Accha Sila Diya – The Song That Broke Our Hearts and Made Sonu Nigam a Star

Year of release: 1995

Movie: Bewafa Sanam

Lyricist: Nikhil

Composer: Nikhil-Vinay

'Accha Sila Diya,' sung by Sonu Nigam, is the Hindi version of a Pakistani song originally sung by Attaullah Khan Esa Khelvi. He sings it initially for an album called Bewafa Sanam, which is released in 1993. The album meets with huge success and is then made into a Bollywood movie, picturised on Krishan Kumar, the younger brother of Gulshan Kumar. It becomes Sonu's very first big hit.

In his podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia, Sonu shares an interesting anecdote. It is about his very first affair, when he is still living in Delhi. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out and leaves him devastated. He is so heartbroken that he often locks himself in the bathroom to have a good cry. It seems this sad song is a manifestation of that grief.

'Accha Sila Diya' puts Sonu on the map. From here, he starts getting noticed as a playback singer and soon lends his voice to films like Meherbaan, Muqabla, Aaja Meri Jaan, Sanam, and Shabnam.

But the success comes at a price. Bollywood, notorious for typecasting, starts pegging him only for sad songs. Need a song about betrayal? Bring in Sonu. A hero grieving at a graveside? Cue Sonu. Star-crossed lovers sighing into the night? Always Sonu. In short, whenever Bollywood needs tears, it calls Sonu Nigam.

Anu Malik sings songs like – 'Oonchi Hai Building,' while Sonu gets to sing, 'Mai Duniya Teri Chod Chala... Tum Laash pe Meri aa Jaana.' In the music video of this song you actually see him - a young lad with long hair, sitting on a grave, in a white kurta pyjama, singing woefully. And how old is he? Twenty. Just twenty. With one foot in the grave. LOL!

What makes it even more remarkable is how convincingly he delivers the emotion of betrayal at such a young age. His voice carries the ache of a man far older, which is why many assume he must be an ageing singer nursing a dozen heartbreaks. “I sang stuff such as 'Achha Sila Diya' and songs about being jilted, dying and in pain. At school I got teased and the worst was the fan mail - actual letters at that time - that questioned me why I sing only these weepy, sad songs.” 

And yet, this very song changes everything. Even though he has sung in films before, 'Accha Sila Diya' is the turning point — the song that makes the industry finally take him seriously. It gives Sonu his first taste of fame and marks the beginning of his journey.

It is translated into several languages, including Bengali. You may have heard the Hindi version a hundred times, but listen to it in Bangla — it sounds achingly sweet in this mishti tongue.

Even today, the song remains evergreen. Proof? More than 119 million views on YouTube. As P.B. Shelley reminds us: 'Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.'

Keep smiling friends. Life is beautiful. Cherish each moment. 

Har pal yahaan, jee bhar jiyo...

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