Tanishk Bagchi talks about Saiyaara title track: 'People knew me for remixes—good that they now see the original'

Time of India

4 days ago

The well-known composer
Tanishk Bagchi
, who is long associated with Bollywood remixes, is finally being celebrated for his original work, thanks to the soulful title track of 'Saiyaara.' In a recent interview, Bagchi opened up about the emotional journey behind the song, his collaboration with
Mohit Suri
, and how the film marks a turning point in his career.
'I was going through a lot in my love life when I made this'
Tanishk Bagchi revealed in an interview with NDTV that the song was created during a difficult phase in his personal life. He shared that the emotional ups and downs in his relationship deeply influenced the music. While working on the song, he also came to the realization that he hadn't been able to devote enough time to his partner.
The emotional weight of that period, he said, shaped the song's tone and lyrical depth, making it one of his most personal compositions to date.
Mohit Suri's process: 'He treats a song like a situation'
Tanishk Bagchi credited director Mohit Suri for making music a key element of the film's narrative. He shared that Mohit develops the songs early in the process, treating each one as an integral situation in the story. In fact, they completed the music nearly a year before filming began.
He added that Suri sees him as 'the most romantic, most aggressive in romance through music,' which helped unlock a deeper creative synergy between them.
From remix tag to original recognition
Known for chartbusters like Dilbar, Aankh Maarey, and Lut Gaye, Tanishk Bagchi has long been labeled a 'remix specialist.' However, the success of Saiyaara has helped shift that perception. He shared that he's glad audiences are finally acknowledging his original work, as earlier much of his recognition was tied to remixes.
He hopes this marks a return to the era of music sittings and composer-led storytelling, recalling how his father spoke of filmmakers collaborating deeply with legends like RD Burman.
Composing for newcomers vs. stars
Bagchi also spoke about the difference in visibility when composing for newcomers like Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda compared to established stars. He noted that with fresh faces, the music composer often gets more recognition. In contrast, when working on films featuring big names like Varun Dhawan or Ranbir Kapoor, the spotlight typically falls first on the actors, followed by the director—leaving the composer further down the list.
He said the moment he saw Ahaan and Aneet together, he instinctively felt his song would 'blend with them.'