‘Recycling music is not environment friendly’: Arjuna Harjai

Arjuna Harjai is excited with the appreciation that he has received for Kis Raste Hai Jana from Judgementall Hai Kya, which he has not only composed but also lent his voice to. “Even when I went for the premiere of the film, people told me that they loved the song when they came out of the theatre,” he smiles. The singer-composer tells us about working on the song and more ...

Could you take us through the making of Kis Raste Hai Jana?

It all happened when Amit Sharma (director of Badhaai Ho) recommended my name to Shailesh Singh (producer of Judgementall Hai Kya) and I met him. He just said we are working on the film and this is the situation. Then I met the director (Prakash Kovelamudi) and the next day, I gave them the song. It is about how everyone is standing at different paths and you don’t know which one to choose. It was something I had experienced in my life, so I could instantly connect with it.

What is your thought process behind choosing a project and is there any particular genre that excites you?

I come from an advertising background, so what excites me the most is the challenge. And, I am not genre-specific; my forte is that I am versatile. For that, I have to give credit to the ad industry because we have to step out of our comfort zone and make something for brands that sell. I love to work as per the requirement and situation of the film.

A still from Kis Raste Hai Jana

Do you have a set formula or do you adapt since you compose for ads, TV as well as films?

I don’t think anything works with a formula. What we need to crack as composers is the recall value. I have developed this over a period of time.

Anybody in particular you would like to collaborate with?

Of Course! I want to sing for Vishal-Shekhar, Salim-Sulaiman, AR Rahman saab. All the new ones such as Amaal Mallik and Vishal Mishra. I’m not closed to the idea of working with anyone. At the end of the day, I am an artiste and whosoever wants to collaborate with me, I am more than willing.

How would you compare the current music scenario as compared to 10-15 years back vis a vis rehashing and remixing of old tracks?

I don’t understand the need to recreate every song. You have AR Rahman’s or Vishal-Shekhar’s songs and they are still good enough to create new melodies, so, I’m still trying to comprehend what is happening. We are just recycling music now, which doesn’t make any sense. I don’t think recycling music is environment friendly.

Any new projects that you are working on?

My next film is in South, which will be my debut as a singer as well as a composer. It is Tamannaah Bhatia’s film Mahalaxmi (official remake of Queen). Other than that, my song will be featured in the upcoming film of Nawazuddin Siddiqui.