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Excerpts from the Interview: I have not been against doing Hindi films, which is why I have done a few when I was approached for them! (Smiles). I was not approached by Hindi film producers, that's all. But Cheeni Kum appealed to me because of the freshness in the script. It's not the usual kind of story but one that touches horizons not explored till now. The placement of songs was also interesting. Finally, director Balki is my fan and he also was very insistent that I do the film. You see, it's not doing just another film that excites me after so much work. Any film that is offered to me must make me think, "I must do this film!" Who is your lyricist in Cheeni Kum? Sameer was a mutual choice between everyone. We wanted simple, meaningful songs in the common-man's language. I had worked with him before in Hey!Ram and knew that he could do meaningful verse. In terms of musical scope, this is probably your first Hindi film after Sadma. Was there any difference in the way you approached or executed the music? Except that I have tried to give a new sound for the national audience without losing my identity, there is no difference in my approach. All the songs are a part of the story but there is no lip-sync in any of them. Personally I do no think that any differences are needed just because the language of a film changes. Every audience likes anything good. (Smiles) If you recall, my songs have already worked in a big way in the 1990s when certain people here used a lot of my tunes!
Favourites? You will have to write down a whole list of them from Khemchand Prakash and Naushad down to all the others! I cannot single out any of them. Why, I have walked on the roads that they all travelled. By the same token, I have immense respect for the great music directors of every region. I am into music from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. Actually the composing part takes just 45 minutes. Orchestration also takes me about 45 minutes per song. The rest of the time is taken by rehearsals and the actual recording. I can compose 6 songs easily in one sitting. For me it is not difficult to compose 20-25 songs in one day with the director's acceptance! And when I say 'acceptance', it means that I do not have to do any convincing or persuade him in any way! This phenomenal gift - how much of it is natural and how much is training? Obviously it is coming from up there, otherwise how does one explain it? I know only this much about music (presses his thumb and first finger together) and out of that I have used only a little in my music! A.R.Rahman was your assistant later. How do you rate him as a composer? Rahman was a keyboardist with me. I do not think that I was his teacher too in the classical sense. Rahman is doing good work - but he has been made to do a lot of things that give people a wrong impression of his music. What is your own take on musical trends?
In your long career, who are the singers and lyricists you have introduced or given breakthroughs? It is not correct that I speak about them.It is for them to acknowledge my role if they want to (Smiles). But among those singers Mumbai is familiar with, there is Chitra. Are you doing any other Hindi film? Yes, I am doing six songs for Ram Gopal Varma's Shiva. by MusicIndiaOnLine.com |
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