Sameer Anjaan Slams ‘Dhurandhar’ Over Use of Classic Bollywood Songs

Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan has criticised the way classic Hindi songs are being recreated and used in modern films, singling out Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar franchise.

Veteran Bollywood lyricist Sameer Anjaan has hit out at the use of classic Hindi songs in modern films, arguing that original compositions and their creators are not being treated with enough respect.

Speaking during an interview with Komal Nahta, Sameer criticised the Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar franchise for using recreated versions of older songs during violent action sequences.

One example he highlighted was “Hum Pyaar Karne Waale”, originally from the 1990 film Dil, which was recreated for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Sameer questioned the decision to place the song against scenes featuring gunfire and action.

The lyricist said he was not opposed to songs being reinvented for new generations. He pointed to the successful recreation of his song “Dilbar” as an example of an older track finding a new audience.

His concern, however, is that original writers can be overlooked during the recreation process and that new lyrics can sometimes bear little relation to the spirit of the original song.

Sameer also referenced the use of the Amitabh Bachchan classic “Jumma Chumma” in the trailer for the upcoming film Chauhaan, questioning why the song was being played over an action sequence.

The veteran writer went further, expressing disappointment at the direction of Bollywood music generally and arguing that some of the industry's biggest production houses no longer give music the attention they once did.

Sameer Anjaan has written lyrics for some of Hindi cinema's best-known songs across a career stretching back to the 1980s, with credits including music from Aashiqui, Dil, Deewana and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

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