Lalit Pandit Reflects on the Iconic Music of Hum Tum After 21 Years
The Musical Journey of Hum Tum
The songs composed by Jatin-Lalit for Kunal Kohli's film Hum Tum, particularly its title track, became immensely popular.
Lalit reminisces about how the music came to be, stating, “After our work on Mohabbatein, we had no projects lined up with Aditya Chopra and Yash Raj Films, as they were preoccupied with the final touches at YRF studios. One day, Adi invited us to discuss a new film, Hum Tum, directed by Kunal Kohli.”
He recalls Aditya Chopra's words: “He clearly stated, ‘This time, we don’t have a Shahrukh Khan. We have Saif, who hasn’t had a hit as a solo lead yet! The success of the music is crucial; if it fails, we all fail! If you’re up for this challenge, let me know.’ Naturally, we were eager to take on the task and agreed to create the music for Hum Tum.”
Lalit emphasizes that the music for Hum Tum needed to be distinct from their previous works. “The recording technology had evolved since our earlier projects. Previously, we would plan everything and then record in studios. Now, everything had to be computer-programmed, which made the process fascinating and enjoyable.”
Discussing the musical style for Hum Tum, Lalit mentions, “The songs were meant to reflect fun and youthful energy. I adored the characters portrayed by Saif and Rani, and in one song, they even delivered dialogues. Recording that was a blast! Both have excellent musical timing!”
Lalit recalls the dedication that went into crafting the music for Hum Tum. “Jatin and I put in a lot of effort to ensure the music was right, as Adi had warned us about the film's stakes. The sound and arrangements were notably different from our earlier works. Ultimately, it all comes down to the melody, which Jatin and I excel at. While I composed most of the modern tracks like 'Ladki Kyun Na Jaane Kyun' and 'Chakde Chakde,' it was Jatin's title song that became a masterpiece. It won Alka Yagnik numerous awards, including a National Award! I played the piano intro for the title track, which I absolutely cherish. Additionally, Prasoon Joshi won the Best Lyrics award for Hum Tum. The music was a significant factor in the film's success and marked Saif's first solo hit.”
The success of Hum Tum also paved the way for Kunal Kohli's career. “It launched Kunal's career, and we later collaborated on Fanaa. Whenever I see Kunal, I joke that his hits have all been with Jatin and me. If he wants another hit, he should consider working with us again. He always laughs and says he’s ready to pay anything for our collaboration… It’s all in good fun, as we know the days of Hum Tum are behind us.”