Scintillating songs of Banaras: Created by the genius of Himesh Reshammiya

I feel that the songs and music of “Banaras” by Himesh has got the feel to touch your soul. And I say that with conviction cause I was a witness to the efforts and its evolution.

The songs, like the movie have been composed to break away from the stereotypes that we normally associate to “Spirituality”.



With you, I like to go into the background of each song that was written and composed, keeping in mind, the contemporary style, relevance to the place and the ragas. The songs were created to conveying all colors of human emotions. Each song was so blended into the story line that while it goes on the film keeps moving forward.

For each song we have our own special name for it and they all are based on different ragas of Banaras gharana (school of musical style)

Purab se – Bhajan song
Rang dalo- Holi song
Ishq Mein Dilko-Love song “Pagal”
Kitna Pyaar Karte hain- Sad song ‘Himesh song”
Yeh hain Shaan Banaras ki-Title song
Bajooband Khul Khul Jaye- competition song

The first song that we recorded was Purab se jab sooraj nikle (Om Namah Shivay). Song writer Sameer, who also hails from Banaras, was briefed of the situation. The song had to introduce the visuals of Banaras, the context of its origin in the mythology of Lord Shiva, the ringing of bells which is heard at intervals in Banaras throughout day and night. Sameer, who himself is a devotee of Shiva, hit it in his very first attempt. Himesh who too is a firm believer, composed the tune with such passion that as soon we heard it in his own voice, we approved it.

The Holi song and the love song were created next. I hail from Banaras and I was keen to introduce the touches of Banarasi holi and therefore requested some grass root level of sounds. I also requested to begin the song with some popular Banarasi tunes. Sonu Nigam and Shreya rendered the catchy tune beautifully.

We wanted a little more ethnicity in the female voice, so we had the song sung by Shailesh, a folk artist in place of Shreya. In the CD of the film you will find both the versions.


The love song 'Pagal' sung by Sonu is as close to Rafi’s voice as possible. The way Sonu has captured and sung, it’s simply brilliant. The only reason that it didn’t become the #1 chart buster, because we refused to remix it and didn’t get enough time to promote it.
Let me mention here that Himesh always believed that is one of the best tunes he ever created. The song brings out the essence of being “lost” in love. Himesh got Sunidhi to sing the song in a “new voice” and nobody could get that it was her!!


Kitna Pyaar: We have a secret to share about the song. When we went for shooting of the film, the song was yet not ready. We were desperate to shoot the song since we had fixed schedules. A week before the shoot, Himesh sent us a song (we had told him we wanted something may be, in Sufi style, conveying the suffering of shattered Shwetambari).

We played the song and took shots of Urmila. Urmila, however, was not excited. She told me “Sir, in this song I feel like the hero has just gone to Pune leaving me in Bombay. That’s all. I just can’t feel that deep pain.”

Anyways when we came back from the shooting and asked Himesh if he could give another song. Himesh ( always cooperative) went back to his creativity and sent us another “scratch” in his voice. The minute we heard “kitna Pyaar” we all jumped!!

Himesh got some known singers to sing the song. As we heard them, we were disappointed. There was more pain in the scratch than any of the “big” singer’s voices. Himesh tried with them again but to no avail.

Himesh finally called us to say that if we liked the scratch, should he give it a try? He had just finished the recording of “Aashiq banaya”. We heard that song and told him to please do ours. Himesh took three days and came back to us with the song recorded in his voice.

We were enthralled.. So ours, in reality, was the second song he recorded after “Aashiq Banaya”.

Hats off to Urmila for having completed the shoot without the real song and thanks to Himesh for bearing us!!


The final song to be recorded was the Title song Yeh hain Shaan Banaras Ki.

The Shloka in the song is written by Ved Vyas on Banaras and the rest of the lyrics are written by Sameer.
Himesh recorded the song with my favorite classical singer “Sanjeev Abhyakar” ( a protégé of Pt. Jasraj), Initially the song was recorded with synthesized sounds. Pankuj Parashar, the director of the film is very good friend of the famous drummer Sivamani. He flew from Bangalore and spent whole day and night and gave authentic drum beats, sounds to the song. Sivmani visits Banaras every year and the first thing that he does is to take a holy dip in Banaras. That’s why in the whole song you will find different sounds of different instruments as is heard while being on the ghats. ….. bells… drums, … chants of har har mahadev. That’s how the song got that “Banaras” zing .



Himesh in his recent interview on TV said that Banaras was his best “Album”.

I thank Himesh and Sameer for giving us the songs which form the integral part of the movie "Banaras" and I believe that they will keep playing for ever in radio, television and our minds.......