Javed Akhtar's Seven-Year Struggle to Create 'Breathless'
Veteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has disclosed a remarkable story behind one of India's most iconic independent songs, 'Breathless'. In a recent interview, he recounted how the track, now a massive hit, faced relentless rejection from composers and music companies for a staggering seven years before finding its savior in singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan.
Rejection from the Music Industry Elite
Akhtar revealed that he conceived the concept for 'Breathless' but struggled to garner support. 'Even the biggest classical singers and composers said we cannot make a song like this,' he recalled. When they expressed inability to mold it into a song, Akhtar would request tunes, offering to handle the rest, but received only polite smiles and dismissals. He emphasized, 'And when I say seven, I mean seven, not five, not six,' highlighting the prolonged period of frustration without naming specific individuals to avoid embarrassment.
Shankar Mahadevan's Crucial Intervention
The breakthrough came when Akhtar finally met Shankar Mahadevan, who instantly agreed to collaborate. Akhtar confessed, 'This was my luck. What if I had not met Shankar? I would still be sitting with 'Breathless' unmade.' He admitted that after years of rejection, he had nearly accepted the idea as flawed, questioning his own judgment due to universal dismissal. The challenges included skepticism about who could sing such a demanding track and doubts over its popularity potential.
Continued Hurdles and Marketing Battles
Even after Mahadevan recorded the song and a music video, the team faced opposition from the marketing department of the music company, which lacked faith in the project. Shankar Mahadevan recalled, 'The marketing department was not ready to release the song or the video. They did not have faith in the song. There was an argument over it.' Akhtar criticized marketing teams for stifling creativity, stating, 'What has been happening for quite some time is that the marketing department gives a list of requirements, and these are a bunch of people who do not understand anything about music.'
Legacy of 'Breathless' and Industry Critique
Upon release, 'Breathless' defied all odds to become one of India's most popular independent tracks. Akhtar pointed out the irony, 'What the marketing department believes in is one thing: nothing should be done for the first time. The second time, no harm.' He blamed such conservative approaches for killing many innovative songs over the years, underscoring the disconnect between artistic vision and commercial strategies in the music industry.
