When Shah Rukh Khan and and Sonu Nigam celebrated the original Na To Karavan Ki Talaash qawwali; now reborn in Dhurandhar: Watch video

Composed by Hrithik Roshan’s grandfather Roshan Lal Nagrath and written by legendary poet Sahir Ludhianvi, the original qawwali is considered a musical landmark.

As Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar makes headlines with its box office collections, one element has eclipsed all the buzz — the powerful qawwali-style number featuring the line Na toh karwaan ki talaash hai. The snippet has gone viral across platforms, yet many viewers are only now discovering that this haunting tune isn’t new at all.

It traces its lineage to one of Indian cinema’s most iconic musical compositions from the 1960s, a song deeply loved by both Shah Rukh Khan and Sonu Nigam, and one that carries a surprising Hrithik Roshan connection.

Director Aditya Dhar’s choice to include the stirring line has struck a chord with audiences. The moment, packed with Ranveer Singh’s intense screen presence, left fans searching for the origin of the track, leading them to the timeless qawwali Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai, Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai from the 1960 classic Barsaat Ki Raat.

Composed by Hrithik Roshan’s grandfather Roshan Lal Nagrath and written by legendary poet Sahir Ludhianvi, the original qawwali is considered a musical landmark. Sung by an extraordinary ensemble of voices, including Manna Dey, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra and SD Batish, the piece remains one of Bollywood’s most grand and soul-stirring qawwalis.

Its influence, however, stretches beyond nostalgic cinephiles. Shah Rukh Khan has long professed his love for the track. In Netflix’s The Roshans, he shared, “My favourite song is actually a qawaali by him. I think I nearly know the whole qawaali if it is playing.”

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Sonu Nigam echoed, "Aisi qawwali nahi bani aaj tak."

Before Roshan immortalised it for the silver screen, the melody existed as a traditional qawwali titled Na Toh Butkade Ki Talab Mujhe, performed by Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, father of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Producer R Chandra initially approached composer Khayyam to adapt the classical piece; when he declined, Roshan stepped in and crafted the legendary Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai that audiences continue to cherish.

Now, over 60 years later, the Dhurandhar version, titled Ishq Jalakar (Karavaan) or Karwaan Ki Talaash, reimagines this evergreen composition for a new generation. While the revamped track adds modern cinematic layers, it retains the soul and structure of the original, offering both nostalgia and novelty.