Remixing an old song gives a new lease of life to it: Kumar Sanu

The trend of remaking old songs has been gaining momentum. More so, this year there have been a number of them — Haseeno Ka Deewana (Kaabil), Laila Mein Laila (Raees), Humma Humma (OK Jaanu), Tamma Tamma (Badrinath Ki Dulhania), Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12 and Oonchi Hai Building 2.0 (Judwaa 2). Singer Kumar Sanu, unlike many of his contemporaries, is a supporter of this trend of rehashing old hits. “This is not a bad thing. It’s more like old wine in a new bottle for teenagers of current generation, who aren’t even aware that such beautiful songs existed. And they are in fact lapping up these songs. In a way the trend is giving a new lease of life to these popular tracks,” says Sanu, who has recorded a Durga Puja album. However, he feels these rehashed versions don’t have a long shelf life. “To give an example, for someone who has heard an old Kishore Kumar original, might not like the rehashed version. I also think that if possible, even the rehashed version should be recorded in the voice of the original singer. It’s interesting to see the newness he or she will add to the song. This might help in retaining the popularity for a longer time as music lovers would like it more,” he explains. Ask him if there is any song from his playlist that he doesn’t want to be rehashed and Sanu adds, “The song Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye (Jurm, 1990) is one of those songs that the audience might not accept as anything, other than the original version.” Meanwhile, Sanu, who was a sensation in the ’90s, has sung the title track of the TV show, Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai, a serial that is set in the ‘90s. Anu Malik, who has worked with Sanu in many albums before, has scored the music.