Andhadhun

Awards

Album Awards:
• 2018 - Filmfare Awards - Best Background Score - Daniel B. George
• 2018 - IIFA Awards - Best Background Score - Daniel B. George
• 2018 - Zee Cine Awards - Best Background Score - Daniel B. George

Trivia

Album

• The film credited the French short film "L'Accordeur" [English: "The Piano Tuner"] (2010) as its inspiration. Director Sriram Raghavan had seen the film in 2013 after his friend Hemanth Rao had recommended it to him. Inspired by the short, he had started working on a script with Rao while working on other films. Rao eventually dropped out since he was working on his own film. Raghavan had plans of making the film earlier but had dropped the idea when he heard that another film with a blind character in a central role was being made - "Kaabil" (2016). He revived the film later, working with writers Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, and Yogesh Chandekar. The same short had previously inspired Raghavan's song sequence for "Raabta" ("Agent Vinod", 2012).[1][2][3][4]
• Ayushmann Khurrana trained 4 hours a day for 2 months under a Los Angeles-based pianist named Akshay Verma to prepare for his role in the film. All the piano-playing scenes in the film were performed by Khurrana himself - no body doubles were used.[5]
• This was Anil Dhawan's first major film role in many years. The actor was 68 years old at the time. His last Hindi film before this was "Himmatwala" (2013). Director Sriram Raghavan's decision to pick Dhawan was perhaps influenced by their past associations. Both were graduates of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Anil Dhawan was the uncle of Varun, whom Raghavan had directed in "Badlapur" (2015). Additionally, Dhawan's daughter Shilpa had interned with Raghavan and encouraged him to sign the film. Anil Dhawan played a retired actor in the film and choosing him gave Raghavan the opportunity to feature his popular, old songs in it.[6][7][8][9]
• The film's ambiguous climax was one of its most discussed features. The producers were not sure if the audience would accept the open ending and director Sriram Raghavan had to convince them to go with it.[10]
• The film's working title was "Shoot The Piano Player".[11]
• The film's dedication read - "In fond memory of Chhaya Geet (1972-82), Chitrahaar (1982-97)". "Chhaya Geet" and "Chitrahaar" were weekly shows on Doordarshan that played Hindi film songs. "Chhaya Geet" is also the name of a radio program that continues to be broadcast on All India Radio's Vivid Bharti Service to this day.
• The piano was an important part of the film and its music. The film's protagonist, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, was a pianist. Most of the songs, composed by Amit Trivedi, featured the piano played by Jarvis Menezes. Director Sriram Raghavan paid homage to the musical instrument with a montage of Hindi film songs featuring it. The montage appeared in the original print of the film but was removed at the last moment fearing copyright claims. The initial theatrical release did not include the montage but it appears to have been added back in later releases. One of the shots in the montage was from the Hindi film song "You Are My Darling" ("Hum Naujawan", 1985) featuring a 14-year-old Tabu on the piano. The actress had an important role in the film.[12][13]
• Ace drummer Franco Vaz played the father of Radhika Apte's character in the film. His character in the film was also named Franco. This was his first film as an actor. Vaz started working as a session musician for Hindi film soundtracks in the 1970s and went on to become a key member of R.D. Burman's team. Before him, his father Francis Vaz was also a well-known session musician. Franco had gotten acquainted with director Sriram Raghavan through Daniel B. George who composed the film's background score. George had also worked with Raghavan earlier in "Johnny Gaddaar" (2007) and "Agent Vinod" (2012).[14][15][16]

Song

• Aap Se Mil Kar Achha Laga - This was singer Abhijeet Srivastava's debut Hindi film song.

1. ^ Andhadhun: Blind man's bluff
2. ^ Sriram Raghavan explains Andhadhun
3. ^ Kaabil (2016)
4. ^ Raabta (Night In A Motel) (Agent Vinod, 2012)
5. ^ Ayushmann Khurrana learns piano for Sriram Raghavan's thriller, Shoot the Piano Player
6. ^ Himmatwala (2013)
7. ^ Badlapur (2015)
8. ^ Tracing Sriram Raghavan's journey from Johnny Gaddaar to Andhadhun
9. ^ Andhadhun made a forgotten star famous again
10. ^ Sriram Raghavan explains Andhadhun
11. ^ NOT Shoot The Piano Player, the Ayushmann Khurrana - Sriram Raghavan film is titled Andhadhun
12. ^ You Are My Darling (Hum Naujawan, 1985)
13. ^ Watch: From Dev Anand to Shah Rukh Khan, everyone performs the 'Andhadhun' theme
14. ^ Meet Franco from 'Andhadhun': Pune club owner on the screen and acclaimed drummer in real life
15. ^ Johnny Gaddaar (2007)
16. ^ Agent Vinod (2012)