The work of composer Vivek Sagar for Pelli Choopulu boasts of an assurance that's rare for a first-timer. The fresh soundtrack explores patterns in different genres, original and yet un-cinematic, where a bunch of new and experienced voices add finesse to the outcome. The confident engineer-turned-musician makes his film debut, after dabbling with several short-films, jingles and band stints.
On the texture of the music in his debut vehicle, he credits director Tharun Bhascker. “A debut is definitely special, more or so for a film that has a lot of heart. Here, the diversity is also because of Tharun's openness to embrace a wide variety of music forms. That gives you the liberty to attempt something new and go beyond the formula. I may have my own sensibilities, but quality music is born when there's rapport with a maker who directs you to the film's soul,” says the composer , post a private screening of the film.
The rapport seems to have been easier since they’ve known each other from when they worked for a popular short film titled Sainma two year back.
Interestingly, Pelli Choopulu shot in sync sound, has no lip-sync songs. In fact, the director and Vivek conceived the music only after the film was shot. “Whatever you listen to in the film, be it a remix or a rap or a semi-classical number, the variety is a product of the narrative. I got to spend a lot of time knowing what will or won't work for the film.”
Vivek's interest to compose for films stemmed from his desire to work on several genres, forms, stories unlike independent music where a sound pattern can restrict one's abilities.
As appreciation of his work in Pelli Choopulu the film pours in , we ask does he consider himself successful when a film works on the whole or the album itself is popular? “It's a tricky position to be in. The challenge is to make both of them work, the experience being independent and yet integrating neatly with the film's core,” Vivek replies.
His next is an experimental film Sheeshmahal , that’s targeted at the festival circuit. “Whatever I do beyond that, the aim will always be to scale ahead of my work for Pelli Choopulu ,” says the youngster.
