Saiyaara composer Tanishk Bagchi defends audience's emotional reaction, says, 'I also cried…'

Saiyaara continues its successful run at the box office, accompanied by viral videos of audience reactions. Viewers are seen expressing intense emotions, including crying and screaming, especially during the title track. One video even shows a man watching the film with an IV drip. The Saiyaara fever has clearly gripped the nation. Music composer Tanishk Bagchi, who created the film's title track, responded to the extreme fan reactions. These reactions have been described as both euphoric and, by some, as cringe-worthy.

Justifying audience’s reactions, he said, “When I watched the film, I also cried. But to be honest, I don’t know why I cried. I’ve watched so many emotional films even from the West. But the music in this film haunts you. It gives you the feeling that you’ve lost someone, that you aren’t able to find the one ya phir koi juda hua hai par phir bhi aapke paas nahi hai. Saiyaara ka jo title track hai woh ek adbhut sa feeling deta hai."

“There are some scenes in the film that truly resonate with you. Those who’re emotionally weak burst out into tears and those that are strong, shed only a tear," told Tanishk to News18 Showsha.

The director, Mohit Suri, had briefed him on the title track, saying that he wanted to evoke a very specific feeling through the song that would transport people back to a particular moment in their lives.

He continues that the song should remind people of their first love, much like a specific scent evoking memories of someone special. Mohit Suri wanted the song to evoke nostalgia, a deep feeling that can't be artificially created. He believes this feeling emerges when you've genuinely experienced a special moment. The song's connection with the audience stems from the reflection of their own pasts in it.

Tanishk reveals that Mohit Suri was always present in the studio during the recording session, which left singer Faheem Abdullah and co-composer Arslan Nizami feeling intimidated. Tanishk had to ask Mohit to step out and give the artists some space, as Faheem was visibly nervous on the first day of recording the track.

Tanishk praises the director for his intense involvement in the music of his films. He shares that for the theme music of Saiyaara, the director suddenly visited his studio with the theme music already composed and asked Tanishk to add vocals to it. Tanishk quickly worked on it, and the director approved it. To Tanishk's surprise, the director used every bit of the theme music in the film, rather than just incorporating parts of it.