Today’s feeds have been taken over by a throwback: the on-stage rendition of ‘Taal Se Taal Mila’ by Aishwarya and Akshaye. People are on a loop with it. In one go, the clip brings back the good old days of the 90s and a reminder of why they were the ones to beat when it came to romance on screen.
What has everyone so worked up about this clip
Forget the moves for a second; it is the kind of spark you can’t put on. Filmed at a live in Miami back in ’99, you see them in their element, nailing the title track with a kind of warmth and ease.
Folks are zeroing in on the chemistry that made them such a hit, both in and out of the frame. And that is what is behind the share count.
Read between the lines and you get the fan consensus:
– The way they had it was no act
– Put on the title track and you’re in a different headspace
The duo that put a face to 90s romance
They had done ‘Aa Ab Laut Chale’ before, but with ‘Taal’ in 1999, they really made an impact. It was a big musical with enough style and substance to be a hit.
In the film, Akshaye is Manav, heir to a wealthy family, and he makes eyes at Mansi (Aishwarya), the daughter of a folk singer. Of course, there are class issues and some pushback from the families that put a strain on things, and Mansi has to make her way in the city.
With Anil Kapoor as the music man in her life, her story becomes as much about ambition as it is love. The movie was lauded for how it looked and was put together, but the songs were its pulse.
Some of these tunes are here to stay
AR Rahman’s work on ‘Taal’ didn’t just make the charts, it stuck. ‘Taal Se Taal Mila’ is still the one that gets you, and this video is a case in point as to why people can’t help but let the rhythm in.
An old quote with a new life
With the clip going viral, a comment from Akshaye is being re-circulated. Karan Johar put him on the spot during the ‘Ittefaq’ press run: “Who is the sexiest in the business?” He didn’t even hesitate.
“Ash. I can’t take my eyes off her. It’s a bit of a problem for us men. She is probably used to the attention, but me? I’m not. I will just be there staring at her like a madman.”
Honest as it is, it goes well with the performance we are all re-watching and has the web in a tizzy over their rapport.
So, is a Taal 2 in the works?
Word on the street is yes. Subhash Ghai says a follow-up is no longer a pipe dream. He has been fielding the question for a long time now, even from the Gen-Z set who like the vibe of it.
He puts it down to the script being nearly done, but you have to be careful with it. “It feels like the time is right,” he says, “but we have to keep the essence of it intact.”
Should they go forward, they have a lot to live up to. This viral moment has set the bar high, for a reason that is easy to see.
For now, the Miami show is having its moment. It is what you expect from something that has stood the test of time: it puts a song on your playlist and shows you some magic that doesn’t have an expiration date.
