Yash Chopra loved me: Uttam Singh

Veteran film maker Yash Chopra has finally been laid to rest as he was cremated this afternoon. In the aftermath of his demise, music composer Uttam Singh and singer Alka Yagnik, who worked closely with him, remember the legend.
For music composer Uttam Singh, their association goes back a long way, when the former composed music for Yash Chopra’s hit, Dil Toh Pagal Hain (DTPH). “It was a very good experience working with Yash Chopra.He was a very confident man. I remember when we were working on DTPH, Yash ji went to Bakshi saab with his story idea. Bakshi saab told him that of the music was not good, the film would not work. I was shocked because I was right there! If there was any big director in place of Yash ji, he would have been shaken. But Yash ji had full faith and confidence in me. He was not shaken and for me it was a great opportunity. We met many times after DTPH and although we never worked together after that, he always praised me or my music. He used to love me and his memories are life long. Even when I was composing music for DTPH, there was no interference from him, no matter how long it took”, says Uttam Singh.
Alka Yagnik, who has sung melodious songs for many Yash Raj Films, adds, “The film industry has lost its strongest pillar and institution. We are all on extremely shaky grounds and very poor today. We are totally lost now”.
With his cremation, comes the ending of an important era in the history of Indian cinema and film making.May his soul rest in peace!