When a young Natania Lalwani watched Freaky Friday (2003), she never imagined she’d one day create a song for its sequel, 22 years later. “It feels like such a full-circle moment,” says the Indian singer-songwriter, calling the experience surreal.
(From left) Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday
Freakier Friday, directed by Canadian-American filmmaker of Indian descent Nisha Ganatra, reunites original leads Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, who began filming in August 2024. Interestingly, the beloved body-swap comedy also stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan of Never Have I Ever fame.
Lalwani’s song blends “nostalgia” with a fresh Gen Z vibe. “I wrote it with Jason Evigan. It was our first collaboration, and I was going through a break-up that week — the song just poured out,” she says. “It’s all about wanting to stay in the happy days. The character in the movie [is experiencing] a similar scene in the song, so it was a perfect fit. The Disney team had a clear vision and gave us space to bring our own voice to it.”
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Lalwani is proud to see South Asian voices becoming part of mainstream American stories. “It feels like something is changing, and it’s exciting to be part of it,” she shares. “Seeing South Asian voices not just represented, but centred in these big, fun, iconic films gives a [real sense of achievement]. I even sang a Tamil intro for the song, since Maitreyi sings it. It was fun to bring in our culture and identity.”
Another global leap
Natania Lalwani is also composing for the upcoming Smurfs film, where she features on nine tracks alongside Rihanna and Tyla. “It feels like a dream. I just hope it opens the door a little wider for the next wave of South Asian voices,” she says.
