Shankar Mahadevan’s latest composition of Dil Dhadakne Do with Ehsaan Noorani and loy Mendonsa hasn’t received warm response from all the critics, but the singer-musician-composer isn’t flustered. “Who are criticsIJ Do they know about musicIJ Have they proved themselves in the fieldIJ I remember when we came up with the music of Dil Chahta Hai, some of the critics said that the songs sounded like jingles,” Shankar said after a music workshop at the IIFA Weekend and Awards.
The music of Zoya Akhtar’s family drama Dil Dhadakne Do with songs like Gallan goodiyaan, Pehli baar and Girls like to swing garnered mixed response. At the workshop, the singer even sang the Arabic version of the title track of Dil Chahta Hai, starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna. His son Siddharth, nephew Soumil and loy’s daughter Alyssa also showcased their musical talent by composing a hip-hop version of Zinda, which originally has heavy rock beats, from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Mahadevan said, “I feel proud not because they are our children. They are the next generation and have so much depth which is not superficial. They are not trying to act hep. They are composing melodies with passion.” Shankar, who has an online music academy, believes it is important to practice and learn music. “You can be successful without learning music, but success has nothing to do with quality,” he said.