The iconic theme song "Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai" for the animated series The Jungle Book narrowly escaped censorship thanks to lyricist Gulzar. Director-composer Vishal Bhardwaj recently recounted this incident.
Bhardwaj shared the story at the seventh edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival. He detailed how National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) officials objected to a specific word in the beloved song.
The officials found the word "strange" and demanded changes. Gulzar, however, firmly refused.
He countered that any perceived strangeness was purely in their minds. Gulzar emphasized that the song was meant for children and would air exactly as written, or not at all.
Ultimately, the song was broadcast without any alterations, preserving its original lyrics.
Bhardwaj revealed that Gulzar had written the song under immense pressure. They needed the lyrics quickly for a recording the next day and a telecast the day after.
Bhardwaj expressed his pride in his long-standing collaboration with Gulzar. He noted that Gulzar has penned the most songs for his projects, encompassing both cinematic and non-filmic endeavors.
During his festival appearance, Bhardwaj also discussed the scarcity of children’s films in India. He lamented that children often rely on Hollywood or international animated content for entertainment due to a lack of domestic options.
On his career front, Bhardwaj is currently directing a film titled ‘O Romeo’. Shahid Kapoor is set to star in the project.