Taal, directed by Subhash Ghai, was released in 1999.
Subhash Ghai recalls the language barrier between AR Rahman and Anand Bakshi during Taal’s making, revealing how they overcame it to create timeless music.
Subhash Ghai recently shared an interesting piece of trivia about the making of his 1999 musical romantic-drama Taal. The filmmaker recalled the unique collaboration between AR Rahman and the late lyricist Anand Bakshi, noting the communication barriers they initially faced while working on the film’s music. Speaking to Radio Nasha, Ghai revealed that their creative partnership got off to a rocky start due to the language gap between the two legendary artists.
“When I first made Anand Bakshi and AR Rahman meet, there was an obvious communication issue,” Ghai said. “Anand ji didn’t know English, and Rahman didn’t know Hindi. I placed a harmonium between them, hoping there might be some jugalbandi. They politely asked each other, ‘No, you play something,’ ‘No, you play something.’ But after 15 minutes of silence, I realised there was a communication gap.” Ghai pointed out, “One didn’t know English, and the other didn’t know Hindi.”
Despite this initial struggle, the filmmaker explained that the duo eventually found a way to work together. AR Rahman composed the tunes first, which then allowed Anand Bakshi to pen down his lyrics. “Rahman would create the music, and Anand ji would follow it up with his words. They understood each other through their art,” Ghai noted.
Taal featured a memorable soundtrack, including hits like “Ishq Bina” and “Taal Se Taal Mila,” which have remained timeless since their release. The film itself starred Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles, telling the story of a class-divided romance where an aspiring singer (Aishwarya Rai) falls in love with a business tycoon’s son (Akshaye Khanna) but later finds success as a pop star with the help of a famous composer (Anil Kapoor).
The movie was also notable for its international acclaim. Taal premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2005 Ebertfest: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival. It was also featured in the Celebrating Dance in Indian Cinema section at the 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Subhash Ghai, known for directing iconic films like Karz, Khalnayak, Ram Lakhan, and Pardes, shared how these kinds of behind-the-scenes moments remind him of the magic that happens when great artists collaborate, even across language barriers.
Taal remains one of his finest works, combining heartfelt storytelling with Rahman’s legendary music and Anand Bakshi’s soulful lyrics.
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