Mani
Ratnam"s
Raavan
has
just
been
given
a
new
song,
thanks
to
that
poet
par
excellence,
Gulzar,
who
saw
the
film
and
suggested
the
embellishment.
The
director,
always
open
to
fresh
ideas
from
his
team,
readily
agreed.
Composer
Rahman
was
informed
and
that"s
how
Raavan
got
a
new
song.
Gulzar
Saab,
just
back
from
Goa
after
participating
in
the
stage
rendition
of
four
of
his
plays,
says
the
song
was
almost
a
gift
he
owed
Mani
Ratnam
for
gifting
him
something
that
he,
Gulzar,
had
never
received
in
his
entire
47-year
old
career
as
a
lyricist.
Mani
sent
the
poet-lyricist
a
note
after
the
release
of
the
music
of
Raavan
congratulating
Gulzar
Saab
for
the
songs.
Says
Gulzar
Saab,
“In
my
entire
career
I"ve
never
received
such
a
heartwarming
endorsement
of
my
work.
I
received
a
note
from
Mani
Ratnam
congratulating
me
and
saying
he"s
very
proud
of
the
music.
And
look
at
the
humility
of
this
genius.
No
filmmaker
has
ever
sent
me
a
note
like
this.
Mani
is
the
only
one.
And
this
one
gesture
has
enchanced
my
respect
for
him
even
more."
Not
only
this
gesture,
Gulzar
Saab
also
received
an
invitation
from
Mani
to
see
the
film
at
a
special
screening
for
which
the
poet
flew
down
to
Chennai
recently.
It
was
there
that
the
new
song
suddenly
happened.
Recounts
Gulzar
Saab,
“After
editing
Raavan,
Mani
wanted
me
to
watch
the
film.
No
filmmaker
invites
even
the
technical
crew
for
a
preview,
let
alone
the
lyricist.
I
flew
down
to
Chennai
to
watch
the
film.
I"d
never
do
something
like
this
for
anyone
else.
This
is
how
strongly
I
feel
about
this
man"s
humility
and
greatness."
As
the
end-credits
rolled
and
Rahman"s
music
began,
Mani
Ratnam
and
Gulzar
Saab
thought
there
ought
to
be
a
song
at
the
end.
That"s
how
Gulzar
Saab
wrote
an
additional
number
for
Raavan..
Ab
iss
shareer
ke
sirey
khol
dey/Aur
goongi
aatma
ko
bol
dey.
Says
Gulzar
Saab,
“Both
Mani
and
I
felt
the
music
that
Rahman
had
composed
for
the
end
titles
was
too
beautiful
to
go
wordless.
We
decided
to
give
words
to
Rahman"s
creation." Rahman
was
then
given
the
task
of
turning
the
music
piece
into
a
song.
Interestingly,
neither
Mani
Ratnam
nor
A
R
Rahman
fully
understand
Gulzar"s
Urdu
poetry.
Defends
Gulzar
Saab,
“But
they
are
never
short
of
questions.
Never
does
a
word
go
in
until
Mani
is
fully
convinced
of
its
relevance.
He"s
never
hesitant
about
asking.
I
would
be
appalled
if
my
words
were
accepted
blindly
by
a
director.
Even
if
his
Urdu
is
weak,
Mani
has
a
terrific
sense
of
poetry
and
images.
Yes,
I"d
agree
with
you
when
you
say
my
collaboration
with
Mani
Ratnam
is
the
most
rewarding
one
since
I
worked
with
Hrishikesh
Mukherjee."