35 Years Of Mile Sur The story of the making of this song is very interesting. Many celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty and Jeetendra participated in this song made in 1988. This unity song is very popular even today. It was produced and directed by Kailash Surendranath. Many interesting stories are related to Mile Sur. Read similar stories on the 35th anniversary of the song.

On August 15, 1988, after the flag hoisting at the Red Fort on Independence Day, Doordarshan first played Mile Sur Mera Tumhara... To Sur Bane Hamara. This song composed to give the message of unity in diversity is completing 35 years on Independence Day.

The song was conceived by Suresh Malik and ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath. The reins of direction were in the hands of Kailash Surendranath. Both of them had made Torch of Freedom with the players for Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad, after which they were approached for this song.

How was the song 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' made?

Recalling the song, Kailash Surendranath says- “We were told to make something that the Indian youth would be proud of. We wrote letters to many people, made trunk calls to participate in it. I used to make advertisements, but stopped all work and worked only on this song for a month.

The last shooting of the song with Lata ji

Swara Kokila Lata Mangeshkar joined last in this song. Kailash explains- “She had returned from abroad to Bombay (now Mumbai) two days before the release of the song. We had recorded a piece with singer Kavita Krishnamurthy. Shooting was also done with her.

Lata ji came and said that I do not want to miss this opportunity. She reached the studio, put on headphones and listened to Kavita's song, then sang it in her own style. There were cameras in the studio, we even shot together. Recording and shooting happened simultaneously.

She also appeared in the song and her voice was shot lip syncing Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Waheeda Rehman. Kavita ji's shot had to be removed. Kavita ji's voice was taken for standby. She was very disappointed that her shot could not be taken. Well, Lata ji was senior, there was no option. Shabana Azmi lip-synced on Kavita's voice.

How was the map scene shot?

At the end of the song, Kailash wanted a map and flag of India. Kailash says that when we shoot for advertisements, we have to listen to the clients. But there was no need to take permission from anyone to make this song. There was freedom.

At Filmcity, I gathered a crowd and shot it by making them stand in the design of the map of India. We went to Ooty to make the flag. Shot in a boarding school there. It was from here that we took our orange, white and green track suits with us. Then the flag was made by making them stand.