NOMINEES

BEST COMPOSER

ANU MALIK
(Virasat and Border)
Uttam Singh's score in Dil To Pagal Hai may be the record-breaker of the year but I don’t think I fared too badly in 1997. I had two big hits —Virasat and Border. And what was very satisfying for me as a music director was the fact that there was nothing in common between the two scores. I did not repeat myself even once. I remember when I was composing the Payalein... number for Virasat the reactions were so mixed that I was bewildered. But the number turned out to be the most popular one in the score. Sandese aate hain from Border was another challenge. After Pankaj Udhas’ evergreen hit, Chitthi aayee hai, not too many music directors wanted to work on a number which evoked patriotic sentiments. Even I was a little wary when I got started on the Sandese... number because I knew there would be the inevitable comparisons. But the fact that my song has matched up to the earlier chart-topper is very rewarding for me and my musicians. I would like to think that one of these two scores will fetch me the award this year. But the competition is tough so I really can’t say if I’ll walk home with a Screen trophy. I can only hope....

NADEEM-SHRAVAN
(Pardes)
SHRAVAN: I have to thank Mr Ghai for this nomination. It was an honour to work for him. The score we composed for Pardes was of an international standard. My own favourite is Deewana dil. It touched the hearts of millions of music lovers all over the world. The music of Pardes was not just popular it was extraordinary. In a class of its own. I am confident that we will win the Screen award for Best Music Composer this year. As is our custom I’ve got a new suit stitched for the occasion. And now I’m expectantly waiting for D-day.

JATIN-LALIT
(Yes Boss)
This is the third time the composer duo has been nominated for the Screen awards. Two years ago the duo was nominated for their chart-busting score in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and last year for Khamoshi — The Musical. This year they have been nominated for Yes Boss, which gave a tremendous boost to singer Abhijeet’s career.

(The duo was not available for comment at the time of going to press).

UTTAM SINGH
(Dil To Pagal Hai)
1997 has been a very good year for me. I got the recognition I’d been deprived of for decades. I really worked very hard on the score of Dil To Pagal Hai. And I’m glad my hard work has been appreciated. The years of toil have paid off. I guess, it is God’s will. Each one gets what he deserves at the right time. Today, I guess, my time has come.

Uttam Singh has also been nominated for the Best Background Score in Dil To Pagal Hai.

BEST LYRICIST

GULZAR
(Labon se chum lo... Aastha)
I cannot say I am not happy about being nominated for this song. It proves that poetry is still respected and appreciated. I’m more pleased for Javed sahab whose songs Sandese aate hain and Main koi aisa geet gaaoon have become so popular all over the country. They have touched a chord in every man, woman and child. It is also very heartening to know that Bakshi sahab is in the race. For the last four decades he’s been very active creatively. It is nice to see good work flourishing and being appreciated both by the judges and the people for whom they are written. I don’t even mind losing to the two best lyricists we have today.

JAVED AKHTAR
(Sandese aate hain... Border & Main koi aisa geet gaon... Yes Boss)
Recognition, appreciation, nominations and awards are always a great high for an artiste. Communication with people has always been my prime concern whether I’m writing a poem, lyrics for a film or a political speech. I feel very satisfied if I am able to communicate successfully. These two nominations, coming from a respectable jury formed by an institution like Screen, give me immense satisfaction because they represent the feelings of the people I am trying to reach. I don’t know if I’ll win but being recognised is enough of an encouragement and inspires me to work harder to communicate with people better. My work can only get better now. It has to, after this honour.

ANAND BAKSHI
(Do dil... & Yeh mera India... Pardes)
I am thrilled. It was a great coincidence that the song Yeh mera India from Pardes happened to come along in the 50th year of India’s independence. The situation in the film was the inspiration behind the song. It went on to become a craze. I’m not surprised. The combination of ‘India’ and ‘bindiya’ is always a hit.

BEST BACKGROUND SCORE

VANRAJ BHATIA
(Pardes)
I had lost interest in awards after I lost out on the award for Junoon. Then one fine day Mr Subhash Ghai called me up with a surprising offer. Would I score the background music for his film, Pardes? I was surprised because I was more used to doing off-beat projects like Tamas. I accepted the offer but I was very wary initially. Mr Ghai is such a great film-maker. He knows exactly what he wants. I’ve worked with him earlier during Cinema Cinema. I was wondering if I would be able to give him what he wanted. In fact, I wanted to give him more than what he wanted. He deserved it. The first two days I told Mr Ghai to leave me alone. I wanted to work my way. After that he took over and we came up with Pardes.

