[arr] Anwar, Lamhaa Music creator : Mithoon's favourite ....

logesh kum-arr Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:31:10 -0700

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<http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/30mithoon.htm>

<http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/30mithoon.htm>

*So many songs are being lifted. What do you feel about that?*

For *Woh Lamhe* and *Aadat*, Mukesh Bhatt bought the rights and I got the
credit for only recreating them, which clearly means I was not involved in
any controversy. The composer was given his due.

As far as lifting tunes is concerned, it is a personal thing. For me, it is
more important to be honest and sincere to my own self and expression.

I listen to other music and get ideas. I am a big fan of Quincy Jones [
Images <http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=quincy+jones> ],
John Williams, James Horner [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=james+horner>],
Haynes Demour, MM Kreem and AR Rahman [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=ar+rahman> ].
We should learn from them and use our own expression. If I cannot relate to
my work, I don't expect anyone else to. I won't lift -- I can say that.

*Which composer do you like the most?*

My father is my idol. Besides him, I am fond of Viju Shah and A R Rahman's
[ Images <http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=a+r+rahman> ]
music.

<http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/30mithoon.htm>

Among the remixes and rip-offs doing the rounds in Bollywood, there are a
few which stand out. The adaptation of*Woh Lamhe [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=woh+lamhe>
]* and *Aadat* by 22-year-old *Mithoon Sharma* provide one such example.
The songs from a couple of years ago are still a rage.
<http://ads.rediff.com/5c/inmoviesA.rediff.com/movies-article.htm/2011618827/x15/default/empty.gif/334f4e50696b7943494e594141583433>

He followed these up with his soulful compositions for *Anwar *and *Tere Bin
*for* Bas Ek Pal [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=bas+ek+pal>
]*. Though the former failed to impress moviegoers, the two songs Mithoon
did in the soundtrack -- *Maula mere* and *Toh se naina lage*-- left an
indomitable mark.

Now, after signing a deal with T-Series, the talented composer has made his
first independent soundtrack for *The Train*. The
reviews<http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/21train.htm> speak
for themselves.

In an interview with *Patcy N*, Mithoon relives his way to rising stardom.
Excerpts:

*What was the briefing for The Train?*

I sat with the directors of the movie, Raksha Mistry and Hasnain
Hyderabadwala, who read out the script to me. I found the story very
beautiful and wanted the music to compliment it.

Every song had to have purpose -- like the song *Woh Ajnabee [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=ajnabee>
]*, which I made from the story. In the story, Emraan and his wife Sayali
Bhagat [ Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=sayali+bhagat>
]
are going through a rough patch in their marriage, and that's when he finds
peace and love with a stranger (Geeta Basra [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=geeta+basra>
]).
Hence, *Woh Ajnabee*.

*What genre does the music of The Train belongs to?*

I am quite bad at labeling music in any genre. I have no set rules. I just
see to it that the music is inspired from the film. For example, for *Anwar* I
wanted central Indian music, and for *Bas Ek Pal* urban.

*You've sung for The Train. Have you always been into singing?*

It was never decided that I would sing any song for *The Train*. I was ready
with the music for *Woh Ajnabee* and was in search of a singer when Emraan
started growing his hair for *Awarapan*. So we had to shoot the song before
he grew his hair -- to keep the continuity. I then sang the song and got it
shot earlier.

*Why not Atif, your favourite singer?*

There were two reasons I didn't take Atif. Firstly, I didn't think any song
would suit his voice and secondly, when I knew T-series was in the picture,
I couldn't ask Atif because he has a contract with Tips.

*How was it working with Shyam Bajaj [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=bajaj>
]?
*
Shyam Bajaj's movies have great music. He gives creative space to the
composer and never interferes. After my father, the person I would take
guidance from is him.

*What sort of response are you getting for The Train?*

The response is universal -- they all like it. I have put in a lot of effort
in this first complete album of mine. I have tried to give a varied sound as
possible and so far the response has been good. Recently, I had gone to
Dubai [ Images <http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=dubai> ] for
the promotion of *The Train* and I was happy to know that my music topped
the charts there. *Woh Ajnabee*, especially, is topping the charts over
there.

*What made you get into music?*

My family has been in this field -- I belong to the third generation. My
grandfather, Pandit Ramprasad Sharma, is a renowned music teacher. He taught
nearly 5000 pupils. My father Naresh Sharma has composed background music
for more than 1000 songs in over 200 films. My father's elder brother,
Pyarelal, also composes music.

*Where did you learn music?*

My family is full of sound technicians. My grandfather has developed his own
technique of staff notation. My father never taught me directly, he just
observed me. I started with the keyboard at the age of 11 -- Rajeev Shah
introduced me to it. Later, my father sent me to train under Tony Pinto, the
country's leading Jazz pianist. I also took vocal guidance under Ustad
Naseer Quadri.

