thakur.
The idea of it came quite abruptly and quite beautifully says Monali, “Sometimes you don’t plan thing’s and it suddenly comes to you and you do it in a drive. I was sitting somewhere in the Alps, I was hiking actually, and was humming this song and suddenly I felt it’s just such a beautiful song, I wish I could give a rendition of mine as well to this song. I immediately googled to find out who had the rights! Sony Music India had them! I immediately called sitting in the midst of nature and spontaneously asked them if they would they like to have a new version of this song in my voice, with a completely new soundtrack so that the millennial crowd and every present generation can hear a new take on it, with fresh sound.. and as a new song. They said yes to it the very next day after confirming the rights and thats how the process started!”
Sharing about her experience to the making of this single Thakur says “It has been quite an exciting experience for me because it’s like my first mini production! We shot the music video in Switzerland capturing beautiful locations in the heart of Alps. So, basically, we had a beautiful holiday and also a super productive 2 days of shooting the video. The song, it’s melody and Gulzar Sahab’s words deserved beautiful untouched raw natural locations. The video had to be simple yet beautiful.
When asked if Monali will share the song and video with the original makers of not, she says, “ The three milestones Lata Mangeshkar, Gulzar Sahab and Vishal Bhardwaj, are literal Living Legends of our country.. I cannot express properly how big an admirer I am of all of them.. So I don’t think I have the courage to make them hear or see the video.. as I will be petrified to disappoint them.. But on the other hand it will mean the world to me if they hear it and watch it.”
Monali reveals that she chose this song and not an original simply because at that time the idea came with this song and no other reason. Her next which she is working on currently is an original. She mentioned, the entire team didnt touch the original composition at all, as it is a flawless masterpiece and couldn’t have been disturbed. It has just been treated with a completely new sound and production and Monali’s effort towards a simple and soulful rendition. The beauty of the melody had to be retained at any cost.
She recently sang ‘Ho Jaa Awara’ song in the film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019), starring Sunny Deol’s son Karan Deol and Sahher Bambba, in her impressive voice.
