Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has rewritten box office history, emerging as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films in Indian cinema. While the film’s record-breaking theatrical run has been widely celebrated, its music album has been equally impactful.
Among the tracks that quickly climbed the charts, Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan, sung by Shahzad Ali, struck an instant chord with listeners. However, not many are aware that the song draws inspiration from a legendary qawwali that happens to be superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s all-time favourite.
The contemporary track from Dhurandhar traces its roots to the iconic qawwali “Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai” from the 1960 classic Barsaat Ki Raat. The original composition was crafted by Roshan, with evocative lyrics penned by Sahir Ludhianvi.
Over the decades, the song has come to be regarded as one of the most remarkable qawwalis ever created in Hindi cinema.
Speaking about Roshan’s work during his appearance on the Netflix series The Roshans, Shah Rukh Khan shared his admiration for the composer’s timeless artistry. “My favourite song is actually a qawali by him. I think I nearly know the whole qawwali if it is playing,” he said. His words reflect the enduring appeal of the composition, which continues to resonate with audiences generations later.
Singer Sonu Nigam also underscored the uniqueness of the classic. “It’s like they say, ‘Never before this, never after this’. To this day, there is no qawwali like this. It takes a real genius mind where you have all the ingredients that you need, but how do you use them? That is the biggest hallmark of this qawwali.” His statement highlights the musical brilliance and structural complexity that set the composition apart from its contemporaries.
“Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai” was composed by Roshan, who is also the grandfather of actor Hrithik Roshan, for the 1960 film Barsaat Ki Raat. The nearly 13-minute-long masterpiece was reportedly recorded over a span of 24 hours and brought together legendary voices including Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, SD Batish and Sudha Malhotra. Despite its artistic triumph, the song, like much of Indian film music history, is said to carry a complicated and lesser-known backstory.
Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani reflected on Roshan’s legacy in the same series, stating, “People may not know which film this song is from, and who was the actor here, but they know the song. The music is bigger than time, that is Roshan saab.” His remark encapsulates how the composition has transcended its cinematic origins to become a cultural touchstone in its own right.
Interestingly, historical accounts suggest that producer R Chandra, the elder brother of the film’s lead actor Bharat Bhushan, had initially brought composer Khayyam on board for the project.
He reportedly requested Khayyam to create a qawwali inspired by the popular Pakistani piece “Na Tu Butkade Ki Talab Mujhe,” originally performed by Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, the father of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. This cross-border musical influence adds yet another layer to the rich legacy of the iconic track.
Also read: Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 is gearing up for a massive trailer launch? Here’s what to know
Today, as Dhurandhar celebrates unprecedented success, Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan stands as a reminder of how timeless classics continue to inspire modern cinema.
By drawing from “Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai,” the film bridges generations of music lovers, proving once again that powerful compositions never fade — they simply find new voices.
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