Released 26 August 2006 | Length 6:11 | |
Recorded Purple Haze Studios
Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios Label T-Series, N.E.E.T., Interscope Writer(s) Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (music)
Javed Akhtar (lyrics) Producer(s) Farhan Akhtar
Ritesh Sidhwani | ||
Aaj Ki Raat (English: Tonight!, Hindi: आज की रात) is a 2006 Hindi song from the Bollywood film soundtrack for Don: The Chase Begins Again, a remake of the 1978 film Don. The track is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar. The song was later used by AR Rahman in the Academy Award–winning 2008 soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire.
Contents
Influences
Ehsaan stated that the song was influenced by the synthpop music of the late 1970s and 1980s, including musicians such as Ultravox and Cerrone.
Development
The track falls into the genre of 80's retro-disco. According to the script of the movie, the song was to be included with SRK, Priyanka Chopra and Isha Koppikar dancing at a private underworld party. Director Farhan Akhtar suggested using a Retro rock number. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy jammed with director Farhan Akhtar, who himself is a music enthusiast, to come up with the track which had elements of music styles they listened to in late 70's and 80's. The song fits well in the movie as the movie in itself is a retro story presented in a modern style.
Live drums were used for the song and Ehsaan expirimented with thin Guitar riff's to get the twanginess of The Ventures & The Shadows.
The song was performed by Alisha, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Sonu Nigam.
Reception
The song was well received by the critics. It featured in the 10 dances that made you flock the theatres list of Bollywood Hungama. It also did well in the music charts and climbed up later on.
Music video
The song is illustrated with Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Isha Koppikar. The song features three of the stars dancing to the tunes of Aaj Ki Raat in an underground Night club where the plot takes an interesting twist. Choreography of the song is done by veteran choreographer Saroj Khan.
Influence on Slumdog Millionaire
A version of the song was included in the Academy Award winning soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire by A. R. Rahman. The song features in the climax of the movie when the gangsters and mafia boss Javed dance to the tune while Aaj Ki Raat plays in the TV, though it shows the video of Rahman's Fanaa being played.