'People from earlier generations always think their times were better!'

Here they speak to City Times about their Om Shanti Om expectations and being compared to Shankar-Ehsan-Loy

BOLLYWOOD MUSIC-director duo Vishal Dadlani – Shekhar Ravjiani rose to prominence when they composed the score for the film Jhankaar Beats. Known for combining techno music with Indian sounds, their efforts paid off when they won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for the same film.

Since then they have had a number of hits to their credit including Salaam Namaste ('My Dil goes Mmm'), Dus, Bluffmaster, Tara Rum Pum and Cash.

But right now they are more famous as the judges at the musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma on Zee TV where as mentors for the Hit Sqad they have drawn in a fan base of their own.

Vishal, by the way is also a vocalist of the Mumbai-based electronic band Pentagram and was a sometime-VJ at Channel V.

City Times recently caught up with the busy duo for an exclusive tete-a-tete: Excerpts from the interview:

Shekhar, you are a trained classical singer while Vishal comes from a techno-music background. What is it that brought you together from seemingly opposite ends of the music spectrum?

Shekhar: We come from different schools which works for us as it makes our music reach much wider. We both listen to rock and Indian classical which really helps in our compositions.

Do you guys ever come into conflict with each other as regards to which kind of music should have more of a pre-dominance?

Shekhar: It happens for better compositions!! It is not an ego issue, it is more like brainstorming.

Vishal: Not really.

How has your experience been at the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge? How do you react to criticism against reality shows that they have more to do with drama and acting than music alone?

Shekhar : I really appreciate good singers and all singers are fantastic! Rest all is extra to create drama and increase ratings. Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 has a lot of respect and credibility and it is one of the longest running shows and I am here for the singers.

Vishal: What you say is pretty much true. But we’ve trying to make a difference, as best as we can.

How was it composing music for Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om?

Shekhar/Vishal: We are very excited at the same time nervous as Om Shanti Om is our first huge commercial movie. We took only 5 days to compose all the songs because the script was so clear that we just knew what Farah Khan wants from us. It was an amazing experience. We can’t wait to see the response of the audience.

We hear that you are giving a chance to six Sa Re Ga Ma Pa World Challenge contestants to sing in the movie Kabootar.

Shekhar: The film Kabootar produced by Anubhav Sinha required a Sufi composition and all the voices of the contestants suited the requirement. See Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is the best platform for singers as it is a perfect demonstration of voices and this helped us choose what we want.

You have scored music for some really hit Bollywood films in recent times. On what basis do you choose your films and what kind of films would you like to be associated with?

Shekhar: At the moment honestly we are not into any choice making process, but we have been very lucky to work with the right people and these people know what they want from us. Something different, crazy, breaking boundaries. Directors we have worked with push us to give our best. We are really doing some great movies like Om Shanti Om, Tashan, Aladin which will shock people with the unique compositions that Vishal-Shekhar can do.

Vishal: We work with fun people, people who are friends. And the films choose us, pretty much.

Who is the one singer both of you admire in the industry?

Shekhar: I really like soul in the voice, that’s where KK comes in. Then we also have loads of other great performers like Sunidhi, Sonu Nigam, Raahat Fateh Ali Khan, Richa Sharma, Sukhvindar Singh...

Vishal: Sunidhi, Sonu Nigam, Sukhvinder, Shaan, KK - I like all of them.

One singer you think has been overrated in the industry!

Shekhar: In this industry all are good. The fraternity doesn’t really think like this. All are normal, and are very friendly.

Vishal: In this business, nobody gets over-rated! Everyone’s truly talented, that’s why they are where they are.

Among all the hit songs both of you have composed or sung so far, which is your personal favourite and why.

Shekhar: Dil Se Mere from Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi which I wrote for my wife.

Vishal: Woh pehli baar from Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi because I composed and wrote it for my wife.

What do you think of the current trend in Indian music industry. Old timers claim that the current crop of singers have no sur. Your comments on it.

Shekhar: All due respect to old timers but we have to move with time. Today’s generation is exposed to all kinds of music! They are getting more hip, more involved. However I hate some bizarre voice textures which for some reason become hits but as Bappida says ‘Janata Janrdhan’.

Vishal: I think it is fun, it’s going really well. Things are looking great. People from earlier generations always think their times were better!!

Both of you have appeared in Bollywood movies - Vishal in Om Shanti Om and Shekhar in Home Delivery. So do you have anymore Bollywood aspirations and will we see you both in any other films in the future...

Shekhar: I always move with time. I had no idea I would be a music director! I had a family business (1994-95), post which I was working in ad films then Mukul Anand approached me for Dus. Then we did Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. Tomorrow if I am offered a good role with good money why not!

Vishal: Nope. (Talk about being succinct!)

Both of you have been touted as the next best thing to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. What is your take on it?

Shekhar: We do our best and love it when the audience loves our work. But we do not want to be the next big thing!

Vishal: No clue. They’re good friends, and they’ve always given us lots of advice and guidance. I’ve sung for them, Shankar’s sung for us, Ehsaan’s played guitar for us.