New Delhi:
In the world of popular Bollywood music, there are certain words that sound beautiful but do not have a fixed dictionary meaning. One such word is ‘Masakali’, which became a household name after the release of the hit song from the 2009 film Delhi-6. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, sung by Mohit Chauhan, and penned by Prasoon Joshi.
However, an old story associated with the song has recently come back into the spotlight. Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has revealed that A. R. Rahman originally created ‘Masakali’ not for Delhi-6, but for Shah Rukh Khan’s film Om Shanti Om. According to Farah Khan, Rahman was her first choice for the film’s music, and he initially composed ‘Masakali’ for the project.
‘Masakali’ Was Originally Created for Om Shanti Om
Farah Khan made the interesting revelation during a conversation with music composer Vishal Dadlani. She said that A. R. Rahman was the first person she approached for the music of Om Shanti Om. It was during this phase that Rahman created ‘Masakali’ for the film.
Farah explained that at the time, she had not even decided where the song would be used in the film. She liked both the song and its name. However, when the responsibility for the music of Om Shanti Om eventually went to Vishal-Shekhar, the song did not become part of the film.
The song later became part of Delhi-6 and became hugely popular soon after its release. Delhi-6 was released in 2009 and starred Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor in the lead roles. The film’s music was composed by A. R. Rahman.
So, What Does ‘Masakali’ Actually Mean?
The biggest question now is: What does the word ‘Masakali’ actually mean? If you look for it in a standard Hindi or English dictionary, you will not find the meaning associated with the song.
The reason was explained by lyricist Prasoon Joshi himself. He clarified that ‘Masakali’ is not a traditional Hindi, Urdu or English word, but one that he created himself. In other words, the word does not have a fixed dictionary definition.
In the story of the song, the name ‘Masakali’ was given to a pigeon. This is why a pigeon was prominently featured in the song’s video and visual presentation. Prasoon Joshi explained that the pigeon was named ‘Masakali’ in the film to connect the newly created word with the context of the story.
‘Masakali’ Is More of a Feeling Than a Word
The uniqueness of ‘Masakali’ lies in the fact that it does not have one fixed literal meaning. The song evokes feelings of flight, freedom, carefree living and an open spirit, which helped the word become associated with a distinct emotion among listeners.
Prasoon Joshi later explained that he attempted to give ‘Masakali’ meaning through the imagination and emotions of the song. Thus, it is not a direct translation of any existing word but an integral part of the song’s overall creative concept.
The Song Was Also Added to Delhi-6 Later
Interestingly, ‘Masakali’ was not originally a planned part of the story of Delhi-6. According to the film’s director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, as the story moved toward its final stages, he felt the need for a song that could help connect and move the narrative forward. It was during this process that ‘Masakali’ became part of the film.
The song went on to become so popular that it was counted among the most talked-about Bollywood songs of 2009. A. R. Rahman’s music, Prasoon Joshi’s distinctive lyrics and Mohit Chauhan’s voice turned it into a memorable track.
Conclusion
The story behind the 17-year-old ‘Masakali’ song is as fascinating as its unusual name. ‘Masakali’ has no fixed dictionary meaning; it is a word created by Prasoon Joshi. The biggest revelation, however, is that the song now widely regarded as one of the identities of Delhi-6 was originally created for Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om.
