As ‘ Gangster ’ completes two decades, composer Pritam revisits the music that defined an era. The film’s soundtrack, still widely loved, also brings back memories of the voices behind it, especially KK and Zubeen Garg . In a recent interaction, Pritam opened up about loss, nostalgia, and why revisiting those songs on stage has become deeply emotional.



Pritam on singing KK’s songs

Speaking with SCREEN about KK, Pritam reflected on their long association that began even before films. “KK was actually my jingle-time buddy. And since I’ve always been a rocker, my natural casting for every song was KK… I still feel like giving songs to him, only to realise… it’s very tough,” he shared. Their collaboration on tracks like “Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai” from ‘Gangster’ remains iconic to this day.





The composer revealed why he eventually stopped performing KK’s songs during live shows. “The first three shows after his death, I tried to give a tribute to him… Towards the end, I turned around and saw KK’s picture on the screen. I went into the green room and couldn’t come out for the next three songs because I was so broken down. So, I stopped doing that,” he admitted, describing how grief took over mid-performance.



Pritam remembers Zubeen Garg

Pritam also looked back at his bond with Zubeen Garg, who lent his voice to “Ya Ali” in ‘Gangster’. Recalling their early days, he said, “Ya, there’s a lot of disbelief when I think of KK and Zubeen… Zubeen was a very close friend at that time. I used to regularly visit his house in PMGP Colony… He had sung for a lot of ads and TV serial for me before.” Those early collaborations shaped their journey in Mumbai.





Sharing how he copes with grief, Pritam spoke about avoiding moments that make the loss feel final. “So, this time in the US, when I gave a tribute to Zubeen, I decided I wouldn’t turn around at all… I have the habit of avoiding any close person’s funeral because till you don’t see them like that, there’s no closure. And I hate that closure,” he explained, offering a deeply personal perspective.



‘Gangster’ turns 20

Released in 2006, ‘Gangster’ marked one of Pritam’s earliest collaborations with director Anurag Basu after years of working together in advertising and television. Two decades later, the film’s music continues to resonate, even as it reminds the composer of friendships and voices that are dearly missed.