Imtiaz Ali on Patakha Guddi: Story Behind Highway's Superhit Song Revealed

Imtiaz Ali on Patakha Guddi: Imtiaz Ali, the director of remarkable films like Jab We Met, Rockstar, Love Aaj Kal and Tamasha, has created many notable works in his career. One such film is Highway, which was released in 2014. The movie starred Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in lead roles.

Imtiaz Ali’s films are not only known for their compelling stories but also for their soul-stirring music. One such powerful track is Patakha Guddi from Highway, which created a buzz upon release and still remains on many listeners’ playlists. Sung by Nooran Sisters – Jyoti Nooran and Sultana Nooran – the song was composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil.

Imtiaz Ali Reveals

Director Imtiaz Ali shared that Patakha Guddi was actually shot before it was recorded, and that Jyoti Nooran was looking directly at him while singing because his name contains "Ali."

In an interview, he explained that the unique aspect of Patakha Guddi was that it was filmed even before the audio was officially recorded. They initially shot the sequence using Gurmeet Bawa’s folk song Jugni. Though she has passed away (1944–2021), the team used her track during filming, playing it on a recorder. Later, A.R. Rahman came up with the idea for how the final version should sound, which led to the song being re-composed.

Behind-the-Scenes Story

Imtiaz shared that when they recorded the final version, A.R. Rahman was not in India. Coincidentally, even when the song was being finalized, Rahman was still abroad. Imtiaz was in Rahman’s Mumbai studio with the sound engineer when the Nooran Sisters arrived for their first recording session. They sang throughout the night and continued into the next day. Both sisters recorded on a single mic while Rahman directed them via video call, giving feedback on mic placement and vocal quality.

He added that during the all-night session, the sisters were having fun and appeared to be singing just for him. “They were actually singing for me,” he said, “because my name is Ali, and the song repeats the word ‘Ali… Ali… Ali.’ Jyoti pointed toward me while singing, and they both enjoyed the moment thoroughly.”

Energy and Soul in the Song

Imtiaz praised the Nooran Sisters, saying they carried divine energy, which was beautifully reflected in the song. Speaking of lyricist Irshad Kamil, he said, “This song, Patakha Guddi, is one of the most powerful pieces ever created for any of my films. It channels the raw spirit and energy of a Punjabi woman.”

Read also:

• "I can write a whole book on my father" Elvish Yadav
  
• Boman Irani's 'Spiral Bound': 700 Sessions of Screenwriting Support!
• ET Women Conclave 2024 Showcases the Power of Women
• What's in my bag with 'Dunki' actor Komal Sachdeva?

Tags : imtiaz ali best interview | imtiaz ali films | imtiaz ali rockstar | imtiaz ali podcast | imtiaz ali new movie | imtiaz ali movies | imtiaz ali (film director) | imtiaz ali interview | Imtiaz Ali At IFFI