Anand Raj Anand recalls the making of 'Kaante' and its music; Reveals the Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt starrer initially had no songs

Music composer, singer and lyricist Anand Raj Anand has opened up about the making of 'Kaante', revealing that the action thriller was originally conceived without songs.

Speaking during an upcoming episode of Indian Idol, he shared how a crucial decision by Sanjay Dutt changed the film's musical direction and helped create one of its most memorable soundtracks.

Host Aditya Narayan praised Anand Raj Anand for composing, writing and singing the film's title track before asking him to revisit the story behind the music. The composer then shared several behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the soundtrack. According to Anand Raj Anand, the film's cast and storyline initially left little room for songs, making the music department's task particularly challenging.

Late-night mehfil changed everything

Recalling the early stages of the project, Anand Raj Anand revealed that he suggested organising a special Sufi music session for Sanjay Dutt, knowing the actor's fondness for the genre. The gathering eventually became a turning point in the film's journey.

He said, "Kaante ki bahut kamaal ki kahaani hai. Film mein saare 45 saal se upar ke heroes the aur koi heroine bhi nahi thi. Isliye gaane ki gunjaish hi nahi thi. Sirf 'Rama Re' ki wajah se film mein songs add hone shuru hue. Maine Sanjay Gupta sir se kaha ki Sanjay Dutt sahab ko sufi gaane bahut pasand hai, toh ek mehfil rakhwa dijiye. Raat ko kareeb 11:30-12 baje Juhu mein Ajay Devgn ke saamne wale office mein mehfil hui." ("There's a fascinating story behind Kaante. The film featured an ensemble cast of actors who were all over the age of 45, and there wasn't a female lead. Because of that, there was initially no scope for songs. It was only after 'Rama Re' that songs began finding a place in the film. I suggested to Sanjay Gupta sir that since Sanjay Dutt loves Sufi music, we should organize a Sufi mehfil for him. So, around 11:30 pm or midnight, a mehfil was held at an office in Juhu, opposite Ajay Devgn's office.")

The composer explained that the late-night session gave him an opportunity to present his compositions directly to the team. It also helped convince them that the film could successfully accommodate songs despite its unconventional narrative.

Sanjay Dutt backed the soundtrack

Anand Raj Anand further shared that filmmaker Sanjay Gupta initially questioned whether the songs would blend naturally with the film. However, Sanjay Dutt immediately appreciated the compositions and encouraged the team to include them.

He recalled, "Maine sabse pehle unhe 'Ishq Samundar' sunaya. Phir 'Maahi Ve' sunaya. Sanjay ji bole yeh gaane film mein fit kaise honge, lekin Dutt sahab bole, 'Kar lenge yaar, gaane achhe lag rahe hain.' Uske baad Sanjay Gupta ne mujhse kaha ki film ke liye ek theme song bhi hona chahiye, jaise James Bond ya Mission: Impossible ka theme hota hai." ("The first song I played for them was 'Ishq Samundar', followed by 'Maahi Ve'. Sanjay Gupta wondered how these songs would fit into the film, but Dutt sahab said, 'We'll make it work, the songs sound really good.' After that, Sanjay Gupta told me that the film also needed a signature theme song, similar to the ones in James Bond or Mission: Impossible.") According to Anand Raj Anand, that moment proved to be a major boost. Sanjay Dutt's confidence in the music encouraged the filmmakers to move forward with the soundtrack, eventually making it one of the defining elements of the film.