Gawah Hai: a Damini classic in my voice

Gawah Hai Chand Taare is one of those timeless Bollywood love songs that beautifully expresses longing, devotion and pure emotion. Through my cover I wanted to relive that magic and share it with everyone who still believes in soulful romantic music — and it has become the most-watched cover on my channel, with more than ten lakh views.

The original

The song is from Damini, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and released on 30 April 1993. It was sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik, composed by Nadeem–Shravan, with lyrics by Sameer, and it is on Saregama (HMV). On screen it belongs to Meenakshi Seshadri and Rishi Kapoor.

Damini is remembered as a serious film — the story of a woman who witnesses a crime and refuses to stay silent, whatever it costs her. It won Sunny Deol the National Award for Best Supporting Actor, and four Filmfare awards, including Best Director. In the middle of all that, Gawah Hai Chand Taare is its moment of tenderness.

What the words mean

Gawah hai chand taare means “the moon and the stars are witnesses”. It is a promise made in front of the whole night sky: two people telling each other that their love is real, and that the moon and stars have seen it. It is a very Nadeem–Shravan idea — simple, romantic, and sung straight from the heart, with nothing clever standing between the words and the feeling.

One small piece of history I enjoy: the song’s opening lines are often traced to “Malaika”, a Swahili love song that has travelled all over the world. Music borrows and returns like that, and a cover is part of the same journey.

My version

I sang it, the music and the mixing and mastering are by R3zR, and Prince Pratap shot and edited the video. It went up on my channel on 2 October 2024. My cover is a humble recreation, presented with emotion and sincerity — I hope it touches your heart as much as it touched mine while I was recording it.

If this song reminds you of someone special, pause for a moment, close your eyes and feel it. Let the lyrics, the emotion and the melody take you back to a time when love felt simple, deep and eternal.

Why so many people found it

More than ten lakh people have watched this cover, and I think it is because the song belongs to so many families. Many of you grew up with it on the radio or on cassette, and it comes back to you like an old letter. Thank you for every view, every share and every comment — they are the reason this song keeps reaching new people.

Credits at a glance

Original: Gawah Hai Chand Taare, from Damini (1993). Singers: Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. Music: Nadeem–Shravan. Lyrics: Sameer. Director: Rajkumar Santoshi. On screen: Meenakshi Seshadri and Rishi Kapoor. Label: Saregama (HMV).

My version: Singer: Sushmita Srivastava. Music, mixing and mastering: R3zR. Camera and edit: Prince Pratap. Released on YouTube on 2 October 2024.

Listen next

The full video is below. If you loved it, you may also like my version of Na Tum Jano Na Hum, and my own original Aa Sama Le — a new love song, written for today.