Aaj Ki Raat
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{About||the 1948 film|Aaj Ki Raat (film)|the Stree 2 song|Aaj Ki Raat (Stree 2 song)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Aaj Ki Raat
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Alisha, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Sonu Nigam
| album = Don
| language = Hindi
| released = {{Start date|2006|09|27|df=y}}
| format =
| studio =
- Purple Haze Studios
- Panchathan Record Inn
- AM Studios
| genre =
| length = 6:11
| label =
|writer=| composer = Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
| lyricist = Javed Akhtar
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Aaj Ki Raat.ogg
}}
}}
Aaj Ki Raat ({{translation|Tonight!}}) is a 2006 Hindi song from the Bollywood film soundtrack for Don: The Chase Begins Again. The track is composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/12654/index.html |title=Don - The Chase Begins Again : Soundtrack listing and details |publisher=Google.co.in |date=2006-10-20 |accessdate=2011-06-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906032122/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/12654/index.html |archivedate=2011-09-06 }} The song became more popular internationally when later used by AR Rahman in the Academy Award-winning 2008 soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire.
Development
The track falls into the genre of 1980s retro-disco. Director Farhan Akhtar suggested using a retro rock number. Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy got together with director Farhan Akhtar, who himself was a music enthusiast, to come up with the track which had elements of music styles they listened to in the late 1970s and 1980s. The song fits well in the film, as the film in itself is a retro story presented in a modern style.{{cite web |url=http://www.shankarehsaanloy.com/sforum/show.php?topic=20060912084809 |title=Displaying a topic |publisher=Shankarehsaanloy.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112411/http://www.shankarehsaanloy.com/sforum/show.php?topic=20060912084809 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} To ensure that this song fits in line with the 1970s, the track was heavily inspired from 1977 Donna Summer hit I Feel Love.{{Cite web |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |date=2018-03-28 |title=Picture the song: Feel the love in 'Aaj ki Raat' from the 'Don' remake |url=https://scroll.in/reel/873664/picture-the-song-feel-the-love-in-aaj-ki-raat-from-the-don-remake |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4tSnK7XdDg |title=Aaj Ki Raat Full Video Song [4K 2160p &1080p] Don (2006) |date=2018-07-20 |last=TrueHD 2160p |access-date=2024-09-02 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=jWxuOrPOpu7ixa_q&v=yEbaeLv-aOo&feature=youtu.be |title=Donna Summer - I Feel Love |date=2023-06-30 |last=DonnaSummerVEVO |access-date=2024-09-02 |via=YouTube}}
Ehsaan stated that the song was influenced by the synthpop music of the late 1970s and 1980s, including musicians such as Ultravox and Cerrone.{{cite web |url=http://www.shankarehsaanloy.com/sforum/show.php?topic=20060830171909 |title=Displaying a topic |publisher=Shankarehsaanloy.com |date=August 2006 |accessdate=2011-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112357/http://www.shankarehsaanloy.com/sforum/show.php?topic=20060830171909 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
The song was performed by Alisha, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Sonu Nigam.
Reception
The song was well received by the critics. It was featured in the 10 Dances that Made You Flock the Theatres list of Bollywood Hungama. It also did well in the music charts{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} and climbed up later on.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The Don soundtrack album became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack albums of 2006, with 1.5{{nbsp}}million units sold in India.{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081557/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|archivedate=15 February 2008|publisher=Box Office India|date=22 January 2009|accessdate=31 January 2017}}
Music video
The song is illustrated with Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Isha Koppikar. The song features three of the stars dancing to the tunes of {{Lang|hi-latn|Aaj Ki Raat}} in an underground night club where the plot takes an interesting twist. Choreography of the song is done by Saroj Khan.{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/2006-lowest-openers-in-u-k/|title=Saroj Khan gets sentimental about DON|last=|first=|date=2006-10-21|website=Bollywood Hungama|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215100120/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com:80/news/2006/09/21/7895/index.html |archive-date=15 February 2009 |accessdate=2011-06-27}}
''Slumdog Millionaire''
A version of the song was included in the Academy Award-winning soundtrack Slumdog Millionaire (2008) by A. R. Rahman.{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/2008-30-screens-in-u-k/ |title=A. R. Rahman uses 'Choli Ke Peeche' track from Khalnayak in Slumdog Millionaire |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=2008-11-27 |accessdate=2011-06-27}} The song features in the climax of the film, when the gangsters and mafia boss Javed dance to the tune while "Aaj Ki Raat" plays on the TV, though it shows the music video of Rahman's "Fanaa" from Yuva (2004) being played.{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/Slumdog+Millionaire/articles/138/Review+of+Slumdog+Millionaire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012092337/http://www.zimbio.com/Slumdog+Millionaire/articles/138/Review+of+Slumdog+Millionaire |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-12 |title=Review of Slumdog Millionaire - Slumdog Millionaire |publisher=Zimbio |accessdate=2011-06-27}} The Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack album sold over 2{{nbsp}}million units worldwide.{{cite news|title='Slumdog Millionaire' soundtrack sells 2 million units|url=http://www.neapolitan-music.com/slumdog-millionaire-soundtrack-sells-2-million-units/|accessdate=28 November 2017|work=Neapolitan Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034613/http://www.neapolitan-music.com/slumdog-millionaire-soundtrack-sells-2-million-units/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Don film series}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs with music by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy