'They don't make stars like Bachchansaab anymore. Or film-makers like Prakash Mehra.'
The news that Producer Murad Khetani has bought the remake rights of one of Amitabh Bachchan's biggest blockbusters Namak Halaal has triggered off a chain of speculative reactions in the media.
The tireless Bappi Lahiri, whose music went a long way in making the film a historic success, wonders if the producer intends to use the original music.
"Nobody has approached me," he tells Subhash K Jha.
"I don't know what their plans are. But the music that I did for Namak Halaal is remembered to this day."
"One cannot imagine Namak Halaal without Pag Ghungroo. It was shot by Prakash Mehraji in an 11-minute sequence, the longest song sequence in a Hindi film. Kishoreda (Kumar) sang Pag Ghungroo as only he could. He rightly won the Filmfare award for his vocals," recalls Bappida.
"I consider Pag Ghungroo among my best achievements. Ashaji (Bhosle)'s Jawani jaan-e-mann was also a big hit."
Bappida has a very special place for Namak Halaal in his heart.
"It was my first film with Prakash Mehraji. Before this, he worked with the great Kalaynji-Anandji in Haseena Maan Jayegi, Zanjeer, Haath Ki Safaai and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.
"Namak Halaal was a big challenge for me. After this, Prakash Mehraji and I did Sharaabi with Bachchansaab, again taking the songs to unexpected heights."
"They don't make stars like Bachchansaab anymore. Or film-makers like Prakash Mehra."
