Aa Chale – Sonu Nigam’s Soulful Call for Unity Across Borders

Year of Release: 2013

Film: The Mystical Laws 

Lyricist: Dhiraj Bihari Jha

Composers: Bathiya & Santhush (BNS)

When a Japanese director, a Sri Lankan composer duo, and an Indian singer decide to have a little party together, you know something tasty is being cooked.

The Mystical Laws isn’t your usual Bollywood musical. It is a Japanese animated movie directed by Isamu Imakake. The music comes from Bathiya & Santhush – the Sri Lankan pop duo who are making their first proper music move into the Indian market. And Sonu's song 'Aa Chale' is in the Hindi dubbed version of the film.

“What better opportunity to collaborate in a movie which is neither from Sri Lanka nor from India, from Japan. So this is a triple collaboration,” says Sonu.

'Aa Chale' is not an easy song to sing. Not only is it energetic and fast paced, but also has several high notes.

But Sonu's rendition is flawless. He makes it seem so easy and effortless. Not to mention the scat singing which is absolutely brilliant – playful, jaunty, slightly jazzy – which takes the song to another plane altogether. Listen carefully to how he negotiates the rapid phrases and then relaxes into the scat, like someone who’s both an athlete and a storyteller.

The theme of this number is unity - how the world will be a safer and better place to live in, if we all stay united. For an animated film with a spiritual bent, you can’t ask for a more warmhearted refrain.

It’s the sort of song that makes you want to step a little lighter, the drums give you bounce and the arrangement gives it that easy, hummable vibe.

This song does not hog radio the way mainstream Bollywood numbers do, but sometimes the quieter songs are the ones that keep sneaking back into your head months later. 'Aa Chale' is that number. And that, to me, is what matters.

So if you haven’t heard it or haven’t heard it lately, give it a play. Think of it as a little global experiment that worked – Japan’s story, Sri Lanka’s tune, and India’s voice – all meeting in a single, hopeful chorus.

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