Movie: This song appeared in 2003 Dharma Productions’ critically acclaimed and super hit romantic drama Kal Ho Na Ho (Tomorrow May Never Arrive) directed by Nikkhil Advani (debut) and produced by late Yash Johar and Karan Johar. The movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Jaya Bhaduri, Lilette Dubey, late Reema Lagoo, late Dara Singh, Sushma Seth, Delnaaz Paul, etc.
Naina Catherine Kapur (Preity Zinta) is a pessimistic MBA student living in New York City with her widowed mother Jennifer Kapur aka Jenny (Jaya Bhaduri) and 2 younger siblings – her biological differently-abled brother Shiv and adopted sister Gia. Jenny runs an unsuccessful café with her neighbor Jaswinder Kapoor aka Jazz (Lilette Dubey) to make 2 ends meet. Jenny’s mother-in-law (MIL) Lajjo (Sushma Seth) always puts Jenny and Gia down in front of other people and otherwise. Naina has 2 best friends Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan) and neighbor Jaspreet Kapoor aka Sweetu (Delnaz Paul). Naina’s life is dull and is shadowed by her father’s death until Aman Mathur (Shah Rukh Khan) comes to stay with his uncle (Dara Singh) and his mother (Reema Lagoo).
Aman is a bubbly fun-loving man. He slowly begins to solve Naina’s familial problems. He first transforms Jenny’s café into an Indian restaurant, which succeeds and they are able to repay the bank loan. He also tries to alleviate sadness from Naina’s life and makes her live life zestfully. She realizes that she has fallen in love with him. Meanwhile, Rohit also realizes that he loves the new Naina. Aman decides to help Rohit and make Naina fall in love with him. Naina visits Aman in the rain to tell him that she is in love with him. Before she says anything, he tells her that he is married to Priya (Sonali Bendre). Naina is in tears before she leaves his house. Actually, Priya is Aman’s doctor, treating his terminal illness. Aman has hidden his love for Naina, behind the wrong notion that he is married. In the meantime, Aman tells Rohit that he and Naina join Salsa Class. When they are in the class, Aman begins to sing this song.
Song: The music of this song was scored by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (SEL) and the lyrics were penned by Javed Akhtar.
The gist of the song is that we have one life and we have to live it to the fullest.
Video: Cinematography is by Anil Mehta. Dance choreography is by Farah Khan.
The video opens with Shah Rukh Khan watching Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan dancing together and feels sad. In the next shot, Shah Rukh Khan is walking over a large bridge and beginning the song. Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan are seen together at several places, with Shah Rukh Khan watching them at several locations, without them knowing.
Shah Rukh Khan imagines that he is with Preity Zinta instead of Saif Ali Khan. Then, Shah Rukh Khan is back alone. He is in a garden with a fountain. While Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan are having fun, Shah Rukh Khan is having his 2-D Echo done by Sonali Bendre. The results are not very good.
The song peters out and the video ends as Shah Rukh Khan controls his sobbing.
Artists: The playback of this song has been sung by Sonu Nigam and the onscreen performances are by Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and others.
Cultural Influence: The message of this typically filmi song is that there can be happiness or sorrow in our lives. Life is not the same always. Most importantly, life is not a bed of roses. The artists are very good. The video is watchable for the same.
