‘I still get hugs from defence personnel’

For music-composer Anu Malik (left), Border is one of the few music projects that has remained etched in his memory. He rose to the top 20 years ago with classics such as Sandeshe Aate hain and Toh Chalun, among others. Even now, the songs are played during a patriotic day, or at a jawan’s house, and that fills the composer’s heart with pride.

“There are very few music projects like Border that come in your life,” says Malik, adding, “I was deeply honoured, and still am, proud of the fact that I was associated with it.”

The film’s music still gets the composer a lot of respect from the armed forces, and that is quite an honour for him.

“Whenever I am at the airport, I always manage to get a hug from the security personnel present at the security check. They always tell me that they love the songs from Border. It’s amazing that even 20 years later, the songs continue to make an impact. To get such recognition and love from the armed forces is the biggest compliment,” he says.

Malik also adds that his songs were so good, that his “guru”, Laxmikant, one half of the popular music composing duo Laxmikant Pyarelal, had put the playlist on loop when he wasn’t well. “I also remember that he was more disappointed than me, when I didn’t win an award for the music and told me in Marathi ‘logon ki ankhon mein laal mirchi hai kya’, after the awards night,” he adds.