Sukhwinder Singh denies Ram Gopal Varma’s claims that he composed Jai Ho, not AR Rahman: ‘Unhe kuch galat pata chala hoga’

Now, the singer has clarified that it was indeed Rahman, who composed the song and he was only the singer. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sukhwinder said, “I have only sung it. Ram Gopal Varma ji koi chhoti hasti toh nahi hain, shayad unhe kuchh galat pata chala hoga. (Ram Gopal Varma is not a novice. He must have misunderstood something.)“

The singer recalled how Gulzar had written the song, which Rahman liked and then composed it in Sukhwinder’s studio in Juhu, Mumbai. Rahman also made Subhash Ghai listen to it, but until then Sukhwinder’s vocals had not been recorded.

Sukhwinder said though the filmmaker liked the song, he didn’t see it fitting Yuvvraaj and requested Rahman if he could come up with a new track. “He said the character for whom he wanted a song had become naughty in the story, this song wasn’t fitting. He wanted a more masaledaar song. He told Rahman, but he insisted that this was nice. I too said ‘thode changes kar do‘ (please make some changes), but Subhash ji said poora gaana hi alag chahiye. (I want a whole new song).

“Then he left, Rahman left. I was sad. I requested Gulzar sahab to stay back for 10-15 minutes. He asked why, to which I replied he has written it so well, let me try singing. Naachte kudte maine gaa diya. (I just sang it casually.) It was the same “Jai Ho” you listen to today. I sent it across to Rahman sahab, who in turn made it listen to Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman also kept his promise and gave another song to Subhash ji for Yuvvraaj,” he added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sukhwinder Singh (@sukhwindersinghofficial)

Earlier, RGV had claimed that when Ghai had landed in Sukhwinder’s studio to listen to the song, he was shocked to find that Rahman hadn’t composed it. He recalled, “Subhash Ghai blew up the thing, he told Rahman, ‘I am paying you crores of rupees as my music director and you are making Sukhwinder make a tune for me. You have the guts to say that in front of me? If I want Sukhwinder, I’ll sign him, who are you to take my money and make Sukhwinder do the music for me?'”

Ram Gopal Varma said that Rahman’s response to Ghai was remarkable and one that he considers “the greatest” he has heard in his life. “Rahman said, ‘Sir, you are paying for my name, not my music. If I am endorsing it, it becomes mine. Now you happen to be here, how do you know where I took Taal music from? How do you know whichever music… My driver could have done it, maybe someone else, whatever else,'” he recalled.