I was out on saturday night and my friend put the song on Aahun Aahun from the film Love Aak Kal, one of the big releases from bollywood this year. As the song started playing, I recognised the beat had a little something to it which was new and for bollywood, evolutionary. I think it was something to do with the cover of an older track from the 90’s, but more so the deep dance beat embedded into it that made it the song of the night.

Looking on youtube for the song, I finally find it and read through the comments, one of which states another fan saying that they love anything that has “punjabi tadka in it.. it jus makes everything so lively”

After doing a bit of research, I find out what its all about and why I naturally like this song so much. Dj Sanj.

Sanj is a popular western DJ specializing particularly in bhangra and punjabi music who produced three remixes on the bollywood album. Sanj is the “punjabi tadka” that the guy was talking about on you tube, and hes not the only one bringing the punjabi flavours to todays bollywood albums. RDB (Rythm, Dhol, Bass) have also been dabbling, with a particular hit being “Aloo Chat”, the title song from the film.

Aloo Chaat was another big hit this year at both clubs and parties becuase of its heavy dance beat and western influences, demonstrating how influential colloborations between UK Djs and Bollywood producers can be. Historically, music has always been produced in India and become big in the UK. Now with western djs and artists like DJ Sanj and RDB on the bollywood scene, I can see this turning itself upside down…