Exclusive: Choreographer Shabina Khan Decodes Making Of Gadar 2 Songs
In an exclusive interview, choreographer Shabina Khan explains what went behind the making of Gadar 2 songs and how she recreated iconic songs like "Udd Jaa Kaale Kaavan" and "Mai Nikla Gaddi Leke".
Transcript
00:00 I have lived Sakina in this film.
00:02 And I have used all the emotions, happiness and everything in this film.
00:08 I am stuck. She is a Pakistani girl.
00:11 She won't dance in front of everyone.
00:13 I haven't done any other film for 2 years.
00:16 I only did Gadar.
00:18 Because it was required.
00:20 You won't believe when the song started.
00:22 When I stopped singing.
00:24 I saw all my assistants sitting in the corners.
00:27 And they all were crying.
00:28 I was shocked.
00:31 Hello, I am Rehan Hussain.
00:33 And you are watching Lehren.
00:35 In cinema, we often see actors and actresses dancing on the screen.
00:40 But do you know that there is someone else who makes these actors and actresses dance on the screen?
00:47 And there is a person with us.
00:49 On whose signal, these actors and actresses dance on the screen.
00:54 Yes, we are talking about the famous choreographer Sabina Khan.
00:59 Who is with us right now.
01:01 Sabina, welcome.
01:03 Thank you so much.
01:04 Such a beautiful introduction.
01:06 We will start with Gadar 2.
01:10 There are many talks about this film on the box office.
01:13 It has made a sensation.
01:15 How did you get this film?
01:17 And how did this journey start?
01:19 I had a film with Anil ji.
01:21 His son's film was Genius.
01:23 Anil ji had called me for that film.
01:26 And before that, when I was an assistant choreographer.
01:29 There was a film of Asani ji, Hero.
01:32 That was my third film as an assistant choreographer.
01:35 So Garej Acharya ji was his choreographer.
01:38 And I had joined him.
01:40 So I was mostly made to sit in Anil ji's office.
01:44 Then as soon as Gadar started.
01:47 He called me.
01:49 And the most beautiful thing.
01:51 He never said that I have to do one song or two.
01:54 He just called me that our narration is going on.
01:56 You also come in the narration.
01:58 I was very happy.
02:00 I sat in the narration.
02:02 I took the narration as usual.
02:04 And from there the journey started.
02:06 So you got connected with Gadar Ek Prem Pratha.
02:08 With Gadar Part 1.
02:10 I got connected with Part 1.
02:12 Because when Gadar Ek Prem Pratha came.
02:14 When I was an assistant.
02:16 It was very small.
02:18 But the effect of this film was very deep on me.
02:20 In this, two songs of Gadar 1.
02:22 Were recreated and added.
02:24 So in your childhood.
02:26 When you were working as an assistant.
02:28 You must have seen those songs being made.
02:30 Then you recreated those songs.
02:32 And got the chance to do it again.
02:34 With music director Mithun.
02:36 How was that experience?
02:38 After recreating.
02:40 If I tell you.
02:42 I have always been.
02:44 Those who recreate classic songs.
02:46 And then don't do it properly.
02:48 I get very angry.
02:50 When I was called to work on Gadar.
02:52 I didn't get scared.
02:54 I didn't give myself time to get scared.
02:56 I just bowed down.
02:58 Like the oil is hot.
03:00 I will add the spices right now.
03:02 You worked on this for a long time.
03:04 For 2 years.
03:06 When I heard the narration on the first day.
03:08 After that.
03:10 It's been 2 and a half years since I have talked to you.
03:12 And for 2 and a half years.
03:14 I didn't do any other film.
03:16 I only did Gadar.
03:18 The songs you watch.
03:20 That's why we are sitting here and doing the interview.
03:22 This was the reason.
03:24 If I had done it with seriousness.
03:26 With a lot of thinking.
03:28 I would have done a lot of homework.
03:30 Then this result would not have come today.
03:32 We had to picturize.
03:34 The era of 70s.
03:36 Because the first film was of the era of 47.
03:38 Now the whole era of 70s.
03:40 I am a big fan of old songs.
03:42 All the videos I can see on your screen.
