Nora Fatehi’s song Dilbar from the John Abraham-starrer Satyameva Jayate, which releases on August 15, got the fastest 100 million views on YouTube. The song has been recreated from the original track of the 1999 film Sirf Tum, which was composed by Nadeem Shravan.

Director Milap Zaveri has recreated the modern version of the song which has an Arabic theme and has Nora belly-dancing to the music recreated by Tanishk Bagchi.

Director Zaveri said: “Hats off to Bhushan Kumar who chose the song for the film and Dhvani Bhanushali who sung it. It has already become a blockbuster.”

Remixes have been trending all of 2017 and 2018. The Woods takes a look at some of the popular numbers from the years gone by that have been recreated for the modern age.

Laila o Laila

Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees featured the remix of Laila o Laila, the chartbuster from the 1980 blockbuster Qurbani. The original version was composed by Kalyanji Anandji and written by Indeevar while the remixed song was penned by Javed Akhtar and recreated by Ram Sampath, and featured Shah Rukh Khan and  Sunny Leone.

Sunny, on whom the remixed song was shot, said: “I took 10 days to practise the song. Choreographer Ceaser taught me and he came and practised with me. I had watched the original song shot on Zeenat Aman. I had watched the video. We didn’t do the same steps as we wanted to pay tribute to the song. The song was a completely different. We couldn’t recreate it as it was something wonderful and it was appreciated all these years. This song is more upbeat and we have a different look and hairstyle. We have done different steps too. Moreover I was getting to share screen space with Shah Rukh. I was nervous before I met him but he came and casually said hi to me. Working with him was another level. I was worried what he would say and yet I wanted to be a part of the song. I took three to four days to shoot the song. I wanted him to be happy with the choice he had made.”

Saara Zamana

The Kishore Kumar hit from the 1981 Amitabh Bachchan-Neetu Singh-Amjad Khan hit Yaarana was recreated for the Hrithik Roshan-Yami Gautam-starrer Kaabil. The original and remix were both created by Hrithik’s uncle Rajesh Roshan, with the new number rendered by Raftaar and Payal Dev.

Hare Krishna Hare Ram

The remix of the popular track from Bhool Bhulaiyaa was used in Deven Bhojani’s 2017 action film Commando 2, starring Vidyut Jammwal. The original was composed by Pritam and sung by Neeraj Sridhar. The remixed version was recreated by Gourov-Roshin and sung by Armaan Malik, Raftaar and Ritika. This track failed to create any impact on the audiences.

Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast

The mast number featured on Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon from Rajiv Rai’s 1994 thriller Mohra, which had music by Viju Shah and was sung by Udit Narayan and Kavita Krishnamurthy, was once again used in Abbas-Mustan’s film 2017 Machine which marked the debut of Mustan’s son Mustafa. The song was remixed by music director Tanishk Bagchi and rendered by Udit Narayan and Neha Kakkar. It wasn’t quite the same as the original.

Oonchi Hai Building and Chalti Hai Kya 9 se 12

Varun Dhawan-starrer Judwaa 2, a remake of the 1997 Judwaa with Salman Khan as the lead, had both hit numbers from the original. Anu Malik, who had created the tracks for Judwaa, also worked on the recreated versions.

Varun says: “I remember when Salman sir came to know that we were recreating the original tracks, he came up to me and said don’t spoil the song Tan tanatan tan tan tara and don’t change the steps. So, we have retained the original steps. He was kind enough to send a bag full of jeans and shoes for my character Raja, which he had worn in Judwaa.”

Ek Do Teen

Jacqueline Fernandez gyrated to the popular Madhuri Dixit number from Tezaab in Ahmed Khan’s Baaghi 2. The new number was recreated by Amit Trivedi.

Director Ahmed Khan said: “We wanted a song where Tiger Shroff meets Prateik Babbar. We were not sure of a new song because sometimes it doesn’t do well. We have to compose a new song and everyone has to appreciate it. It’s very difficult that everyone will have one opinion. The audience loves listening to remixes. It takes a long time to make a new song and everyone has to appreciate it. Today’s audience may not remember the old number. It’s been such a long time. My children didn’t know about the song. Even director N. Chandra who made Tezaab was so happy. He said the teaser is looking great. He gave us all his blessings. The song was a huge hit again. We have retained the hook step and the tattered skirt but Manish Malhotra has given a twist to the costume.”