After ripping open Bollywood charts throughout 2013 with nifty numbers like "Thalaiva tribute (Lungi dance)" in "Chennai Express" and "Party all night" in "Boss", rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has recorded a song written by veteran lyricist Gulzar for "Dedh Ishqiya".
The song entitled "Horn okay please" will be filmed on Arshad Warsi's character of Babban in "Dedh Ishqiya". The collaboration was planned and perpetrated by the film's producer and music composer Vishal Bhardwaj.
According to a source close to Honey Singh, when the rapper received a call from Bhardwaj, he thought it was a prank, more so when he was told it was for song written by Gulzar.
"Considering the wild-child reputation that he has in the music industry, Yo Yo could never believe his music could get acceptance from a poet of Gulzar saab's calibre," said the source.
After verifying the truth of the offer, Honey Singh is said to have set aside all his other commitments and rushed to Mumbai to meet Bhardwaj.
The source added: "Vishal wanted Yo Yo to sing in the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh accent that Arshad Warsi sports in 'Ishqiya' and 'Dedh Ishqiya'. Vishal did a scratch recording with Yo Yo and was impressed by the way he sang the number.
Then Vishal worked more on the composition and did a second recording with Yo Yo. "Now he wants to do a third version with Yo Yo."
Honey Singh is still pinching himself in disbelief after the experience, but he says the number is "an absolutely zany crazy piece of writing".
"Vishal Bhardwaj and I hit it off from the word go. We come from different musical sensibilities. But we met like two unprejudiced musicians just out to create terrific music," he said.
"Dedh Ishqiya" is releasing Jan 10, next year.