Musical multitasker

He began working on his first film soundtrack (Dev.D) a decade back. The film was delayed a bit, and Aamir released first in 2008. After Dev.D, however, there has been no looking back for Amit Trivedi.Wake Up Sid!, Udaan, Chillar Party, English Vinglish, Ishaqzaade, Kai Po Che!, Queen, Ghanchakkar, Shaandaar, Fitoor, Udta Punjab, Dear Zindagi — most of these films did not do too well at the box-office, but Amit’s music for them was either a hit or was appreciated.

Amit’s most prestigious assignment now is Secret Superstar, co-produced by Aamir Khan. He is also composing music for Ajay Devgn’s Raid, Twinkle Khanna’s Pad-Man, Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath and Abhinav Deo’s Blackmail. A small film he is especially proud of is the offbeat Rukh, starring Manoj Bajpayee, which releases next month. He is also singing a promotional song for Newton.

Tunes of harmony

How does he look at this new trend of one composer singing for another? “It’s great! I have myself used Salim and Vishal Dadlani in my songs, and I have also sung under Sneha Khanwalkar. Most composers are good singers and some sing really well!”

However, in a slightly paradoxical statement, Amit does not consider himself as a very good singer. “I am the last person to recommend my own voice for any song,” he says. “But as the singer of the scratch version, many film-makers or actors or music labels prefer that I maintain my own voice because they like my raw texture. I personally think that I am just an ordinary or, at best, a part-time singer.”

Amit decides on the “voice that comes into the subconscious” after he makes a composition. “The song demands the voice. Every creator, be it a writer, actor or composer, creates from his instinct, his gut feeling, and that tells me which singer, even if he is another composer, is correct,” he says.

The composer has a special word for Arijit Singh. “After a long time, we have got a complete package — a versatile singer with a lovely texture. He is usually the first choice, especially for a romantic song. But all of us cmoposers are looking out all the time for that fresh voice who can sing as well, or better than him,” Amit says.

Doesn’t it so happen that, thanks to technology, composers today try out voices that may not be their first and considered choices? “I am completely flexible here,” he replies. “In India, nothing is bigger than Hindi cinema as far as music is concerned, and I have to keep in mind that a film is not my personal project. So, while I may try to put forward my point of view, I do not insist on a voice if the producer, director or anybody else prefers a singer who may not sing that song as well.”

By the same token, Amit is okay with big stars getting involved in music, often on the strength of their box-office clout rather than any musical acumen. “When I do independent work, like for Coke Studio, I am my own boss and can do whatever I want,” he says. “But films are teamwork.”

Solo & happy

Like fellow composers Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Sachin-Jigar, Amit is also one of the few champions of doing films as a solo composer only. He has even left films (like Baar Baar Dekho) when other music directors were brought in.

Explaining his uncompromising stand here, Amit says, “One composer reacts best to a subject, to bind it musically. There should be a common thread running through each song. Besides, right from the beginning, I have done solo films, except for my song ‘Iktara’ from Wake Up Sid!. So, I make it clear that I am not comfortable about working in a film with others. In 10 years, I have done more than 30 films solo.”

At the same time, he feels that certain films do not pay importance to music and so many music-makers are brought in, each one to provide a hit. “That’s the best part about this industry. But no one knows what will succeed. Yehin to mazaa hai (That’s the fun)!”

Like Sachin-Jigar, Amit too is working more and more with T-Series Films now, known currently as the flag-bearers of the multi-composer culture. “It was not difficult at all when I requested Bhushan Kumar not to let anyone else share songs in my film,” he reveals. “But if a newcomer starts off with just a song or two in a movie, it is difficult to break that image.”

After doing Shah Rukh Khan’s co-production Dear Zindagi, and also Chillar Party that was co-produced by Salman Khan, he is now doing Aamir Khan’s Secret Superstar, where music is the pivot of the story. Why has he chosen a new singer here when musical excellence is the key? “When Aamir-sir, director Advait Chandan and I were brainstorming on the story and script, we thought that an established singer would sound very odd for a heroine who was 15,” he replies. “We unanimously decided that a singer of the same age was needed. Meghna Mishra is a trained singer and yet around the same age. We have already released two songs, ‘Main Kaun Hoon’ and ‘Meri Pyari Ammi’, and they have been liked.”

How does Amit look back at his decade-long journey? “I have enjoyed it and I am proud of having composed some good songs. I personally prefer doing the parallel or alternate but progressive form of music like in Aamir, Dev.D, Udaan, Kai Po Che! and the forthcoming Rukh, because in mainstream film music, I feel we are going backwards, like in all the recreations. But overall, things have been positive. I am a guy who always looks at the glass as half-full.”