‘Imtiaz’s brief is the song must be pure, from the heart’

Imtiaz Ali. Pic/Shadab Khan; (right) AR Rahman. Pic/AFP

Kya Kamaal Hai is not only the title of the first track from Main Vaapas Aaunga, but also aptly describes the invincible partnership between filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and composer AR Rahman. Within days of the Diljit Dosanjh-sung track's release, people were swooning over the romantic melody. What is the secret sauce of Ali and Rahman's collaborations that almost always result in timeless albums? When we asked Rahman about it, he attributed it to their approach.

‘Main Vaapas Aaunga' also stars Vedang Raina and Sharvari as unrequited lovers. Pic/Youtube

"The process we have is special. When we sit and [jam], it's not about how great or unique [the song] is; it's about how emotional, relatable, warm, and pure it is. The song must be from the heart. That is the kind of brief I get while working with Imtiaz," the composer told mid-day.

Before this, Diljit Dosanjh teamed up with Imtiaz Ali and AR Rahman on ‘Amar Singh Chamkila'. Pic/Youtube

Rahman's music has been an integral part of Ali's stories, almost a primary character - be it in Rockstar (2011) or Highway (2014), Tamasha (2015) or Amar Singh Chamkila (2024), and now, Main Vaapas Aaunga. What further influences these creations is their friendship. He explained, "We work like friends, like artistes who come together to make something memorable and emotional. We enjoy the process of [making music] and not just the result."