Swanand Kirkire reunites with Hirani for 'Pritam and Pedro'
What's the story
Swanand Kirkire has reunited with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani for the upcoming cybercrime chase series Pritam and Pedro. The duo has previously worked together on successful projects such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), PK (2014), 3 Idiots (2009), and Dunki (2023). For this series, Kirkire has written a special retro song titled Piya Piya Piya, sung by Shreya Ghoshal and composed by Shantanu Moitra. The show stars Vir Hirani and Arshad Warsi in the lead roles.
Creative bond
Kirkire on his journey with Hirani
Talking about his collaboration with Hirani, Kirkire told Variety India, "Every time I collaborate with Raju sir, it feels less like a professional assignment and more like returning to a creative home." "We have shared a journey that spans some of the most important films of my life, and what I cherish most about working with him is that he always approaches storytelling with honesty, warmth, and tremendous emotional intelligence."
Song creation
On writing a retro song for a contemporary series
Kirkire was drawn to Pritam and Pedro for its contemporary setting in a world driven by "technology, cybercrime, and modern anxieties." He said, "The challenge was to write something that felt like it belonged to a classic era while still serving the emotional journey of today's audience." "Retro songs have a certain innocence and lyrical simplicity that we don't often see anymore."
Musical partnership
Kirkire on collaborating with Moitra, Ghoshal again
Kirkire also worked with Moitra on the music for Piya Piya Piya. He said, "Having Shantanu Moitra compose the music elevated the experience further because he instinctively understands melody-driven storytelling." "He has an incredible ability to create music that feels timeless." On working with Ghoshal again, Kirkire said, "She is one of those rare voices that can effortlessly travel across generations. The moment she sang the song, it felt complete." The show will premiere on JioHotstar on July 3.