Ten years after the release of the Bollywood hit ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’, the film’s hauntingly beautiful track, Zehnaseeb, continues to live on in the hearts of music lovers around the globe. The romantic drama, which featured notable performances by Siddharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, and Adah Sharma, has been equally celebrated for its captivating soundtrack. As of 2024, the prosaic harmonies of tracks like Zehnaseeb, Ishq Bulava, and Manchala are still resonating with fans, attesting to the enduring appeal of the melodic gems enclosed within the film’s album.
Acknowledging the decade-long legacy of this musical treasure, a special collaboration has emerged to breathe new life into Zehnaseeb’s evocative verses. The original composer, Sheykhar Ravjiani, along with burgeoning music artists Karan Kanchan and Kasyap, has orchestrated a contemporary re-envisioning of the hit song. Led by the trio’s collective ingenuity, this modern retake promises to keep the essence of the original while introducing fresh and resonant layers to its acoustic landscape.
Enthusiastically taking part in the recreation, Sheykhar Ravjiani explains that this collaborative effort stands apart from the commonplace trend of remixes. Instead, this rendition is designed as a novel soundscape, paying homage to the original’s legacy while coloring it with aesthetic nuances befitting todays’ listeners. Expressing his satisfactio to mid-day.com, Ravjiani feels the updated melody serves as a vehicle transporting the audience back across the expanse of the past decade. Retaining a connection to shared memories without overshadowing them is, to the veteran artist, the highest acclaim a composer could receive.
Both Kanchan and Kasyap brought their passion and talent to the venture, with Kasyap adding his distinctive vocal stylings to the track. “We just tried to add our kind of sonics to it,” shares Kasyap, indicating an effort to preserve the song’s impactful essence even as new audio elements are weaved into its structure.
Reflecting back to when ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ first graced the airwaves, Sheykhar remembers the album as a collaborative triumph. He credits the synergy between renowned personalities such as Vinil Mathew, Karan Johar, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Chinmayi Sripada, and Vishal Dadlani for molding such an acclaimed soundtrack. Ravjiani doesn’t hesitate to pay homage to the entire team for crafting what he considers one of his favorite albums. The immersion in the project was thorough and heartfelt, producing tracks as compelling and memorable as Zehnaseeb itself.
However, Zehnaseeb, stands out to him not only as a track but also as an identity marker. Whenever the tune is performed live, it invites an electric response from the crowds—a testament to the special place it holds in the cultural psyche. Ravjiani eagerly anticipates delivering the re-imagined version on stages and expects it to form a part of his concert repertoire for years to come.
It is precisely this intersection of nostalgia and innovation that offers the new Zehnaseeb an opportunity to shine. With a legacy rooted in its ten years of enchanting audiences, and an exciting future lit by re-imagination, the song is set to continue its journey as a beloved musical piece. Audiences, old and new, will find themselves enchanted by the harmonious blend of the past and the present, as they reunite once again with the stirring chord progressions and lyrical depth of Zehnaseeb.
This renaissance of Zehnaseeb bears witness to the timeless quality of music—how songs that capture the essence of human emotions can traverse time, bringing joy, solace, and reflection through the years and among generations. It stands as a tribute not only to a song that warmed hearts but also to the unifying power of music and its ability to reinvent itself while embracing the beauty of its origins.
