‘Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai’: Israeli-American singer learns Shah Rukh Khan song to honour ‘brave’ Captain Smit MachchharSometimes a thank-you doesn’t need a long speech.For Israeli-American musician Itay Benda, it came in the form of a Hindi song he had never performed before. After Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while trying to stop an alleged attack on a Flydubai flight, Benda chose Shah Rukh Khan’s “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” to honour the Indian pilot.He learned the song especially for the tribute.And the choice has struck a chord online.Benda shared his rendition of the much-loved song, dedicating it to “brave” Captain Machchhar and Indians around the world. He described the performance as his “small way of saying thank you”.The video has since drawn attention on social media, with many Indians appreciating not just the gesture but also Benda’s effort to sing in Hindi.One user called it “the most apt song” to thank Machchhar, describing the performance as a touching way of showing love and appreciation.Another wrote, “Thank you very much from an Indian for singing such an appropriate song.”“Very appropriate song for the occasion and you sing very well with good Hindi. Thank from all my Indian friends,” another person commented.
Why ‘Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai’?
The choice of song made the tribute even more personal.“Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” is one of Shah Rukh Khan’s most recognisable songs, from his 2008 film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Originally sung by Roop Kumar Rathore, the song is remembered for its deeply emotional lyrics and its idea of seeing something divine in another person.For Benda, it became a way of expressing gratitude towards a pilot whose actions during a terrifying flight incident have been widely praised.There was no elaborate production or grand announcement behind the gesture.Just a musician learning a Hindi song and singing it for someone he felt deserved to be thanked.And that simplicity seems to be part of why people have responded to it.
What happened to Captain Smit Machchhar?
The tribute comes days after Machchhar found himself at the centre of a frightening mid-air incident.On September 30, Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the Indian captain was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot.According to reports, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. The plane then went into a steep descent.Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. Other pilots on board eventually helped take control of the situation, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.All 174 people on board survived.Machchhar’s actions have since drawn praise from across India and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both publicly hailed his courage.The captain later spoke about the ordeal, saying he had been fighting for his life but could not let the other passengers die.From a terrifying flight to an unexpected tributeSince the incident, the response to Machchhar has come in many forms.There have been messages from political leaders, praise from ordinary people and tributes from those who simply wanted to acknowledge what happened that day.Benda’s gesture stands out because it crossed cultures in a very simple way.An Israeli-American musician chose an iconic Hindi song to thank an Indian pilot who had been flying an Israel-bound flight.And perhaps that is why the video feels different.There is something familiar about a Bollywood song being used to express gratitude, but hearing it from someone who learned it specifically for this occasion gives the moment another layer.The song belongs to a film, but for Benda, it became a message.A small one, as he called it.Yet one that has travelled far beyond the person it was meant for.
