On my pinboard: Midhun Mukundan

Film music composer Midhun Mukundan started his career in music with the Kannada film ‘Kahi’.

He moved on to create music for more projects in Sandalwood like ‘Srinivasa Kalyana’ and ‘Ondu Motteya Kathe’. He worked on the song ‘Indu Ninna Edurali’ in ‘Kaafi Thota’ and the background score of ‘Lambodara’.

Midhun is currently working on multiple projects. His upcoming works include songs for ‘Alidu Ulidavaru’, ‘Maya Bazaar’, ‘D/O Parvathamma and ‘Sarvajanikarige Suvarnaavakaasha’.

He has also scored the background music for ‘Mahira’ and also for one of the featured seven short films in ‘Kathasangama’.

Actor

Mohanlal

“My favourite actors are Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan. I grew up watching more of Mohanlal’s films, and I have been watching Kamal Haasan’s movies more recently.

Both of them act effortlessly and are
immensely talented. Their work looks real and natural and both of them are versatile. I loved Mohanlal in ‘Thanmatra’, ‘Vanaprastham’ and ‘Bhramaram’, and Kamal sir in ‘Nayakan’, ‘Thenali’ and ‘Anbe Sivam’.”

Inspiration

Raj B Shetty

“A number of people have inspired me in my personal and professional life. Someone who has inspired me in recent times is Raj B Shetty. He is a great human being who is not affected by any adulation. He puts his heart and soul into whatever he does.”

Travel

Singapore

“If given an option, I would love to stay at home, reading a book or watching a film. But among the places I have travelled as a youngster, I loved Singapore. The place was huge and lavish, with many ethnicities staying together. I was staying in the Middle East then and Singapore felt like an entirely different world then. Recently, I went to Udaipur; it was beautiful. The ambiance was different compared to the South, but it was magical.”

Author

Jeffrey Archer

“I enjoy reading, but I do not have a favourite author or genre that I turn to. I read fiction and non-fiction. I read Jeffrey Archer’s works the most though. I loved his ‘Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less’, ‘Kane and Abel’ and ‘The Sins of the Father’. I love the way he fleshes his story with so many details and makes one utilise their intelligence. He knows how to put life into words.”

Food

Shawarma

“I enjoy my food a lot. I am not a fussy eater. I love Arabic and Lebanese food. One of my go-to food is shawarma. I absolutely enjoy the sweet, Basbousa. Continental cuisine is also a favourite.”

Music

Kaushiki Chakraborty

I listen to every genre of music. I could be dancing to a mass film song and would just as much enjoy an alternative band’s song. I do have a tendency to gravitate towards classical music as I was trained in it. I follow a lot of people in classical music, of which Hindustani singer Kaushiki Chakraborty is a favourite. Her voice is out of the world and sometimes, I feel ashamed to call myself a trained classical musician. The Carnatic classical sister duo Ranjani-Gayathri is another favourite.”