How Did Arijit Singh Alter the Course of ‘Safar’ from the SRK Film ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pritam has maintained a successful music career for over 25 years.
- Collaboration with Arijit Singh significantly altered the song 'Safar'.
- Open-mindedness is key in the creative process.
- 'Safar' showcases a blend of Blues and contemporary styles.
- The track sets the tone for the entire film's soundtrack.
Mumbai, July 15 (NationPress) Music composer Pritam has achieved remarkable success over the past 25 years, consistently maintaining a top position in the industry. Staying relevant for such a long duration is no easy feat, yet Pritam ensures that he introduces a fresh perspective while upholding his commercial soundtracks.
A significant part of his triumph stems from his willingness to embrace the thoughts and creative processes of his collaborators. A prime example is the song ‘Safar’ from the Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma-led film ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’. Pritam initially envisioned the song to have a completely different texture and genre.
However, it was the renowned singer Arijit Singh who redirected the song's trajectory. In a recent conversation with IANS, Pritam elaborated on the song's creation.
He shared, “The original concept I had was more aligned with Blues when I was composing ‘Safar’. When Arijit came in to record, he layered his guitar, which shifted the song’s direction slightly. It wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned. His performance brought a groove that resembled the style of Prince. I was thrilled because I am a huge fan of Prince.”
Pritam also expressed that he had intended for the song to reflect the essence of Blues legend B.B. King, but Arijit's influence transformed it into something unique.
“It’s entirely due to Arijit that the song evolved in that direction. My initial conception was more traditional Blues. Sometimes, one must remain open-minded. ‘Safar’ is a song that naturally flowed into this new groove, thanks to Arijit. Additionally, it was the first track created for ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’, setting the tone for the entire album,” he added.
‘Safar’ stands out as one of the most iconic pieces in Pritam’s portfolio due to its intricate structure, orchestration, and instrumentation layering.