Dhruv Dhalla: Crafting Bollywood's Soundtrack with Innovation and Passion

In the vibrant world of Bollywood, where music plays a pivotal role in defining cinematic experiences, few names resonate with as much passion and innovation as Dhruv Dhalla. Known for his distinctive compositions and a career marked by memorable hits, Dhalla’s journey from a business-class background to becoming a celebrated music composer is as fascinating as his work. In this exclusive interview, Dhruv Dhalla opens up about his musical influences, creative process, and the challenges he’s faced along the way. 

1) How did your business family background influence your musical journey?

My family business had little to do with my passion as a musician. I had a deep love for keyboards, music, electronics since a kid. This would be way before I realised what business my family was into. Having said that, being a businessman’s son while pursuing a career in music did have some benefits for me personally. I was able to go and study music, for example. My family business was also instrumental in keeping me afloat when things weren’t smooth in Bollywood for me. 

2) What key learnings from the Musicians Institute in LA influenced your Bollywood work?

Music is universal. I was fortunate enough to learn Western composition from the Musicians Institute, in Hollywood. I was exposed to motifs, voicing, blues, performance and a lot of technical information that can help a songwriter get better. My education came in handy in terms of chords, scales, and music production. It’s a fusion of Indian melody and global arrangement that makes a track appealing. 

3) What was the creative process for 'Chak De Phatte,' and how did it impact your career?

Chak de Phatte was my first track for a Bollywood film. I was shown the movie clips to understand the energy the scene required. Coming from Delhi, I had always heard of dhol patterns that were groovy and played almost for everything from weddings to Lohri to Holi. I knew that the rhythm was the essence of the song, and in turn the film. A song with a strong sense of rhythm and a melody that fits will almost always be in for the long run. Chak de Phatte became the song that introduced me to the world. It’s amazing how I made the song on a keyboard in my room and it got played almost all over the world! It felt surreal. It gave me an entry ticket to Bollywood, giving me huge opportunities to work and interact with some of the most brilliant and creative people in the industry. 

4) What inspired your recent song "Ranjhana" from 'Mr and Mrs Mahi,' and what can audiences expect? 

The inspiration for Ranjhana was coming up with a melody while jamming on some chord progressions on the piano. See I don’t believe in going to my studio to make a song. I don’t have that power or control. I go and start playing. Sometimes things click. A musical phrase starts sounding good and making sense. That’s how a melody was conceived. That melody was worked on by my lyricist and we had a structure. That’s when we called Kavita Seth to render a demo version for us. That combination sounded good enough to start pitching with producers and directors and was finally approved by Dharma Productions! What you can expect from Ranjhana, is a soulful, human emotion. That comes with a simple melody, heartfelt lyrics, and a beautiful voice. It’s a complete package where soulful songs are concerned. 

5) How do your interests in travel, cars, planes, and photography influence your creative process?

See when you’re creative in a dimension, you’re always receptive to other aspects of life too. Art is a very wide spectrum. It’s a way of life rather than a career. I have always found art in life, my personal interests lie in cars, planes, travel, and photography. I find a magnetic pull towards these machines. A beautifully designed car, say the Jaguar E-Type from the 1960s is also a piece of art. It’s gorgeous, classic, and very desirable! It’s a seamless blend of power and beauty. Is that not art? Though coming from a business family that manufactured radiators, my dad and I used to discuss cars and speed all the time. I just discovered art and creativity in them. Planes, travel, and photography are again an extension of mystery and wonder. It all feels complete to me in my fabric of life.

6) What was the most challenging project you've worked on, and how did you overcome it?

Every project that I start is challenging. Like I said, I don’t have a template to follow musically. I go with the flow, and sometimes the flow is not in the direction of the film. Be it songs or scores. I never know where I’ll land up. I can use my knowledge and experience as a composer, but it’s the higher power that guides. There are times when we fail and times when it’s a good job done. Either way, it’s a journey into the unknown. 

7) Who are some of your biggest musical influences and inspirations?

There are so many to list! But I grew up listening to rock music. My initial heroes were Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, TOTO, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson U2, Sting and so many more! Then came the film composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, James Horner, Vangilis, A.R. Rahman, Ilayaraja, Shankar Mahadevan, R D Burman, and Lakshmikant Pyarelal. I have been lucky to be exposed to a lot of great music in my life. I have always tried to learn from these legends and maestros, plucking a bit of their craft subconsciously. 

8) Can you describe your typical process for composing a new song or score?

A typical way that I would approach a song or a score is to understand my director. He has to guide me into his world and show me what he wants me to see. Once I feel I have a fair idea of what he wants, I work on my sound. The sounds I experiment with give me an insight into a tune or melody. That’s the core of the song or score. Once we’re set on that, then comes the music production, singers and arrangements. 

9) What future projects/collaborations are you excited about?

There are some very interesting projects lined up. I am very excited and nervous and can’t wait to dive right in. There are a lot of songs and scores that I am prepping for. I hope to achieve diversity in everything I try with music and I am very excited to see how it all shapes up. 

10) What are your thoughts on the current trends in Bollywood music, and where do you see it heading in the future?

Bollywood and OTTs have opened up a lot to experiments, which is great. The audience is way more receptive to new ideas as well. Global fusion is the way ahead, sound designs and productions are at par with global standards today. This is a very exciting time for art and music from our side to the world!