Anu Malik reveals on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa how he tested the popular ‘Tumse Milke Dil Ka’ song in public before its release

Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, India’s singing reality show, continues to enthral audiences with its perfect blend of talent, entertainment, and inspiration. This platform has become a launchpad for emerging singers, providing them with invaluable guidance and exposure. As the competition heats up, the nation is glued to their screens, cheering on their favourite contestants and witnessing the transformation of their raw talent into polished performers under the guidance of the mentors Sachin-Jigar, Sachet Parampara, and Guru Randhawa.

During a recent Sa Re Ga Ma Pa shoot, the stage witnessed an unforgettable evening as musical stalwarts Anu Malik and Kumar Sanu appeared as special guests. The episode turned into a trip down memory lane when contestants Ujwal and Rupesh performed a mesmerizing rendition of the iconic song ‘Tumse Milke Dil Ka’ from Main Hoon Na. The soulful performance transported Anu Malik back in time, prompting him to share some never-before-heard anecdotes about the creation of the much-loved qawwali in the song. Anu Malik revealed that when director Farah Khan first approached him for a qawwali in her debut film, he was initially reluctant to take it on. That’s not it, he shared how they tested the song’s appeal with the public before its release, a rare move that paid off, as the track became an instant hit.

Anu Malik said “This qawwali is one of the biggest compositions I’ve ever worked on—not just in terms of how big the track became but also in terms of the singing, writing, and the overall effort that went into creating it. People often say I compose tunes very quickly, but for this qawwali, the level of dedication and hard work was on another level. When Farah came to me and said, ‘Let’s do a qawwali,’ I initially told her, ‘Please, let’s not venture into qawwali; it’s a very tough genre.’ But I insisted that if I were to create one, it had to be in my unique style. We met Javed Sahab, who was writing the lyrics, and I suggested adding phrases like ‘Check that’ and ‘Like that’ in between.”

He adds, “At first, Javed Sahab wasn’t convinced, and even Farah started laughing. But once we decided to experiment, hats off to Javed Sahab for writing the track effortlessly on the spot. We even called for 20 tablas to add a distinct flavor to the song. I remember, we finally completed it at 2AM in the night and took the cassette to a local spot in Mumbai. We played it in front of a crowd to gauge their reaction. The response was phenomenal—people were grooving to the beats. That’s when we knew we had a hit on our hands. And today, you both have recreated that same atmosphere. I genuinely appreciate your performance.”

While the compliments made the contestant’s day, wait till you watch all the Top-10 contestant’s performances that will win your heart.

Stay tuned as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa airs every Saturday-Sunday at 9 pm on Zee TV!