Ankit Tiwari, who started as a music director with “Do Dooni Char” but gained popularity with “Aashiqui 2”, believes that there is no support for an independent music scene in India. “The people who are running the business do not want an alternative to flourish,” says the singer-composer who recently released his single “Mehbooba”. In an interaction, he talks about his process of composing, journey as an outsider and love for melodies.
Excerpts
How do you see your journey so far as an outsider?
I did “Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster” which was not popular for its songs but “Aashiqui 2” was important for me as it was a turning point in my life. When I decided that I will become a music director, the first thing I wanted to do was to make songs for Vishesh Films as I used to love their musicals. I had eight to ten songs which I had made only for them and fortunately “Sun Raha Hai” from that list was liked by them and it actually opened doors for me.
What do you keep in mind when you compose a song?
The art of sewing lyrics with the tune is very interesting as a music director. There are a plethora of emotions like sorrow or romance available to us because of the vast folk and regional traditions. What makes film music different is that we are always given a situation and we make the song accordingly. All music directors have a bank of songs with only tunes or punchlines which are not complete and they tweak it according to the situation given to them.
As a composer, how different can be the inspiration for love when we are witnessing a strong change in sensibilities?
The new generation, connected to social media, loves to hear shayari, meaningful words and deep thoughts. Something that is simple and conversational, is accepted widely by this generation of listeners. ‘Tum Hi Ho’ is a simple line but a strong call. Though our treatment to make a song is changing because of the influence of world music culture, the aesthetics of it should be ours and if that fails, the song will not touch the hearts. The idea of love remains the same though there can be different ways of saying it. We cannot keep an audience in mind while making it and we have to be true to the form.
You are one of the few who still believes in singing and making melodies…
Melody has a much more shelf life. We do not remember the name of hero or the year of the film’s release but we keep humming the melody. Bollywood’s old Hindi songs are the best example of the melody sustaining amidst all the development of in the music sector. Sometimes the song makes its own journey and does not need the film to become famous. The same song can be played in different settings with different situations around. ‘Sun Raha Hai Tu’ is different when it played for a hero who is embarking on a journey but it different for the heroine when she is longing for the hero.
Your early life with your parent's troupe helped you gain knowledge of music and musical performances…
My mother is a spiritual singer in Kanpur and she has devoted her entire life to singing at various jagratas and religious ceremonies. I was exposed to different types of music at an early age. A. R. Rahman inspired me to become a music director as I never wanted to become a singer. He is an institution when it comes to music. Be it the raunchy song of “Bombay” or the soulful symphony of “Taal”, he has got the entire range .
