Hindi
A.R. Rahman lits the stage on fire at Chhaava album launch
MUMBAI: The night was electric, the beats were thunderous, and the legend himself, A.R. Rahman, took center stage for a grand musical celebration. The much-anticipated Chhaava album launch turned into an unforgettable spectacle, blending history, emotion, and melody. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films and directed by Laxman Utekar, the historical epic Chhaava is set to hit cinemas worldwide on 14 February 2025.
With an ensemble cast featuring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, the event was graced by Utekar, Vijan, and the entire creative team behind the film. But the real showstopper? Rahman’s signature blend of soulful melodies and powerful arrangements that took the audience on a sonic journey through time and Maratha pride.
The launch was nothing short of a musical blitzkrieg. Each song from the Chhaava album was brought to life with Rahman’s spellbinding performance, amplified by a dynamic dance troupe that infused the stage with unrelenting energy. The atmosphere was charged, the audience enthralled, and the beats—sharp as a warrior’s sword—pierced through the air, keeping everyone hooked. The event also featured a candid conversation between the cast and Rahman, offering a deeper glimpse into the soul of the Chhaava album.
Rahman shared his excitement, stating, “Some movies aren’t just stories—they are the roar of a beating heart. Chhaava is one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed composing the score, BGM, and songs with the incredible team of Laxman Utekar, Dinesh Vijan, Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and my amazing music team. To all the fans, I hope you enjoy this music as much as we enjoyed creating it. And I can’t wait for you to experience our performance! Chhaava releases on February 14 in cinemas near you.”
Kaushal, overwhelmed by the experience, said, “It’s truly an honor to be part of Chhaava, especially with the legendary A.R. Rahman sir composing the music. This film marks my first collaboration with him, and watching him perform these beautiful tracks live has been an unforgettable experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. Now that the album is launched, I’m incredibly excited for audiences to experience these songs, which are so powerful, and I hope they resonate with each one of you.”
Mandanna added, “Vicky and I are in awe of the honor it has been to collaborate with the unparalleled A.R. Rahman sir on Chhaava. Every song in this album carries a piece of history—stories of love, sacrifice, and duty—woven together so beautifully. Watching Rahman sir bring the emotional depth of the film into the music has been a surreal experience and truly one of the most defining moments of my career. Being part of such a monumental film is a privilege I’ll forever cherish.”
Lyricist Irshad Kamil, who intricately crafted the words for Chhaava, reflected on his artistic pursuit, stating, “Writing the lyrics for Chhaava was an artistic pursuit. Every word had to do justice to the warrior’s journey, capturing the essence of sacrifice, valor, and honor. My intent was to honor the relentless spirit of the Marathas—celebrating their courage and unwavering commitment. These songs were crafted with the same precision as a sword strike, not merely telling a story but conveying the immortal bravery of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Working on this album was not just a task, but a duty that I was honored to fulfill.”
With Rahman’s music as the soul of the film, Chhaava promises to be a storytelling marvel. Kaushal embodies Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj with unmatched intensity, while Akshaye Khanna steps into the formidable role of Aurangzeb, setting the stage for an epic historical clash. Mandanna adds grace and strength as Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale, the queen of Swarajya, showcasing resilience and elegance.
Presented by Sony Music Entertainment India, the Chhaava soundtrack is set to captivate audiences far and wide, much like the warrior’s tale it brings to life.
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
