Swanand Kirkire on Creating a Retro Song for Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Pritam and Pedro’: ‘It Feels Like Returning to a Creative Home’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Swanand Kirkire is reuniting with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani for the upcoming cybercrime chase series “Pritam and Pedro.” The collaboration marks yet another chapter in their long-standing creative partnership that has delivered memorable films, including “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” (2006), “PK” (2014), “3 Idiots” (2009), and “Dunki” (2023).

For Pritam and Pedro, Kirkire has penned a special retro-inspired song that is believed to add an emotional layer to the narrative. The track “Piya Piya Piya” has been sung by Shreya Ghoshal, composed by Shantanu Moitra, and picturized on actor Mona Singh.

Speaking about the reunion with Rajkumar Hirani and the experience of writing the song, Swanand Kirkire said, "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. Whether it was ‘Munna Bhai,’ ‘3 Idiots,’ ‘PK,’ or more recently ‘Dunki,’ the process has always been deeply enriching because the stories are rooted in humanity."

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He further adds, "When he spoke to me about ‘Pritam and Pedro,’ I was instantly intrigued because it exists in a very contemporary world driven by technology, cybercrime, and modern anxieties. Yet within that world, there was space for a song that could evoke nostalgia and timeless emotions. That contrast excited me immensely. 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."

Kirkire shares the intriguing aspect of retro songs and how their lyrical innocence touches his heart. "Retro songs have a certain innocence and lyrical simplicity that we don't often see anymore. They relied heavily on imagery, romance, longing, and melody rather than spectacle. While writing this song, I found myself revisiting that sensibility. I wanted the lyrics to carry the fragrance of old Hindi cinema without becoming an imitation. The goal was to create something familiar yet fresh,” he adds.

Kirkire also collaborated with Shantanu Moitra for the music. He tells Variety India, "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.”

Shreya Ghoshal, who sang the song, has collaborated with Kirkire before in “Piyu Bole,” “Nouka Doobi,” “Chaar Kadam,” “Pal Pal Har Pal,” “Re Mann,” and more. Opening up about another collaboration with her, Swanand shares, “She is one of those rare voices that can effortlessly travel across generations. The moment she sang the song, it felt complete. She brought grace, emotion, and authenticity that only she can bring."