Sukhwinder Singh reveals 'Beedi Jalaile' was never his song to sing
Synopsis
Sukhwinder Singh had gone to the studio to record a completely different Omkara track — but a spontaneous suggestion by Gulzar to give him just one line in 'Beedi Jalaile' snowballed into him singing the whole song. One of Bollywood's most recognisable duets exists because of a near-afterthought in the recording booth.
Key Takeaways
Sukhwinder Singh revealed on Indian Idol that he was originally not part of 'Beedi Jalaile' from Omkara (2006) .
He had gone to the studio solely to record 'Dham dham dharam dharaiya re' , a separate track from the same film.
Lyricist Gulzar suggested giving Sukhwinder just one line in the song; the session evolved until he sang the entire number.
Judge Shreya Ghoshal said there is 'devotion' in Sukhwinder's voice, while Vishal Dadlani called it 'worthy of worship'.
Indian Idol airs on Sony Entertainment Television every Saturday and Sunday and streams on SonyLIV .
Celebrated Bollywood playback singer Sukhwinder Singh dropped a fascinating behind-the-scenes revelation on a recent episode of the singing reality show Indian Idol, disclosing that he was never originally cast to sing the iconic track 'Beedi Jalaile' from the 2006 film Omkara. What began as a brief studio visit for an entirely different song evolved, almost by accident, into one of the most beloved duets in Hindi film music.
How Sukhwinder Ended Up in the Studio
According to Singh, his initial assignment that day had nothing to do with 'Beedi Jalaile'. 'I was not a part of this song initially,' he explained on the show. 'I had gone to sing Dham dham dharam dharaiya re, sab se bade ladaiya re, omkara hey omkara.' That track was his sole purpose for being in the recording session — the now-famous number was not even on his schedule.
The Moment Gulzar Changed Everything
The turning point came when legendary lyricist Gulzar suggested to composer Vishal Bhardwaj that Sukhwinder be given a single line in the song. As Singh recalled the exchange: 'Gulzar sahab asked Vishal to give me one line — he thought that was probably enough: Naa ghilaaf, Naa lihaaf, Thandi hawa bhi khilaf Sasuri.' A second line followed — 'Itni sardi hai kisi ka lihaaf lei lay, Jaa padosi ke chulhe se aag lei lay' — and then, almost on impulse, the decision was made to have him sing the entire song. 'Do one thing, just sing the whole song,' Singh quoted the directive. 'And that is how this duet was made.'
Judges React to the Revelation
The anecdote visibly moved fellow judge and acclaimed singer Shreya Ghoshal, who said, 'There is devotion in Sukhi ji's voice; when he sings, he only sings for God.' Singer and composer Vishal Dadlani, also on the judging panel, added his own tribute: 'This voice is worthy of worship.'
About Indian Idol and the Omkara Legacy
Indian Idol airs every Saturday and Sunday on Sony Entertainment Television and streams on SonyLIV. The show has become a platform where veteran artists regularly share untold stories from Bollywood's recording history. 'Beedi Jalaile', composed by Vishal Bhardwaj with lyrics by Gulzar, remains one of the defining folk-influenced tracks of mid-2000s Hindi cinema — and, as Singh's account reveals, its most celebrated voice almost never featured in it at all.
Point of View
Paradoxically, more accessible than anything the industry has formally commissioned.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sukhwinder Singh not originally meant to sing 'Beedi Jalaile'?
Sukhwinder Singh had gone to the recording studio specifically to sing a different Omkara track, 'Dham dham dharam dharaiya re', and was not scheduled to appear on 'Beedi Jalaile' at all. It was lyricist Gulzar's in-session suggestion that brought him into the song.
How did 'Beedi Jalaile' become a duet?
Gulzar suggested that Sukhwinder be given one line in the song, then a second line was added, and finally the decision was made for him to sing the entire track — turning what was a solo into a duet. Singh recounted this sequence on Indian Idol.
What did Shreya Ghoshal say about Sukhwinder Singh on Indian Idol?
Shreya Ghoshal said there is 'devotion' in Sukhwinder's voice and that when he sings, he sings only for God. Fellow judge Vishal Dadlani echoed the sentiment, calling the voice 'worthy of worship'.
Who composed and wrote 'Beedi Jalaile' from Omkara?
'Beedi Jalaile' was composed by Vishal Bhardwaj with lyrics by Gulzar. It featured in the 2006 film Omkara, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Where can viewers watch Indian Idol?
Indian Idol airs every Saturday and Sunday on Sony Entertainment Television and is also available to stream on SonyLIV.
