4th January 2021 : The musical legend, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s song ‘Zaroori Tha’
has been receiving many accolades from the time of its release and has now
crossed the highly coveted 1 Billion Video Views mark on YouTube, a remarkable
achievement for a Non-Film Song.
Produced By Salman
Ahmed, 'Zaroori Tha' was released 6 years ago, with the music video
beautifully directed by Rahul Sud. The song featured then, India’s most
celebrated television couple Gauahar Khan and Kushal Tandon, who rose to fame
following their appearance in the reality TV show, Bigg Boss.
Universal Music
India (UMI) has always been at the forefront for promoting and supporting
artists from the Non-Film Music community. It is heartening to see how fans
have showered so much love on a Non-Film song and made it UMI’s first 1 Billion
wonder. The fans have already started celebrating this milestone online and
continue to make it grow.
Speaking about this significant accomplishment, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali
Khan said, “It’s an overwhelming
feeling reaching a milestone of 1Billion views on YouTube as Zaroori Tha a song
part of the 'Back 2 Love' album released in 2014 by Universal Music India and
majestically produced, marketed and showcased more like a movie then just an
album by Salman Ahmed. Along with Salman Ahmed, my dear friend Devraj Sanyal,
MD & CEO of Universal Music India believed in Non-Film music and our
combination was admired by the world. The credit equally goes to the lyricist
Khalil UR Rehman Qamar for inking such beautiful and meaningful words of
Zaroori Tha. Composed by Sahir Ali Bagga. The video Directed by Rahul Sud and
on screen chemistry of Gauahar Khan and Kushal Tandon was loved by everyone.
It’s a big achievement for all of us involved.
Speaking about
this achievement, Universal Music
India and South Asia Managing Director and CEO Devraj Sanyal said, “What an incredible way for us to start 2021 by joining
the “Billion View Club” on YouTube with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s #ZarooriTha.
A song that’s transcended age, genre & time over the past few years to
become a love ballad of the ages. It’s a big win for Non-Film music to be
counted in a stronger & more revered category of commercial music in India.
Big ups to my old friend & one of the best singers of all time Rahat, the
amazing Salman from PME Management, who’s as responsible for this as any of us
and my teams who’ve now firmly planted the flag for Non-Film music in the
glocal streamscape”
Commenting on the milestone, Producer
Salman Ahmed said, "It is a dream come true for any Producer. Zaroori
Tha and the 'Back 2 Love' album for me was not just another album, it was a
belief, and it was a knowingness that the world will love it. I recall that
most of the top labels loved the songs but wanted them for movies. I believed in
Non-Film music and the magic of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan along with tie up
with Universal Music India was an icing on the cake. Devraj Sanyal was
instrumental in making this happen as he equally believed with me that Non-Film
music is the best way forward. I launched this album at the IIFA Awards in 2014
at Tampa Bay, something never done before. Then it was released in Dubai by
Universal in the presence of Mahesh Bhatt. As an independent producer it is
great to be part of this milestone. Yeh bhi, "Zaroori Tha".
About Universal Music India:
Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. (UMIPL) is a 100% subsidiary of the
Universal Music Group (UMG) and is home to record labels such as A&M
Records, Blue Note Records, Capitol
Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings,
Deutsche Gramophone, Emarcy, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island
Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor
Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin
Records, Virgin EMI Records. UMI has an extremely rich Indian catalogue
comprising songs from classic Hindi and Regional Films, Indi-Pop, Bhangra,
Ghazals and Devotional. Its enviable catalogue includes artistes such as Asha Bhosle,
Anup Jalota, Bombay Vikings, Jagjit Singh, JoSh, Malkit Singh, Pankaj
Udhas, Panjabi MC, Raghav, Mohit Chouhan, Euphoria, Adnan Sami, Rabbi
Shergill, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to name a few. UMIPL's `film'
catalogue (the 2nd largest in India) spans music from blockbusters such as
Sholay, Qurbani, Amar Akbar Anthony, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Devdas and
Munnabhai MBBS amongst the numerous jewels which symbolize the musical journey
from the 70's to date. On the International music front, UMIPL are the clear
market leaders with artistes such as ABBA, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Eminem,
Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, The
Beatles, Norah Jones, Marshmello, DJ Snake, Ariana Grande, The
Chemical Brothers, amongst a host of other popular music icons and household
names in India.
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