Abhijeet Bhattacharya Recalls Music Directors’ Politics. Abhijeet Bhattacharya, the soulful voice behind some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable romantic tracks, has enchanted music lovers for decades. From timeless melodies like “Chaand Taare” to the heartwarming “Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan,” his songs continue to evoke a magical effect even years after their release.
The Unfair Battle
When asked if he had ever faced criticism that left him feeling both insulted and inspired, Abhijeet recalled being a victim of industry politics. “Mere saath bahut huya hai… jisme hota tha ki, music director ko jaise hi laga ke Shah Rukh Khan ki picture mil gayi… kitne bhi close ho mere woh music director, aisa lagta tha ki uska motive hi tha ke Abhijeet ko nahi gavaaunga,” he revealed. Translation: “It has happened a lot with me. Whenever music directors would secure a Shah Rukh Khan film, they wouldn’t give me a chance to sing, regardless of our closeness.”
The Award and the Non-Blockbuster
Abhijeet further elaborated, sharing an intriguing anecdote. “Jabse mujhe award mila, aur koi film bahut badi blockbuster nahi thi Yes Boss. Gaana bhi blockbuster nahi tha, lekin us time pe saare blockbusters ke beech mein ek non-blockbuster tha, Border, Pardes, Dil To Pagal Hai. Aur idhar mujhe mil gaya. Kisi ko bhi mil sakta tha, aisa nahi hai ke mujhe hi milna tha… well deserved. “When I received an award for my song in ‘Yes Boss,’ it was the only non-blockbuster song among hits like ‘Border,’ ‘Pardes,’ and ‘Dil To Pagal Hai.’ I don’t claim exclusive rights to that award; anyone could have won it. Yet, many music directors openly told me they wouldn’t give me their songs.”
Abhijeet Bhattacharya Recalls Music Directors’ Politics. The Goldsmith Analogy: Abhijeet humorously described how music directors sometimes viewed their compositions. “Tum ek sunaar ho. Tumko heera bhi milega, chaandi bhi milega, tumko sona bhi milega. Translation: “You are a goldsmith. You’ll get diamonds, gold, and silver. But you aren’t a diamond, gold, silver, or iron yourself—you have to create them.”