Sandesh Shandilya who has composed music for 27 films, including Chameli and Jab We Met, has been working on a world music symphony — Search For Buddha. He speaks with SHAlINI SAKSENA about how he had always wanted to create music with a message and that how it took him three years to compose it for a world premiere in Germany on February 6
Tell us about the symphony composition for Search for BuddhaIJ
I have always felt strongly about spreading the message of world peace. I got the opportunity to do so three years back when I was learning vipassana which is a meditation technique rediscovered by Buddha who is, in my opinion, a symbol of peace. Through this composition which involves around 110 musicians from South Africa, Japan, Germany and of course India, I want people to internalise and take a journey of their own.
How did the meditation help you create musicIJ
During the meditation which put me in touch with my inner-self through 10 days of silence, I learnt that by conquering anger, lust, greed, fear and attachment, one can be at peace with oneself. If one is at peace inside, achieving world peace is easy. The more I meditated the more I became calmer and I was in a state where I could create my music.
How did the idea come upIJ
I was in between movies and had the opportunity to meet Markus Pirol Stockhausen, a renowned Germany trumpet player. I showed him some of my compositions and he loved them. He introduced me to other musicians. The idea for this symphony took root there.
Any particular reason why you chose GermanyIJ
It just happened. Since I have been in touch with my co-composers in Germany, it was understood that we start from there. But we do plan to take our composition to different countries with different musicians. This way, it will be understood by everyone.
Do you think that India is still not ready for such symphoniesIJ
We have some very good composers who are doing very good work. Their work is being appreciated the world over. So while, Indians are not as open to such compositions as people abroad, it can’t be said that there are no takers here.
There is a lot of fusion in your compositions. Is that a conscious decisionIJ
When a composer is working, he is in a different zone altogether. He has a situation and a story to tell through music. At that time, he is just making music. It is only later when he reviews it as a third person does he realise that he has mixed Indian classical with jazz or sufi.
Is that how you have an Indo-Tibetan fusion in Search for BuddhaIJ
This is very personal to me. It is what I feel. I have tried to tell the story of Buddha and his peace teachings. So, while the base is Western classical, there is influence of Tibet as well. This is because one of our flute players is inspired by a Buddhist flute player. The fusion is because we have so many musicians from different countries and each brings in his own style.
What is the difference between composing music for films and doing a symphonyIJ
In my opinion, there is no difference. In both, there is a story to tell. In movies, we are given a situation. For example, in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, there was a Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol story to tell through my composition. In Search for Buddha, there is a story to tell again.
Does this mean we will see you do more symphonies and not BollywoodIJ
My work of this particular project is over, only the performance is left, so I will be back to doing movies. But yes, I would like to do more meaningful songs for good movies as also symphonies. After all, it is a dream of every music composer to compose a symphony.