03:46 I watch how they used to shoot.
03:48 Because there is nothing else.
03:50 Today's people only have Lehre.
03:52 The videos of my assistant days.
03:54 Which I see.
03:56 I watch on Lehre.
03:58 So I will tell you.
04:00 The old songs.
04:02 I have never erased it from my mind.
04:04 I have been following it.
04:06 This is a very good thing.
04:08 You learn from old things.
04:10 You take the name of old songs.
04:12 I know who is the actor in it.
04:14 I watch 4-5 old songs in a day.
04:16 Then I watch 80s songs.
04:18 This is my homework.
04:20 Then I watch today's.
04:22 Then I am very much aware of what is happening in west also.
04:24 This is part of my job.
04:26 When the song of Gadar started.
04:28 The first song was Urja Kaale Ka Hawa.
04:30 I saw that film many times.
04:32 I saw it with my team.
04:34 I saw it at night and in the morning.
04:36 I saw that film in every mood.
04:38 I observed it shot by shot.
04:40 Why people love the song so much.
04:42 What was there in it?
04:44 What soul was there in it?
04:46 There is something connected to the soul.
04:48 That's why you enter everyone's heart.
04:50 I wanted my songs to enter people's heart.
04:52 To enter people's soul.
04:54 To connect with people.
04:56 So I started observing.
04:58 I started understanding it.
05:00 I started learning.
05:02 Then I realized that Taj Mahal played a very important role.
05:04 The turban that Sunny Deol makes.
05:06 To go and leave it.
05:08 That turban played a role.
05:10 The wedding dupatta.
05:12 When the shot comes.
05:14 When she looks at it like this.
05:16 That sat in people's hearts.
05:18 Every girl wanted her veil to be like that.
05:20 What is most interesting is.
05:22 Sunny Deol was dancing in it.
05:24 I am starting from that.
05:26 Sunny Deol was so dashing.
05:28 What he did.
05:30 He took sarangi and danced.
05:32 He went to college and danced.
05:34 Those things that impressed me so much.
05:36 I wanted to bring those things back.
05:38 Then I brought those things in Urja Kaale Kawa.
05:40 So that.
05:42 Taya Singh's.
05:44 Going to Sakina's college and playing that.
05:46 These things became so important.
05:48 So I thought this time.
05:50 Let's bring these things.
05:52 Then Ali asked how will you bring it?
05:54 Sir if I was Sakina.
05:56 Then I would have kept these things carefully at home for 22 years.
05:58 I still have it in my house.
06:00 I have lived Sakina in this film.
06:02 And I have in this film.
06:04 Every emotion of my life.
06:06 Emotion, happiness.
06:08 I have used everything.
06:10 I have used my incidents.
06:12 I said I have my old things.
06:14 First shoe that I wore at rehearsal.
06:16 First photo with actor.
06:18 I have kept those clothes.
06:20 So this girl who is from a family.
06:22 She will definitely keep it.
06:24 So Sakina.
06:26 Must have kept these things in her house.
06:28 He agreed.
06:30 Then I brought Taj Mahal.
06:32 Then there is a girl of bangles.
06:34 So I brought bangles.
06:36 So people talked about each shot.
06:38 And Sunny sir.
06:40 You know his aura.
06:42 When he used to come.
06:44 And his close up.
06:46 I used to get blank.
06:48 I am a sudden girl fan.
06:50 Then you see the song Gaddi Leke.
06:52 The first song Gaddi Leke.
06:54 It was so popular.
06:56 And Sunny sir danced in that song like never before.
06:58 So I thought.
07:00 I have to dance in this.
07:02 I wanted to bring family bonding.
07:04 Jite has grown up.
07:06 Sakina is at this age.
07:08 Then at this age both are bonding.
07:10 Sakina is his aunt.
07:12 Aunt's daughter in law.
07:14 And Jite's friend.
07:16 So making an environment.
07:18 This song is being played on Jite's birthday.
07:20 Where she gifted a bike to her son.
07:22 So I brought a family bonding.
07:24 When a family stays together.
07:26 Which has so much passion.
07:28 When the other family member talks.
07:30 And says anything.
