Anu Malik on 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi': Mahesh Bhatt is a father figure
Synopsis
Two of Bollywood's most enduring creative voices — filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and composer Anu Malik — are stepping off the screen and onto the stage. Their new play 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi', inspired by Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry, premieres in Mumbai on 5 July. Malik says he composed the music on the spot after hearing the script — and that melodies form in his mind the moment he hears Bhatt's name.
Key Takeaways
Mahesh Bhatt and Anu Malik are collaborating on stage play 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi' , premiering in Mumbai on 5 July 2025 .
The play is directed by Tariquee Hameed and written by Dinesh Gautam ; music is by Anu Malik .
The title is inspired by an iconic verse by poet Sahir Ludhianvi .
Anu Malik described Mahesh Bhatt as a 'father figure' and said melodies form in his mind the moment he hears Bhatt's name.
Malik composed the music spontaneously after producer Imran Zahid narrated the script.
Anu Malik and Mahesh Bhatt are reuniting on stage for the theatre production 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi', set to premiere in Mumbai on 5 July 2025. The play marks yet another creative chapter in a decades-long bond between the veteran filmmaker and the celebrated composer.
About the Production
Presented by Mahesh Bhatt, directed by Tariquee Hameed, and written by Dinesh Gautam, the play explores themes of silence, suppressed emotions, love, and fear. At its core, it examines the moral courage required to confront one's own truth. The title is drawn from an iconic verse by poet Sahir Ludhianvi, lending the production a literary weight that resonates with its emotional themes.
Bhatt on a Bond That Feels Like Destiny
Mahesh Bhatt — best known for directing Arth — described his association with Anu Malik as something that transcends professional collaboration. “Anu and I have travelled together through many seasons of life. What has endured is not merely a professional association but emotional memory. This play carries hope, longing, struggle, and renewal — territories that music understands instinctively. The moment Anu connected with the material, I sensed that familiar spark. Some collaborations are planned; others simply feel destined. This one belongs to the latter category,” he said.
Anu Malik: 'Melodies Begin Forming the Moment I Hear His Name'
Anu Malik was equally effusive about the reunion. “Mahesh Bhatt saab is like a father figure to me in more ways than one. He has always believed in me; not just as a composer, but as a human being. Whenever I hear his name, melodies begin forming in my mind. That's his magic, not mine. We've shared a beautiful journey from Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee to Tu Meri Puri Kahani, and I believe we still have a long way to go,” he said.
Malik also revealed that the composition process for this production was unusually spontaneous. When producer Imran Zahid narrated the story, Malik listened to the script, read the lyrics, and composed the music on the spot — a rare instance of live creative instinct at work.
A Legacy Brought to the Stage
The Bhatt–Malik pairing has produced some of Hindi cinema's most emotionally resonant soundtracks over the years. Bringing that sensibility to live theatre is a deliberate choice, one that signals a growing appetite among India's veteran creative voices for the intimacy of the stage. Notably, the play's title — rooted in Sahir Ludhianvi's verse — connects the production to a lineage of socially conscious Urdu poetry, adding an intellectual dimension to what is already a deeply personal project for both men.
With its Mumbai premiere scheduled for 5 July 2025, 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi' is shaping up to be one of the more anticipated theatre events of the season.
Point of View
A medium that demands presence in a way film no longer does for them. What's striking is the spontaneity Malik describes: composing on the spot after a script narration is the antithesis of how contemporary film music is produced, where tracks are often assembled before scenes are even shot. Whether the Mumbai theatre audience — notoriously fickle and shrinking in the OTT era — will show up for this kind of emotionally earnest, poetry-rooted production is the real test. The Sahir Ludhianvi connection is a smart cultural anchor, but anchors don't fill seats.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi'?
'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi' is a Hindi stage play presented by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, directed by Tariquee Hameed, and written by Dinesh Gautam, with music composed by Anu Malik. It explores themes of silence, suppressed emotions, love, and fear, and its title is inspired by a verse by poet Sahir Ludhianvi.
When and where does the play premiere?
The play is set to premiere in Mumbai on 5 July 2025.
Why is Anu Malik part of this production?
Anu Malik has a long personal and professional bond with Mahesh Bhatt, whom he describes as a father figure. Malik said he composed the music spontaneously after hearing the script narrated by producer Imran Zahid, reflecting his deep instinctive connection to Bhatt's creative vision.
What is the significance of the play's title?
The title 'Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi' is drawn from an iconic verse by celebrated Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi, connecting the production to a tradition of socially conscious and humanist poetry.
What past collaborations have Mahesh Bhatt and Anu Malik shared?
The two have collaborated on several Hindi film projects over the decades, including soundtracks associated with films featuring songs like 'Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee' and 'Tu Meri Puri Kahani', building one of Bollywood's more enduring creative partnerships.
