Udit Narayan is one of the few playback singers to have been part of two Indian cinema blockbusters released on the same day, Lagaan and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, in 2001. Both films mark their silver jubilee today, and Narayan feels lucky to have contributed to these musical blockbusters.
Narayan won his first National award for Mitwa from Lagaan, while Gadar delivered evergreen hits like Main Nikla Gaddi Leke, Musafir Jaane Wale and Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava. He says that even today, people request songs from both films at his shows, and their popularity keeps increasing each year.
Narayan credits the entire team behind both films, including AR Rahman's music for Lagaan and Uttam Singh's for Gadar, Javed Akhtar's writing, and Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol's performances. He calls it 'God's blessing' to have contributed to both classics.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was a romantic action drama set during the 1947 Partition of India, while Lagaan was set in 1893 during British colonial rule and told the story of an impoverished Indian village burdened by crippling taxes and a prolonged drought.
