Exclusive: Arslan Nizami on Saiyaara’s Title Track, Collaboration With Tanishk Bagchi and More

Arslan Nizami lately spoke to Filmfare about Saiyaara’s title observe and his first collaboration with YRF. He opened up about making the title observe with Faheem Abdullah and receiving mentorship from none apart from Tanishk Bagchi. The singer-songwriter additionally shared about his childhood inspirations, studying music from his father and struggling to remain in Mumbai to make a mark. Excerpts…

How did Saiyaara come to you?

It was destined to be. The story of Saiyaara is a bit completely different. We by no means thought that we had been going to place this track in a movie like this. Faheem Abdullah and I simply gave ourselves an opportunity to only exit of Kashmir, out of the mountains and out of the valley to attempt our luck in Mumbai. We gave ourselves 14 days with among the financial savings that we had. We struggled loads for nearly 13 days. We met lots of people however nothing occurred. On the thirteenth day, I met Tanishk Bagchi. Faheem and I performed a few of our songs to him. It did not have Saiyaara in it. However he actually appreciated the vibe, the lyrics and the compositions. That is how our journey began.

Was this your first collaboration in Mumbai?

For a banner, sure it was. It was our first collaboration with YRF.

What was the collaboration like with Tanishk Bagchi?

There’s this straightforward story about Saiyaara. Truly, it was not purported to be Saiyaara however Saiyaa Mera. So I had written among the strains with Faheem. The strains went, “Saiyaa mera toh badla nahi, mausam zara sa rootha hua hai.” Faheem wrote these and composed the primary two strains. He gave the composition to me and requested me to complete it. I began writing the lyrics. I began composing on the similar time and completed rather a lot. It was purported to be a single. We by no means thought that it might be for a film. After we got here to Mumbai final yr, dada (Tanishk Bagchi) known as us for the film. He requested if we had something. We had been planning to launch the track subsequent month however Tanishk dada’s name was sufficient to persuade us that we should always make him take heed to it. Dada appreciated it. Then Faheem and I composed it collectively and gave it a correct construction.

When did Saiyaa Mera change to Saiyaara? Did Mohit Suri have any inputs when you had been creating the track?

When it was Saiyaa Mera, Tanishk Bagchi made us meet Mohit Suri. Mohit sir appreciated the vibe however did not have a title for the track. Mohit sir was briefing us in regards to the track and the state of affairs. He was telling us how it will be. It was in Tanishk dada’s studio. After a few weeks, we got here to know that Saiyaa Mera goes to be Saiyaara. They’d then determined to call the film Saiyaara. The method began with a easy guitar and contours. It was very uncooked and emotional.

What was the enjoyment like once you realised that the track goes to be for a YRF film?

We had been elated. I’ve been doing this for the previous 10 years now. At first we actually did not understand that we had been significantly doing a track for YRF. When Tanishk dada mentioned it was going to be for YRF, I nonetheless bear in mind, I known as him thrice the identical day. I used to be like ‘Tanishk dada, are you kidding? Are you joking with us? Is it for actual? He was like, ‘Sure, we’re doing it. Don’t fret about it. Simply work on this.’ I will not be capable of clarify in phrases how particular I really feel about working with YRF and Mohit sir giving us this chance to make a track for him. I’ve all the time been a fan of Mohit sir, I’ve all the time been watching his motion pictures. Not solely Faheem and I, all people from Kashmir has been a die-hard fan of Mohit sir.

Did you additionally work together with Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda?

After we made the track, Faheem instructed me about this expertise the place Ahaan had heard the track for the primary time. He acquired emotional in regards to the track as a result of this was purported to be the primary track of the film. In actual fact, Tanishk Bagchi instructed me that Mohit sir had heard virtually 300 to 350 songs earlier than deciding on ours.

How has the mentor-mentee relationship been with Tanishk Bagchi?

Tanishk dada has all the time been a mentor. Dada has been guiding us in each facet of life. I feel once we got here to Mumbai, we went to a whole lot of locations however Dada was the primary man who believed in us. He mentioned now we have one thing which others will not perceive. There is a proper time for each of you, simply wait and watch and the proper time will come and also you guys will shine. So, I feel in that approach, Dada has been guiding us. I met him in 2022 once I simply left my job and got here to Mumbai alongside Faheem. Since then, Dada has been guiding us with every and all the pieces. I am all the time grateful for Dada.