Swachch Bharat song featuring Javed Akhtar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

7 Jul 2015

It looks like poet-writer Javed Akhtar has decided to put his ideological differences with the BJP and Narendra Modi behind him to work hand-in-hand with the present regime in cleaning out the mess through the PM's 'Swachch Bharat' andolan.

The man to have convinced Javed Saab to let bygones be bygones is singer-turned-parliamentarian Baabul Supriyo, the Minister of State for Urban Development.

Baabul not only invited Javed Saab to write a Swachch Bharat anthem, he also convinced Javed Saab's close musician-friends Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to compose the song.

Mukesh Bhatt has been assigned the task of producing the song.

Says Baabul, "We haven't had a song like ' Mile Sur Mera Tumhara ' for decades. I remember as a child that song was taught to us in school. Generations have grown up hearing and singing ' Mile Sur Mera Tumhara '. For a very long time we've felt the need for another anthem song that binds that whole nation together. I felt Javed Saab was the best person to write a new ' Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' that would connect with the youngsters of the nation while retaining a core of poetic quality. The song will be sung by all the major classical and popular singers of today.

And yes, Baabul would be warbling a line or two.

So what kind of a song would Javed Saab write to inspire motivate and galvanize New India? "All I can tell you at the moment is that it won't be anything like ' Mile Sur Mera Tumhara'. We already have that," quips Javed Saab.