07:32 This is the same family.
07:34 So this song was played with family bonding.
07:36 And I made sure that Sunny sir.
07:38 Should be made to dance.
07:40 He didn't want to dance.
07:42 And I said no sir.
07:44 I told him that I will make sure.
07:46 That you look graceful.
07:48 You trust me on that.
07:50 And my bonding with Sunny sir is.
07:52 I have worked with him as an assistant.
07:54 I have taken my heart.
07:56 To sing that song.
07:58 The song which Ganesh Acharya master.
08:00 Did, I used to be an assistant.
08:02 So I used to teach mostly.
08:04 To male actors.
08:06 So that bonding is with him.
08:08 I know his nature.
08:10 He is shy.
08:12 He will not rehearse in front of everyone.
08:14 He has some questions.
08:16 Logically questions.
08:18 That he will not dance without logic.
08:20 So he asked why Tara Singh is doing this.
08:22 I said son has danced so much.
08:24 With his father.
08:26 He has said many times in his interviews.
08:28 That I don't want to repeat anything.
08:30 Yes of course.
08:32 He told me also.
08:34 That nothing should be illogical.
08:36 And nothing should be repeated.
08:38 Until and unless there is one step.
08:40 Which we have repeated.
08:42 And that is also a tribute to Jai Master.
08:44 That step.
08:46 I left my heart there.
08:48 We have created a new one to win.
08:50 And that Sunny sir.
08:52 That step was retained.
08:54 And then there is a big shot.
08:56 Which people liked a lot.
08:58 Where father and son are dancing.
09:00 So the steps were also given.
09:02 That Sunny sir looks graceful.
09:04 That step of Tara Singh's age.
09:06 And Punjabi man.
09:08 Is a big singer and dancer from heart.
09:10 Everyone knows.
09:12 Not only these two songs.
09:14 The other songs.
09:16 Like Khairyat.
09:18 And the other film on Simrat and Utkarsh.
09:20 That is also very beautiful.
09:22 Khairyat is a song.
09:24 I would like to share with you.
09:26 When the song came to me.
09:28 That was the first new song.
09:30 Both songs were recreated.
09:32 And not much change happened.
09:34 But when the first new song came.
09:36 I was shocked.
09:38 I stood for 10 minutes.
09:40 And Ali ji thought I did not like the song.
09:42 I said sir this is such a beautiful song.
09:44 Tears came in my eyes.
09:46 How will I do such a beautiful song.
09:48 Will I be able to do it.
09:50 I said you have a doubt.
09:52 But this is a beautiful song.
09:54 You have to bring its emotions.
09:56 And the place in the story.
09:58 Where this song comes.
10:00 That is also so right.
10:02 That a father is going to take his son.
10:04 But this song is a prayer.
10:06 I said to him the first thing.
10:08 This is a prayer that a parent is doing.
10:10 For his son.
10:12 A wife is doing for her husband and son.
10:14 This is a prayer that every family member.
10:16 Will like this song.
10:18 And he will say as a prayer.
10:20 Keep him well.
10:22 Earlier I could not do anything for 2 days.
10:24 Because as soon as it was left.
10:26 I used to cry.
10:28 Because I lost my father recently.
10:30 So those emotions were inside me.
10:32 So as soon as I used to put the song.
10:34 I remember him.
10:36 And I cried in the rehearsal hall.
10:38 Then I used to tell the team.
10:40 You do your own work.
10:42 Leave me alone.
10:44 Then a day passed.
10:46 I thought when I will keep crying.
10:48 When will I create.
10:50 Then I remember the scene of Tara Singh.
10:52 I am reading the scene.
10:54 Then I started crying.
10:56 Sakina is a mother.
10:58 How will she tolerate.
11:00 If her husband comes.
11:02 Then the heart of every mother will burst.
11:04 That my son is in that place.
11:06 Where he can cut him at any time.
11:08 And then the husband also left.
11:10 How a mother would have gone through.
11:12 Then I started feeling that.
11:14 I told my team.
11:16 Sit separately.
11:18 I play the song.
11:20 And remember your incidents.
11:22 Remember the first moments of life.
11:24 When something happened to you.
