One remembers For Aisha song during the end credits of Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink, which is accompanied by some heartwarming photographs.
Besides it being a foot-tapping and catchy track, it is a special number which the mother (Aditi), father (Niren) and brother (Ishaan) Chaudhary family will cherish forever.
It is an uplifting yet poignant song which encompasses the true spirit of Aisha Chaudhary – who passed away from Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 18 in 2015.
Ishaan, who is the co-founder of the electronic music band ‘MEMBA’, had always wanted to commemorate his motivational sister, but struggled in creating this.
He tells Filme Shilmy about how he captured the essence:
“For Aisha was the hardest song I’ve ever had to write in my life. How could I choose notes to convey how I feel about Aisha? It felt like an impossible task.
The first thing I thought of was the ‘oye hoye’. I had actually used it in a rap song called “coutin rupees” that I wrote while Aisha was still alive.
She used to bump that song and sang the oye hoye all the time.
So I knew I wanted that to be in it even before I had any melodies or anything down.
I even put the sound of her old room quietly in the background so it feels like the song lives in her space.”
As perfect and seamless as the song sounds, to get the final product was a huge struggle:
“It took will and I several failed attempts before we got something that felt right. I wanted the song to be in English, Hindi and Punjabi because those are the languages we spoke in,” he says.
“I wrote the English lyrics with my fiancée EVAN GIIA and LA-based writer Naomi Wild.
I teamed up with the incredibly talented Anvita Dutt for the Hindi and Punjabi lyrics.
They really helped me get out of my head and made the song what it is – I couldn’t have done it without them!“
In fact, Ishaan’s mother Aditi has also witnessed how difficult it has been for Ishaan create the song:
“Writing this song was one of the hardest things for him to do and having done this he feels he can do any project without being stressed.
I am so proud of this wonderful tribute from Ishan to his sister. The song IS so Aisha.
I think it captures not only her spirit but the spirit of the entire film and our life so well. The melody is happy and sad both, just like our life.
The song is extra special because it reminds me every day that my son is a genius.
It’s special also because our daughter in law to be Emmy Giarusso has sung the English lyrics and helped compose them.
Reflecting on the research gone into preparing the track, Ishaan adds:
“I went back to India to record the vocals and flute. I knew I had to go home to finish it.
We worked with a blind bansuri flute player named Kiran and two different children’s choirs.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the Nooran sisters and am still shocked they agreed to get on the song.
The whole experience was incredible and I learned so much and felt like I grew as a musician.
I really feel relieved and so happy that people are loving the song. A big thank you to anyone that’s listened! It means so much.”
On a final note, what does he hope from the track?
“I really hope that if enough people hear the song maybe Aisha will get to hear it too.”
The Sky Is Pink, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf is running in cinemas worldwide.
Stay connected with MEMBA on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages here.
Check out the ‘For Aisha’ song here:
