Anu - Himesh saga: The latest!

By: Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, who worked with Himesh Reshammiya in two back-to-back films [Dil Maange More and Aksar], has moved on to his arch rival Anu Malik for the musical score of his new film Anamika, filmed in Rajasthan and featuring Dino Morea [in an all-new look], Minisha Lamba, Koena Mitra, Aarti Chhabria and Gulshan Grover.

What prompted Ananth to move away from Himesh? "This question should be addressed to Himesh. He's a busy man," Ananth smiles, but continues in the same breath, "Not many are aware that I had roped in Anu for Dil Maange More. At that point of time, Farida Jalal was producing the film in association with Metalight. But things didn't materialize and Nitin Manmohan and Nikhil Panchamiya took over the project and signed Himesh for it."

Please continue. "Anu and I were keen to work with one another, but the opportunity never arose then. But Anu has surprised me with Anamika. I feel, he has scored the music with a vengeance. He has come up with a 'complete' album. Some of the fusion concepts he came up with will indeed become trendsetters. He has a fire in the belly now and I have no doubt that Anamika will turn out to be one of the biggest chartbusters of 2007," Ananth states.

Big words indeed! "I am aware that most critics in the industry are quietly waiting to see how I can equal a 'Jhalak Dikhlaja', let alone surpass it. I am thrilled to say that Anu has the driver number in Anamika that will be as much a rage if not more. As you can see, I am visibly excited, but after a score like this, who wouldn't be?" Ananth says.