Original scores for TV : Why makers are using these songs to give a unique identity to their shows and character

International TV series have always had original music, but Indian shows usually rely on Bollywood songs. Of late, though, serials have had original tracks as part of their narrative. Some even boast of complete soundtracks — such as Gul Khan’s new musical Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala, which has composer Sargam Jassu’s Pet Bechara, Na Woh Panchi, etc. Her earlier show Ishqbaaaz had tracks like Sanjeev Srivastava’s O Jaana, Saathiya, and Lafzon Ka Yeh Rishta Nahi. Then, there is Mahesh Bhatt’s Naamkarann that has the soul-stirring Chal Meri Jaan composed and sung by Aryan, Dhoop Ka Ek Tukda sung by Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal among other songs.

SOMETHING TO IDENTIFY WITH

Producer Abhimanyu Singh of 21 Sarfarosh Saragarhi 1897, which has the popular Jaago Jaago, points out that it’s economical for show makers to use a film song as they have tie-ups with music companies and viewers connect better with these tracks. But producers opt for special songs to give the characters an identity of their own. Gul, agrees, “Compositions that are specially recorded become unique to the artistes on whom it’s filmed. We use movie songs, too, but then you always identify those with actors who’ve starred in them and the emotion is not singular to the show’s characters.”

LARGER-THAN-LIFE SHOWS

Kartik Shah of indie folk band Maatibani has composed Jaago Jaago for 21 Sarfarosh... He says, “These days television shows are epic and demand a completely new sound.” So much so that he usually deviates from creating just a minute-and-a-half-duration title track to a complete song with antaras and ties up with musicians from Berlin and the Middle East. Abhimanyu adds, “For shows like Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, you can’t rely on songs from movies because there are none. So, you have to create something new.”

PUBLICITY FOR THE SHOW

With audiences consuming content on streaming apps, releasing show songs as singles is a trend that’s helping publicise the show. Abhimanyu says, “With digitalisation, there are more avenues to release a single.” Jaago Jaago is available on one such online music service. Kartik observes, “Streaming is a great way to discover music and we can now reach audiences, who don’t watch TV but consume content on digital platforms. At the same time, if they are impressed with the song, they may check the show out.” These tracks also garner millions of views on YouTube. “That helps. For instance, O Jaana from Ishqbaaaz has 14 million views on our YouTube channel even though it has no video,” Gul says.

BIGGIES JOIN IN

Whether Arijit Singh reprising Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo for Naamkarann or Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal singing Dhoop Ka Ek Tukda, known names are singing and composing for the small screen. Pritam composed a song for Zee TV’s Bhootu, while Anu Malik created Ae Zindagi (Naamkarann). 

Listeners are also treated to different genres. Badshah rapped for Bhabhiji Ghar Pe Hai! and Jaago Jaago is a hard rock piece. Naina Tore Naina in Prithvi Vallabh is a folk tune, and Porus has western classical themes for different characters. With all these songs, one can even create a TV shows playlist on their music player!