A sequel to the popular Goan track, ‘Rajan Ani Prema CE’, a new music video by Sanjeet Hegde Desai, follows what happens when Rajan finally returns home to his sweetheart
CHRISTINE MACHADO
NT BUZZ
A beloved Konkani duet sung by Remo Fernandes and Alisha Chinai for the 1985 album ‘Old Goan Gold’, ‘Rajan Ani Prema’ remains an iconic Goan tune even today.
The song captures the story of Prema who is upset by her lover Rajan’s decision to leave for a job in Mumbai, but is then reassured by his promise of commitment and marriage.
But what happens after that? Do they get their happily ever after? These are the questions that are answered in the new music video ‘Rajan Ani Prema CE’ by Sanjeet Hegde Desai.
Having previously released ‘Ten Mhaka Dina’ in March 2023, Desai reveals that the idea for this new twist to the classic came about quite by chance.
“As a creative pastime, I enjoy making songs for friends on their milestone birthdays. While working on one for a friend whose name rhymes with ‘Prema’, I was reminded of this Goan classic, a favourite during our informal jamming sessions,” narrates Desai, who hails from Quepem but is now based in the U.S. It was then that it struck him that creating a sequel to this iconic Goan melody—while giving it a fresh genre twist—could be an exciting challenge. “When I shared the idea and a rough musical draft with a few friends, they loved it. That encouragement got me started,” he says.
From the initial spark of inspiration to a working concept, the whole project took about six months to develop the composition, rhythm, lyrics, and melody.
Desai adds that he was fortunate that talented collaborators like Sobita Kudtarkar (the music video director and lead actress), Kunal Raj (video producer, KRF Media), and Sindhuraj Kamat (music arranger and audio producer) were immediately on board after hearing the pitch and narration.
“The rest of the execution, though quicker, was equally demanding. We were lucky to assemble a fantastic team along with an incredible cast, supported by the Prathamesh Rane Dance Academy,” says Desai who is also grateful to friends, neighbours, and supporters in Quepem and in the U.S., who helped bring the project to life.
Kudtarkar, who has directed her second music video with Desai shares that for this track, she ensured that she gave it a very Goan feel. One of the interesting aspects in the music video is the inclusion of elements of village gossip.
There is also a very cute addition of a little school boy in the video. “It is quite typical, especially in villages, for girls to have one tiny best friend. I took the inspiration from one little guy I know who considers himself to be the best friend of a girl in his village,” she says. The music video in fact ends with this little school boy left with the girl’s purse. “When Prema goes away, he finds another Prema of his own age. Maybe they will be the next Rajan and Prema of the village,” says Kudtarkar with a smile.
The actress adds that being a director and lead actress for this music video was a challenge as was handling the huge cast, many of whom had to travel from up north to the south.
Ever since its release, the music video has received a lot of appreciation. “It’s been gratifying to see the praise extend to every aspect: the concept, lyrics, music, direction, choreography, visuals, and performances. The cherry on top was receiving adorable WhatsApp videos of kids dancing to my songs—it’s deeply touching,” says Desai. He adds that while he has sent a message on Facebook to Remo, he is not sure whether the musician has seen the music video as yet. “Remo Fernandes elevated the original ‘Rajan Ani Prema’ with his inspiring rendition, so his thoughts would mean a lot,” he says.