11:26 Then when we will stop.
11:28 We will share the song.
11:30 This is the practice.
11:32 You will not believe.
11:34 When the song started.
11:36 When I stopped singing.
11:38 I saw all my assistants sitting in the corners.
11:40 And they all were crying.
11:42 One girl was sitting in front.
11:44 And crying.
11:46 And the boy was crying.
11:48 My younger brother.
11:50 Who is very practical.
11:52 He started crying.
11:54 And they all came and hugged me.
11:56 So tight.
11:58 And they said that this song is so close to our heart.
12:00 Then I said let's create it.
12:02 Then I understood.
12:04 I got the emotions.
12:06 Then the mother was crying.
12:08 How she is looking.
12:10 Sitting on the bus.
12:12 Reading the letter of her son.
12:14 Then the song came in the world.
12:16 Which people liked so much.
12:18 The second film was made on Simrat and Utkarsh.
12:20 In that also.
12:22 You showed the culture of that time.
12:24 The curtain.
12:26 And all the things.
12:28 Like I said.
12:30 I am a fan of old songs.
12:32 This is our enemy.
12:34 So when the song was to be picturized.
12:36 In the film Chal Tere Ishq.
12:38 I was shocked.
12:40 She is a Pakistani girl.
12:42 She will not dance in front of everyone.
12:44 We have to make a chilman.
12:46 And the chilman are small.
12:48 We made big chilman.
12:50 And then I had to keep the song in the real zone.
12:52 That a Pakistani girl.
12:54 Can't be a very good dancer.
12:56 Because she is kept away from music and dance.
12:58 So I came to the logic first.
13:00 And then that she loves that Khansa.
13:02 Who is working outside.
13:04 And is preparing.
13:06 Is taking food.
13:08 Is keeping in the truck.
13:10 So then I changed the style.
13:12 To make a chilman.
13:14 And the steps are also like that.
13:16 She is looking at him.
13:18 And then makes the step.
13:20 She looks at him and then holds the thumb.
13:22 Whatever she is doing.
13:24 She is looking at him.
13:26 And because of that I made the step.
13:28 Your hard work was successful.
13:30 And Allah accepted.
13:32 And all the songs.
13:34 The song which is picturized on the boy.
13:36 On Utkar Sharma.
13:38 For that we have two months.
13:40 From 70's to 72's.
13:42 The songs of the film.
13:44 On that Utkar Sharma has been practiced.
13:46 So that his body language is made.
13:48 Because his character is that.
13:50 He wants to go in the films.
13:52 Tara Singh wants to become an officer.
13:54 And he wants to become a hero.
13:56 So I made him practice for two months.
13:58 On old songs.
14:00 Then his body language.
14:02 Even Sakina.
14:04 She was so happy.
14:06 We worked so closely.
14:08 Me and Sakina.
14:10 After 22 years.
14:12 Sakina is living in Punjab.
14:14 She has the style of wearing a dupatta.
14:16 The steps she gave in Urja Kaale Kawa.
14:18 Then putting the dupatta in her neck.
14:20 All those steps.
14:22 I have lived.
14:24 With Amisha.
14:26 You know Sunny Deol.
14:28 And you have a long experience with him.
14:30 He is a very good dancer.
14:32 How do you make him dance?
14:34 He is a graceful dancer.
14:36 He is not a very good dancer.
14:38 That he can dance any step.
14:40 He has a body language.
14:42 Like in this film.
14:44 Tara Singh.
14:46 He has gone to every place.
14:48 And he dances like this.
14:50 He is very comfortable.
14:52 With this style.
14:54 That I am Tara Singh.
14:56 And I am Punjabi.
14:58 The steps that I gave.
15:00 He did it very gracefully.
15:02 He should be given steps.
15:04 According to him.
15:06 You give him 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 steps.
15:08 He will not be able to do it.
15:10 He will not like it.
15:12 But if you make a graceful moment.
15:14 Like a moment is graceful.
15:16 Which he is doing with his son.
15:18 According to him.
15:20 According to his body language.
15:22 If you give him steps.
15:24 He looks graceful.
15:26 [Music]
15:28 (upbeat music)