Awarapan 2: Sayeed Quadri says the aim was to retain the originals’ emotional essence

Emraan Hashmi in ‘Awarapan 2’. Pics/Youtube, By Special Arrangement

In the early 2000s, when Sayeed Quadri penned the lyrics of Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta for Awarapan (2007), he didn't quite imagine that the songs would develop a cult following. Nor did he imagine that he would revisit them almost 20 years on for Awarapan 2. "I never imagined these songs would have such a long life. I think listeners connected with the sincerity of the emotions. Love, longing, loss, and hope never become outdated," the lyricist told mid-day.

Sayeed Quadri

Reimagining the songs for the Emraan Hashmi-led sequel, which released on August 14, presented a different challenge. With the original songs having a nostalgic value now, Quadri was conscious that simply attempting to recreate their impact would not work. He explained, "The idea was never to recreate the past because nostalgia cannot be forced. We wanted to retain the emotional essence of the originals while allowing the music to grow with the story."

As he wrote Tera Mera Rishta Continues and Toh Phir Aao (Dobara) for Awarapan 2, both Quadri and composer Mithoon were aware that patterns of music consumption have changed today. Streaming platforms, reels, and short-form content have altered the way songs become hits. Did that change their process? Not at all, said Quadri. "Listening habits have changed, and music today reaches audiences differently. But I still believe songs written with honesty have the power to outlive trends. A song may become popular overnight, but only genuine emotion makes it timeless."