Music director ROHIT SHARMA speaks to SHAlINI SAKSENA about his latest project and how he had to unlearn everything as an engineer to make a mark as a musician
What is a Delhi engineering boy doing in MumbaiIJ
I quit my job one fine day and came to Mumbai. That is where I was a part of a band. I did my engineering from Delhi College from Engineering and took up a job. But I quit in 1999 and came to Mumbai in 2000.
It must have been a struggle since you were an outsider.
To begin with, it was quite a struggle. But I suppose even in a job, there are times when you struggle. So I took whatever came my way as part of learning the ins and out of the industry.
Did you have professional trainingIJ
I didn’t have any professional training in music till I was in Class XII. But I was always interested in music and would sing and play the flute since I was a child. However, I realised that my passion lay in music and that is when I decided to study it. I learnt Hindustani Classical music on flute from Pandit Harshvardha and western classical piano from Delhi School of Music.
It must have been easy to bring engineering and music together...
To be honest, I had to unlearn whatever that I had learnt as an engineer. It took me 15 years to do so. The science in me had to disconnect with the music. I used to sing and play, but I had never composed. When I began composing I found that my analytical and logical side clashed with the ability to compose songs. At least that is how it worked for me.
Were there any challenges while you gave music for Anarkali AarahIJ
I have, in the past, given music for a few Bollywood and Bengali films. But when I got this project, it was a bit tricky. Some of the songs have dual meaning. One has to be careful in such a situation. We were clear from the very beginning that while the lyrics had dual meaning and were explicit, we would be diplomatic as well.
A lot of international bands and singers are coming to India, is this changing the kind of music we are hearing in IndiaIJ
Yes, definitely the scenario is changing. But there is lot of confusion in Bollywood. This is because every kind of music that was ever composed in the world is available. So people are experimenting and doing their kind of music.
Would you agree that music is different from Bollywood musicIJ
Not at all. Music is music whether it is pop, rock or Hollywood or Bollywood or folk music. Whenever you compose for a movie — Hollywood or Bollywood — creativity is restricted since the songs are situational and one has to cater to the director’s vision.
Your take on remixes...
It is easy and the trend is totally market-driven. Producers and directors who have a lot of money at stake want quick attention. They prefer to take a popular old song and remix it.
Do you have a checklist as a composerIJ
The is depends completely on the director. Some directors give you a free hand and that makes it easy for us to experiment. But there are some who are hands-on. As a composer we are on a different platform and difficult to make the other person understand what we are doing and limits you. One has to remember that music can’t be more intelligent than the director.
What about films that have more than one composerIJ
It is always better to have a single composer. After all, you don’t have different directors for different situations for a film. Too many composers tend to over produce the song and that is not good for the musicians or the film.
What are the challenges that young composers like you are facingIJ
There are no challenges or roadblocks as such. Personally, I would love to do bigger projects and am working towards it. I tend to avoid projects where there are more than one composer on board.
What nextIJ
I have six or seven projects. I have also given music for a Bengali film that is about to release.