Zara hat ke is a favourite phrase in the Indian film industry: 'hamari film zara hat ke hai,' 'film ki story zara hat ke hai,' 'the treatment of the film is hat ke...'
Most times, it's delusory. But it's refreshing when filmmakers, who have been predictably different in their approach to filmmaking, truly do something hat ke for the film's music launch.
The music for Farhan Akhtar's Don was released at the Inorbit Mall (located in Malad, a Mumbai suburb) in the presence of a thousand screaming fans. A stage was erected in the parking lot.
The event was supposed to start at 5 p.m. But an hour later, there was still no sign of the show beginning any time soon. The title track of Don was being played endlessly and every time Shah Rukh Khan's 'I am the King' dialogue played, the fans screamed louder.
Radio jockey J Harsh of Radio Mirchi was the host for the evening, and he came onstage at regular intervals to assure the fans that SRK would be there soon.
At 6:45 pm, Harsh started the show by calling music directors Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy on to the stage. They sang Morya re, celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi weekend.
The trio said that there were a total of five songs in the film, of which three were 'modified' versions from the original Amitabh Bachchan-starrer. One of these will be Khaike Paan Banaraswala, in which SRK also reportedly sings. The others will be Main Hoon Don and Yeh Mera Dil.
Next, Isha Koppikar came on to the stage and danced to the beats. Isha plays the role of the real Don's girlfriend in the movie (which was played by Aparna Chaudhry in the original).
SRK came onstage, even as firecrackers went off. As soon as people spotted him, they screamed and whistled twice as much, and all the cameras, handycams, mobiles and digicams started flashing.
Shah Rukh, on his part, was his usual charming self. He waved, smiled, bowed, screamed 'I love you' and blew flying kisses.
He claimed that he had made it to the venue on time but could not make an early appearance as he was waiting for the others to arrive. He said that Farhan thought of movies the way the younger generation does and hence, he was certain that the younger audiences would like Don.
Talking about the action sequences in the movie, SRK said that Farhan had been very kind to him and his age, and had mostly made him fight with the ladies and not the tough guys!
SRK entertained the crowds by singing a Hindi rap from the film's soundtrack, and delivering some dialogues from the film.
Farhan Akhtar (top, centre), producer Ritesh Sidhwani (right), Bhushan and Krishan Kumar (of T-Series) and Om Puri were also present at the music launch.
When the exit music played, King Khan gave a final salaam to the crowd and was gone.
As I walked back, I heard a lady talking excitedly on the phone, 'I came to shop, and I saw Shah Rukh! He was so amazing.I love him!'
One regular appearance for King Khan but a memory of a lifetime for a fan.
Text: Komal Mehta | Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
