Oye Oye in Dhurandhar 2: Saapna Mukerji says the original song gave her identity

In 1989, Saapna Mukherjee became a household name singing Oye Oye alongside Amit Kumar for Rajiv Rai's Tridev. The song went on to become a runaway hit and has remained her calling card over the decades. Now, with Aditya Dhar using the song again in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Saapna's hit song is back in focus.

"Every artist has that one song that changes everything," Saapna said about Oye Oye, adding: "It gave me identity."

Saapna is, not surprisingly, happy that her voice has been retained in the new mix of the song for Dhurandhar 2, along with Amit Kumar and a cluster of new-age singers. The track is used during a key flashback moment that reveals the backstory of the character Jameel Jamali, played by Rakesh Bedi, and his connection to Bade Sahab.

Recreated song, original voice

“You can recreate a song, but you cannot replace its soul,” she said, speaking to Press Trust of India. Describing the song’s presentation in Dhurandhar 2 as familiar yet new, she added: “The voice is the same, the soul is the same, but the context changes everything. Earlier, people danced to it; today, they experience it differently.”

Credit to original creators

Saapna credited lyricist Anand Bakshi and composers Kalyanji-Anandji, along with Viju Shah of Tridev, for creating a song that continues to resonate across generations. “The X-factor lies in its honesty. It was never chasing a trend, and maybe that’s why it never feels outdated,” she said.

She praised Dhurandhar writer-director Aditya Dhar for the idea to bring back the song in a new-age spy action thriller. “Aditya Dhar deserves full credit for bringing it back with respect and giving it a meaningful place in the film. Today, my voice was not replaced. It was respected, and that means everything to an artist.”

Personal connect for the singer

For her, the song’s return had personal significance. Just before the film’s release, she performed The Oye Oye Show for CISF and NSG jawans, observing their emotional connection to the track. “And then suddenly, it finds its place in Dhurandhar 2. It truly felt like a full circle moment, from jawans to cinema screens,” Saapna shared.

Soon after Tridev released, Oye Oye, became one of the biggest musical hits of the year, and would go n to become a cultural phenomenon for its infectious energy.

Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar, has seen strong box office success with its global gross crossing Rs 1,200 crore.