First things first. Why have you discarded the earlier cuter hair style and opted to have a cropped look?

I went for the Haj recently. I had to shave off my hair for that. Fortunately or unfortunately, my wife liked my new look minus long hair and hence I have no other alternative but to comply with her request and sport this new look.

What is your approach when you take up the assignment to compose music for an International project like Elizabeth: The Golden Age?

Music for Elizabeth: The Golden Age has been co-composed by me. It was an arty vision when Shekhar had started the project, because he wanted to make it very artistic then. It was loud in the beginning, but we decided to make the film enjoyable and pave way for its success by making its music pulsating and throbbing.

In what way do you find scoring music for an Elizabeth: The Golden Age different from that for a Jodhaa Akbar?

All said and done, music stems from emotions in the core of your heart. Ultimately, music is all about human beings and is based on human emotions.

Hence, I find that there is absolutely no difference to my approach whether I compose for an Indian historical film like Jodhaa Akbar or an International project like Elizabeth- The Golden Age.

How do you feel when you look back at your career?

Roja set the standard for me as a music director and keeps on prodding me to see to it that I should not go below that. Roja was a big compliment to me though it marked my debut as a music director, because it fetched me so many awards as well as critical accolades as a music director.  

What next?

I am excited about coming up with my next International album Lord of The Rings. Though it is a budget-driven album, it will have as many as 15 tracks. We had spent as much as 2000 pounds per day on just orchestrisation
I am composing for films like Gajini, Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra’s Delhi 6 starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, the Hindi dubbed version of the Rajnikant starrer Sivaji, Subhash Ghai’s Main Hoon Yuvraj starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, Ada, Jaane Tu Naa Jaane Naa and last but not the least, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar.

I have two films in Tamil as a music composer. They are Rajnikant’s daughter Soundarya’s animation feature film called Sultan and Prabhu’s Tamil film Sakkarakkatti.

Tell us something about your music company. 

My music company is called K M Musiq. I am excited because though I was being commissioned by others all these years, I can commission myself now.

Which do you feel was one big step ahead in your career?

Undoubtedly, I feel that Bombay Talkies earlier and Vande Mataram have been very big steps as far as my career as a music director is concerned, since I made my debut with Roja way back in 1991.

On Indian music today...

There are a lot of limitations as far as Indian music is concerned. The saddest thing here is that no one takes acoustic instruments seriously.

Most of the musicians today prefer to work on just the key boards. However, I have stopped getting angry. I only feel that one should be true to one’s own self because one candle can light a million candles.

After composing for Aamir Khan hits like Rangeela, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti etc, you are not composing for his latest film Taare Zameen Par. Have you had a fall out with him?

Who says so? I am composing for his film Gajini which is the remake of the Tamil hit Gajini, which in turn had been directed by the same Murugadoss who is directing the Hindi version.
People have jumped to the conclusion that Aamir and I have had a fight just because I am not composing music for his film Taare Zameen Par.

The fact is I was busy with my various other commitments when Aamir wanted me for Taare Zameen Par and hence I could not be a part of the project.

Can you pick ten best films of yours till date from Roja to Elizabeth?

Though it is indeed very difficult to play favourites as a music director and pick up one’s best, I'd not hesitate to pick up Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Zubeida, Rangeela, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti, Guru and Kandukonden Kandukonden, as my ten best tracks till date.