20 years of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: Big B’s ‘Shava Shava’ hook step to Lata Mangeshkar’s soulful rendition, here’s why the K3G album still remains iconic after two decades!

By Vandana Srivastawa

on December 13, 2021 02:47:59 PM

Karan Johar’s magnum opus Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has completed a magnificent and glorious 20 years. The film released on December 14, 2001 and has stood the test of time with it being one of the most popular and well-loved flicks. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan the film was a full package with a taut storyline that managed to tug at heartstrings, soulful catchy and melodious music, profound and insightful lyrics, picturesque cinematography, groovy choreography, awesome performances, impeccable playback singing and trendy & fashionable clothing.

However, what made the film truly last and resonate with fans and played an important role in its success was its songs. The film’s music was composed by composer duo Jatin-Lalit and also had contributions from Sandesh Shandilya and Aadesh Shrivastava. Each of the songs (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bole Chudiyan, Yeh Ladka Hai Allah, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham– Sad (Part 1) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham– Sad (Part 2), You Are My Soniya, Shava Shava, Deewana Hai Dekho, Suraj Hua Maddham turned out to be a chartbuster and has made a permanent place in the hearts of the fans of Hindi film music not only in India but across the globe.

K3G’s album had as many as eleven songs including alternate versions of the title track. Each song, apart from being highly melodious and pleasing on the ears has an everlasting appeal to it. The album had everything- romantic number, celebration songs, dance tracks, wedding songs, family songs that catered to every kind of fan out there.

On the other hand, the songs were a dream to watch. The choreography by Farah Khan was the rage and still is one of the best choreographed tracks in Hindi cinema. Whether it was You Are My Soniya, Bole Chudiyan, Shava Shava, Deewana Hai Dekho, Yeh Ladka hai Allah or Suraj Hua Maddham, every song’s moves and steps were different yet could be replicated by the fans in their own lives. The songs continue to rule weddings, school and college functions with people still grooving to them. Amitabh’s iconic hook step Shava Shava became a rage whereas Kareena’s and Hrithik’s dance during the prom song You Are My Soniya enthralled the audience.

The tracks were also reminiscent because of the breath-taking cinematography that was not seen at that point of time previously on the silver screen. Shah Rukh and Kajol romanced in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt while Deewana Hai Dekho had a sequence shot at the British Museum in London. The album’s soul was given by exceptional singers in the form of Sonu Nigam, Lata Mangeshkar, Alka Yagnik, Kavita K Subramaniam, Udit Narayan, Amit Kumar, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sudesh Bhonsle, Aadesh Shrivastava and Usha Uthup. Lata Mangeshkar’s iconic title track still resonates with the fans. The lyrics of Sameer and Anil Pandey made the songs extremely relatable and poignant.

K3G’s songs’ popularity will remain even in the years to come as it is extremely seldom that we get an album which can truly be called a ‘masterpiece’.