The most popular music duo in the Marathi film industry today, Ajay-Atul, pick and choose their concerts carefully. This time around the two will perform with over 100 musicians to convey the message of ‘save the water’. “It’s the most important issue at hand. We all are facing water shortage at this point and we need to take steps to conserve water,” says Ajay.
Singers like Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghosal, Hairharan and Kunal Ganjawala will perform to their popular songs from Maurya, Jogwa, Natrang and others along with a separate segment from the composer duo. “We never think of economics when we do live concerts. Marathi music should also be performed with the same standard as a pop concert or an opera. That is what we aim at and that’s why we do very few concerts,” says Atul.
“Our elders always told us, who will listen to it its in Marathi! That’s because their experience told them that Marathi people don’t come to the theatres for Marathi films or concerts. We are often asked if we mastered our CD in London. I tell them we have just walked up the steps of Yashraj studios. But yes, we attempt to achieve that quality,” says Ajay.
The duo, that became the first Marathi composers to win a national award for their film Jogwa, has been appreciated for bringing in new folk and western sounds into Marathi film music. Their music has been called as something with an international standard and quality which seemed lacking in Marathi film industry for a long time. Ajay says that it comes from their attempt to not get stuck in a formula. “We want to try something new each time. We listen to a lot of international music— from Michael Jackson to Russian and Arabic music. Marathi music should not be restricted to Bhavgeet or koli for the outside world. It should have a universal feel,” says Atul.
Recently the two got a mail from the US telling them that their song Apsara Ali was being appreciated by people when it was played on the radio. “They had no idea that there is a language called Marathi. They felt the soul of the song. And that’s what we are aiming for.”
A few months ago there were also rumours that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was going to sign them for Chenab Gandhi but the two dismiss the rumours. “He met us to tell us how much he appreciates our music. But the report was false. If he has to sign us for a film, he will tell us himself,” says Atul. But they don’t deny that Bollywood is on the cards. “We have lots of offers and we should sign something in the next few months,” says Ajay, but adds, “We will definitely do Bollywood. But Marathi film music is just finding its feet and we don’t want to desert it at this point. We will always continue composing for Marathi films.”
