Pandit Chaurasia Reflects On His Hit Bollywood Songs

MUMBAI (ANI) – Legendary flutist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia recently reminisced about his collaborations with veteran filmmaker B.R. Chopra, particularly their work on the iconic song Rang Barse from the 1981 classic Silsila.

“Working with B.R. Chopra was an incredible learning experience,” Chaurasia shared. “He had a deep appreciation for my work and gave me the confidence to explore music’s connection with filmmaking. I learned so much from him about the art of storytelling through music.”

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, celebrated as the Shiv-Hari duo, created some of the most unforgettable soundtracks in Bollywood. Collaborating with Yash Chopra, they crafted musical masterpieces for films like Silsila, Faasle, Vijay, Chandni, Lamhe, Parampara, and Darr.

Reflecting on Silsila, Chaurasia fondly recalled the magic of working with Shivkumar Sharma and lyricist Javed Akhtar on timeless songs like Dekha Ek Khwaab Toh Yeh Silsile Hue, Neela Aasmaan So Gaya, and Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum. “Songs like Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum are philosophical treasures,” he noted. “The credit goes to the writers, and we all worked together as a team to bring those tracks to life.”

Chaurasia also spoke warmly of his bond with legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and filmmaker Yash Chopra. “I shared a great bond with Yash ji. He had an incredible vision, and his trust in us allowed us to create magic together.”

He also talked about Rang Barse, a Holi anthem that remains a favorite across generations. Sharing its fascinating backstory, Chaurasia revealed, “Amitabh Bachchan sahab sang a rendition of a Holi song, and we loved it. When the question of writing the lyrics arose, Amitabh ji, being from Allahabad, suggested his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He penned the song, and its legacy continues to this day.”