Music composer Shantanu Moitra on the beats and pieces of his life
What’s up after Parineeta?
I’m working my way towards the top, right now I’m deep into music and working very hard. I am presently working on Munnabhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi and Eklavya, and hoping I’ll do justice to Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s faith in my music.
But aren’t you limiting your range by working only with Vidhu Vinod Chopra?
On the contrary I’m all for working with Vidhuji. He understands music, and the psyche of the composer. I’m happy being bracketed with him. Would anyone complain on being bracketed with IIM-A graduates? Music is just a hobby for me, like cooking, photography and mountaineering. I want to share my musical pursuits with like minded people.
The buzz is that you aren’t getting many offers.
I’m okay with that. I can’t compose music for film makers who don’t understand my sensibility. Even after my private album, Man ke manjire and Ab ke sawan, I was expected to churn out imitations. After Parineeta it’s the same story. But I can’t copy myself. I’m laidback in real life and my music is an extension of my personality. I don’t need to shout from rooftops to attract attention. I’m here to create music, not noise. I enjoy working at my own pace and purposely keep a low profile.
Some critics weren’t too kind with your adaptation of Tagore songs in the film?
As long as I’m inspired by Tagore, I’ve no problems. In India, musicians have so much to learn from their predecessors. Since Parineeta was set in the 1960s, it was natural that Tagore would be a big influence around that time. Not only Tagore, even Salil Chowdhury is a huge influence on me.
Critics suggested that my lead singers didn’t sing freely and were only using hushed tones and deep baritones. Come on, it should be understood that four decades ago, men and women were still shy, still coy about their feelings. I tried to evoke that in the songs.
Your music for Yahaan didn’t do well exactly.
I did give my best for Yahaan but the success of music is proportional to the box office performance of the film.
Who are your favourites among the current crop of playback singers?
Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal and Sunidhi Chauhan are amazing talents. They’d excel in any time and age.
Could you elaborate on your background?
I’m a Delhi boy, I was in client servicing for Contract advertising. I come from a middle class Bengali family, the kind where parents dream that their children will work in multi- national banks. I started composing jingles, I must’ve done 1500 of them by now. Then Parineeta happened. Now I just want to concentrate on my future projects. I even went to Rajasthan to watch the shooting of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya, which gave me some insights about film making, which in turn can help my music.
So you could turn to direction some day?
You never know.
