Aaj Ki Raat

"Aaj Ki Raat"
Single by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
from the album Don (soundtrack)
Released 26 August 2006
Recorded Purple Haze Studios
Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios
Length 6:11
Label T-Series
N.E.E.T. Recordings
Interscope Records
Songwriter(s) Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (music)
Javed Akhtar (lyrics)
Producer(s) Farhan Akhtar
Ritesh Sidhwani
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Aaj Ki Raat (English: Tonight!, Hindi: आज की रात) is a 2006 Hindi song from the Bollywood film soundtrack for Don: The Chase Begins Again, a remake of the 1978 film Don. The track is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.[1] The song was later used by AR Rahman in the Academy Award–winning 2008 soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire.

Development

The track falls into the genre of 1980s retro-disco. According to the script of the movie, the song was to be included with Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Isha Koppikar dancing at a private underworld party. Director Farhan Akhtar suggested using a retro rock number. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy jammed with director Farhan Akhtar, who himself is a music enthusiast, to come up with the track which had elements of music styles they listened to in the late 1970s and 1980s. The song fits well in the movie, as the movie in itself is a retro story presented in a modern style.[2][3]

Ehsaan stated that the song was influenced by the synthpop music of the late 1970s and 1980s, including musicians such as Ultravox and Cerrone.[4]

Live drums were used for the song and Ehsaan expirimented with thin Guitar riff's to get the twanginess of The Ventures & The Shadows.

The song was performed by Alisha, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Sonu Nigam.

Reception

The song was well received by the critics. It featured in the 10 dances that made you flock the theatres list of Bollywood Hungama. It also did well in the music charts[5] and climbed up later on.[6]

Music video

The song is illustrated with Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Isha Koppikar. The song features three of the stars dancing to the tunes of Aaj Ki Raat in an underground Night club where the plot takes an interesting twist. Choreography of the song is done by veteran choreographer Saroj Khan.[7]

Slumdog Millionaire

A version of the song was included in the Academy Award-winning soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire (2008) by A. R. Rahman.[8] The song features in the climax of the film, when the gangsters and mafia boss Javed dance to the tune while "Aaj Ki Raat" plays on the TV, though it shows the music video of Rahman's "Fanaa" from Yuva (2004) being played.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Don - The Chase Begins Again : Soundtrack listing and details". Google.co.in. 2006-10-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. ↑ ""We have retained the melody but we have changed the dressing and added some surprise elements" – Shankar Mahadevan". Bollywoodhungama.com. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  3. ↑ "Displaying a topic". Shankarehsaanloy.com. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  4. ↑ "Displaying a topic". Shankarehsaanloy.com. August 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  5. ↑ "Top 10 Hindi Film Songs on Planet Bollywood". Planetbollywood.com. 2006-10-14. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 Hindi Film Songs on Planet Bollywood". Planetbollywood.com. 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  7. ↑ "Saroj Khan gets sentimental about DON". Bollywoodhungama.com. 2006-09-21. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  8. ↑ "A. R. Rahman uses 'Choli Ke Peeche' track from Khalnayak in Slumdog Millionaire". Bollywoodhungama.com. 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  9. ↑ "Review of Slumdog Millionaire - Slumdog Millionaire". Zimbio. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
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