Here is the breakdown of his explosive statement.
The Refusal: "Why depend on past glory?" 🚫
Javed Akhtar confirmed that the makers of Border 2 did approach him to write for the film, but he turned them down.
The Reason: He termed the trend of reworking old hits as "intellectual and creative bankruptcy."
The Quote: "You have an old song, which did well, and you want to put it out again by adding something? Make new songs or else accept that you cannot do the same level of work."
The "Haqeeqat" Argument
To prove his point, Akhtar drew a parallel to the 1964 war classic Haqeeqat.
The Logic: He explained that when they made Border in 1997, they didn't reuse Haqeeqat's legendary song "Kar Chale Hum Fida." Instead, they created fresh magic with "Sandese Aate Hain."
The Sting: He argued that by relying on the 1997 playlist, the Border 2 team has admitted defeat before even starting. "You create new nostalgia," he fired back at the idea that remixes bring audiences in.
Who Replaced Him?
With Akhtar stepping out, the mantle has passed to Manoj Muntashir.
The Role: Muntashir has penned the new additional verses for the reworked tracks in the album.
The Reception: While the songs are garnering views, the "soul" of the original is a hot topic of debate online, with many fans echoing Akhtar's sentiments.
SantaBanta Verdict: Javed Saab has drawn a line in the sand. While Border 2 will surely rake in the moolah this Republic Day, the question remains: Can a remix ever beat the original?
