This was the second of a two-part film. Director Anurag Kashyap shot the entire film in one, seven-month stretch. Considering its long runtime - 5 hours 20 minutes - it was decided to split the film into two self-contained parts. The first part was released in Jun 2012 and the second in August 2012. Encouraged by the audience response, the first part was re-released in August, with some theatres running both parts back to back with a gap between them. Both parts of the film premiered in May 2012 at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 65th Cannes International Film Festival.[1][2][3]
Song
Chhi-chha Ledar - This song was sung by 12-year-old Durga who used to make money singing in local trains in Mumbai. She was discovered by Anand Surapur of Phat Phish records who spotted her and sent her to audition with Sneha Khanwalkar.[4]
Bahut Khoob - The voices in this song are of some school children whom music director Sneha Khanwalkar's team met while doing research for the film in Bihar. Sneha asked the kids to recite poems, recorded their voice and weaved them into this song.[5]
Taar Bijli Se Patle Hamare Piya - The mukhda of this song was taken from a popular folk song that is sung at weddings in Bihar. While this adapted version retained the format of a wedding song, its lyrics were a satirical take on the lack of progress in Bihar in the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
Frustiyao Nahin Moora - This song was supposed to be sung by Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi but composer Sneha Khanwalkar had to step in when that didn't work out.[7]
Frustiyao Nahin Moora (Morning) - Singer Deepak Kumar recorded this song when he was 15 years old.
Frustiyao Nahin Moora (Morning) - Manna Dey, more than 90 years old at the time, was initially approached to sing this song but he politely declined due to health reasons.[8]
KKL - This was largely an instrumental piece with hook lyrics from the song "Teri Keh Ke Loonga" from the first part of the film.