AADESH SHRIVASTAVA
(Border)
I am honoured and excited that I have been nominated, for the first time, for the Screen awards. I feel privileged to have been a part of Border. I attempted a fusion of symphony and traditional folk. It was a war film and sounds were of paramount importance. When the scene was set on the border we had sounds like the firing of guns and machine guns, shelling and the whirring of aeroplanes and then suddenly a boy (Akshaye Khanna) would go into a dream sequence and we would move back into the interiors. That called for a lot of variation. Composing a background score is more difficult than composing six songs for a film. I spent two months doing my homework for this film. For the famous theme music I used odd beats, nine and eleven. It was a difficult piece even for the musicians. But it worked out beautifully. We also worked very hard on the music to herald the coming of the Pakistanis. It was an eerie piece which evoked fear. To convey Jackie’s helplessness we selected a sad symphony which changed to elation when he was given the signal to fly to the aid of his allies. We used different theme pieces for the scenes involving Akshaye Khanna and Sunil Shetty, Akshaye and Pooja Bhatt, Akshaye and Raakhee. Composing the background score for this complex war film was a challenge and full credit goes to JP Dutta who gave me a free hand.

SP VENKATESHWARAN
(Virasat)
I am thrilled with the nomination but all the credit goes to Priyan for giving me ample time and freedom to create the mood of the film through the background score.

RAGHUNATH SETH
(Mrityudand)
I’m thrilled. I had put my best effort into the film and if you notice, the background score of Mrityudand is very different from any other film. Technically, I haven’t dished out any original stuff but I have tried many new things. The film has some traditional, well-known Bengali tunes which I guess was the reason its music was so well liked.

BEST PLAYBACK SINGERS
MALE

ABHIJEET
(Main koi aisa...Yes Boss)
Getting nominated has become a habit with me. Now winning ki aadat pad jani chahiye. Winning an award is a big achievement. I want a shelf in my house to be lined with trophies. One thing’s for sure. Jaunuary 17 is going to be a very eventful day. Chunky Panday is also getting married. But I’ll be there for the awards. I promise.

KUMAR SANU
(Do dil... Pardes)
It's great to know that I have been nominated for my song in Pardes. The Screen awards are very important and popular. So I’m very excited. I know the competition is tough this year but I have my fingers and my toes crossed! The song Do dil mil rahen hai is such a classy number and so well composed. I really enjoyed singing the song. I attribute the success of this song to the filmmaker Subhash Ghai. Hats off to him. Now I only hope it wins me an award.

UDIT NARAYAN
(Dil to pagal hai... Dil To Pagal Hai)
The 1997 Screen awards are very important for me because this year I’m on a hat-trick. I’ve won the coveted award for best male playback singer for two years in a row for my numbers in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Raja Hindustani. Winning an award for these two turned out to be the biggest achievements of my career. This time it is Dil To Pagal Hai which is a bigger hit than last year’s blockbuster. I’m hoping I’ll complete a triumphant hat-trick this year.

ROOP KUMAR RATHOD & SONU NIGAM
(Sandese aate... Border)
ROOP KUMAR: I expect an award this year. The lyrics of Sandese aate... were so strong, so moving. The first time I heard the song I knew instinctively that it would be an instant hit. Anu Malik was not too keen on me. He wanted a more established singer. But JP Dutta stood by me. He was confident of my talent. He was convinced I’d be able to carry off the number. I remember I was very nervous on the day of the recording. I knew it was my last chance. I’m not the kind of guy who sings regular film songs. But once I got started I knew I’d be able to pull it off. While singing the song I felt like a desh ka jawaan. There was so much josh in me. When I was singing the line Yeh guzarne vali hawa there were tears in my eyes.

SONU NIGAM: I’m thrilled my song has been nominated. It was a joint venture. Both Roop and I worked very hard on the number. I’m very happy for him too.

HARIHARAN
(Hum tumse na kuch... Ziddi)
I am really happy for receiving a nomination for the best playback singer. Till now I've always been in the news because of Colonial Cousins. I must admit though that I never expected Hum tumse na kuch to be so popular. It is a very soft, melodious number, different from the kind of songs you normally get to hear today. However, when I was recording the song, I was getting these positive vibes. I think it is one of the best songs of Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen.

FEMALE

ALKA YAGNIK
(Tanhai ..Koyla)
I have been nominated so many times that new nominations no longer surprise me. It has become a habit with me. This year I won’t be there for the function as I will be in Calcutta for a show. But I am happy that my number has been appreciated.

CHITRA
(Payalein.. Virasat)
The moment I sang Payalein run zun run zun, which is a folk number, I was sure it would be a hit. My prediction was proved true and now I have also received a nomination for the song which is like a bonus. I had enjoyed singing the number and now I am looking forward to the awards nite.

KAVITA KRISHNAMOORTHY
(Yeh mera India... Pardes)
I am lucky I am the chosen one. But I am a bit confused because the song has been sung by some others also. Anyway, I guess it is God’s will and I am happy that the jury liked my voice.

ASHA BHOSLE
(Le gayee... Dil To...)
After the stupendous success of Rangeela people were back at my door. Last year I was nominated for the Screen awards for Rangeela and this year too I have been nominated for that lovely number from Dil To Pagal Hai, Le gayee... I am very happy.

SHWETA SHETTY
(Ore Ore... Ziddi)
I am thrilled that I have been nominated. The number Ore Ore... from Ziddi has given a boost to my career in films. I wish I could attend the function but I have to be in Calcutta. My sister will be there on my behalf.