*[image: A still from the movie Bas Ek Pal]Why didn't your dad teach you?*

My father believed that to be a musician, it was necessary to get a call
from within. That is what my father taught me.

He used to observe me closely. He would see what I am practicing, how I use
my fingers and my technique. From time to time, he also used to test how
good I was. I had various teachers, but my father has been my foundation;
someone from whom I have been inspired the most.

*How did you get your first assignment?*

At 16, I joined as a keyboard player in my father's orchestra. Then came a
time when I would make my own arrangements and make my father listen to
them. My real work began with a recreation -- an adaptation of a Pakistani
song *Woh Lamhe* for the movie*Zeher [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=zeher>
]*. Mukesh Bhatt offered that project to my father. But my father was busy
and he recommended my name.

Mukesh Bhatt is very enterprising. I did the song and he liked it a lot.
Then I did *Aadat* for the movie *Kalyug*. This was also an adaptation of a
Pakistani song. After this, I decided to do something original. That's when
I came out with *Tere bin* for the movie *Bas Ek Pal*. I liked Atif's voice
and I asked him to sing the song.

*How do you know Atif?*

Mukesh Bhatt introduced me to him. Atif is a Pakistani singer who originally
composed the adaptation (*Woh Lamhe*and *Aadat*). Saeed Qadri rewrote the
lyrics. We worked together and we developed a good rapport. I thought this
guy would sing the song well. Being from two different countries was never a
hassle, as music has no barriers and borders. Atif told me he was looking
forward to do more work here.

*How was the whole experience of composing your own song?*

It was very unique. It cannot be described in words. While working on a
particular song, I always think of the outcome. And if a director is clear
in his mind about what he wants from me, then things become much easier. For
*Tere bin*, Onir was looking for a certain type of separation song that I
already had. Saeed*bhai* rewrote certain lines and the song was ready. *Bas
Ek Pal* had a very urban look. I wanted to get that aspect in the song too.
Once you become a music composer, it is necessary that the sound complements
the film's look.

*How was it working with Onir?*

Onir is a very inspirational director. He is very clear about what he wants.
When he came to me for the *Bas Ek Pal*title track, he told me he was
looking at a song that represents the urban side of the film. At the same
time, the film was also about a cluster of relationships; it was a dark
film. Onir wanted the track to also show the dark side of urban life.
Keeping that in mind, I chose lyricist Amitabh [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=amitabh> ]
Verma.

*Take us through the making of Tere Bin.*

*Tere Bin* is a special song for me. Composing is a personal expression. It
is a divine gift of God to any person. Only musicians can express themselves
in the most abstract manner and Tere bin was my expression. I had the
concept and the song's music in my mind for quite sometime. Even before I
signed the film, I wanted to do a song like that. It was in my mind for the
last three years. This song is nostalgic and I relate to it a lot. I was
very happy with the kind of harmony structure and vocal, as I followed no
particular rule for this song.

Saeed*bhai*'s lyrics were awesome. I just hummed him the tune and I still
remember when he dictated the lines*kabse aankhen meri, rahon main teri
bicheen...* felt those lines were a new expression all together. I have
never heard it before. The soul came in as he went on -- *kyun saans loon,
kyun main jiyoon, jeena bura sa lage, kyun hogaya tu bewafa, mujko batade
wajah...*Music is important, but words are equally important.

*Do you think getting into Bollywood is easy?*

The biggest advantage was my family's musical background.

*Tell us about your contract with T-Series?*

My contract with T-Series states that whenever I do a non-film album, I will
have to do it with them first. But it is abstract because nothing has been
decided. As of now, I am concentrating on films.

*What next?*

After the soundtrack to *The Train*, my next release will be *Agar* in
August. I am not taking on too much work, as I need time to create good
music.

*Which is your best song till date?*

That's a tricky question. I have altogether four songs -- two songs from *Bas
Ek Pal* and two from *Anwar* -- *Maula mere maula* and *Toh se naina lage*.
These four songs are very close to my heart.

*What was the toughest song you had to compose?*

For me, music is not easy or difficult. Once I start working, music just
flows. However, there was a complicated situation in *Anwar*. Director
Manish Jha wanted to represent the immortality of love. He wanted the song
to start after the protagonist dies. But I didn't the movie to end on sad
note. I was a bit confused about what was expected of me. But I did it
anyway, and the outcome was an 8.5 minute song which talks about the journey
of love.

*What is the music scene in India [
Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=india> ]
today?*

I cannot relate to this question because I feel that every generation has
its own expression. The younger generation are the biggest listeners of
music. And they are the ones who are most exposed to stress.