Border 2: Sonu Nigam Responds To 'angry' Javed Akhtar, Makes BIG Statement

New Delhi: Even before the film 'Border 2' hits theaters, the spotlight has been on one of its songs for quite some time. This song has evoked nostalgia in an entire generation. The song in question is none other than 'Sandese Aate Hain'. The return of this song has sparked a debate in Hindi cinema about nostalgia versus originality. The debate includes reactions from lyricist Javed Akhtar and the original song's singer, Sonu Nigam. They believe that some melodies are inseparable from the stories in which they originated.

What did Sonu Nigam say about ‘Border 2’?

Sonu Nigam lent his voice to 'Sandese Aate Hain' in 1997. He has also sung the sequel song, 'Ghar Kab Aaoge'. The melody retains its original emotions, but features new lyrics written by Manoj Muntashir. The soundtrack also includes the voices of Arijit Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, and Vishal Singh.

Before the film's release, Sonu Nigam shared a video message on Instagram. In it, he dedicated 'Border 2' to the nation and reflected on his long journey with the franchise. He said, "I went to the first premiere of Border in 1997. And now in 2026, I stand at the premiere of Border 2. I never thought this beautiful journey would continue for so many years." He also expressed gratitude for the audience's continued love.

The singer also spoke about the responsibility of telling stories based on real events. He said, "Border is a franchise that depicts true stories, not fictional ones. These are the stories of our country, our soldiers, and our victories." The singer further added that the makers have paid special attention to the music. He said, "The war that we actually won many years ago, we will win again through Border 2."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial)

What did Javed Akhtar say?

The debate surrounding this song intensified when Javed Akhtar openly criticized the trend of remaking classic tracks. He called it "intellectual and creative bankruptcy." Javed revealed that he had refused to write new lyrics for "Sandese Aate Hain" for the sequel. Later, the film's producer, Bhushan Kumar, said that retaining the song was essential for the film's emotional identity.

What did Sonu Nigam say about Javed Akhtar?

Responding to Javed's comments, Sonu expressed deep respect for the senior lyricist and presented his perspective. Sonu Nigam said, "Yes, Javed sir is absolutely right that bringing back old songs is not good. But if Border is a soldier, then 'Sandese Aate Hain' is his uniform. We cannot imagine Border without this song." He further added that Javed would appreciate the new song in 'Border 2', titled 'Mitti Ke Bete', which is a tribute dedicated to the soldiers and the nation.

Directed by Anurag Singh, 'Border 2' is a sequel to director J.P. Dutta's iconic war film 'Border'. The sequel stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. Dutta has returned as a co-producer with his daughter Nidhi Dutta. The film has received positive reviews from critics and audiences.