Four new composers make their Tollywood debut Taking a big leap, Rupam Islam has already expressed his love for the City of Joy in Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Mahanagar@Kolkata.

That Gaurab aka Gabu is all set to leave a mark, big enough, with Bappaditya Bandopadhyay’s Kagojer Bou has also taken up reams of paper. But the musical journey from Bangla bands to films doesn’t end with Rupam, Gabu and Surajit (who had debuted early this year with Handa Bhonda). With four more musicians debuting in Tollywood, it’s certainly a high-voltage affair.

Sanjay and Malabika of Brahma Khyapa have been roped in by Aniket Chattopadhyay for the theme song of his next big screen venture. The duo’s relationship with the director goes back a long way. “We were in talks with Aniketda for a film, but before that could happen, he approached us for this film. He was looking for a perfect theme song and I entrusted Malabika with the responsibility. Aniketda listened to the baul song, Na bujhe mojona pirite and zeroed in on it,” says Sanjay, who feels it’s important to breathe fresh life into Tollywood music. “Film music in Bengal has reached a saturation point and in the name of good songs, at times, what one gets is a copy of clichéd music. We want to consciously break away from the mould,” he adds.

While Brahma Khyapa would rather be whimsical than go with the flow, attempting a different sound is Kausiq of Prithibi. The vocalist is debuting in Tollywood with two films — Sudipto Acharya’s Helpline and Kamalesh Kunti Singh’s Sharey Chaar. The singer-turned-composer has worked with fresh voices, Rohan, Shabnam and Arnab in Helpline, while Sharey Chaar has singers Sidhu, Madhurima, Rajarshi and Soumya exercising their vocal chords. “Souvik and Srirup have assisted me. Both the films will have new-age music, which is a blend of Indian classical and rock,” says Kausiq. The singer, who is debuting with parallel films, feels there’s a positive side to it. “It’s the same rhythm, same chord in commercial film music. Working in parallel films has given me the opportunity to be more experimental. I want to make songs that talk about our time, where the feel is contemporary, the kind of music Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Amit Trivedi are doing in Bollywood,” he adds.

Souvik Gupta, keyboardist of Insomnia and Crystal Grass, who has done the music for Mainak Dasgupta’s Purple Haze, also has a definite purpose in mind — bridging the urban-rural divide. “There’s either music to woo the rural audiences or that which only caters to the urban populace. I want to bridge this gap,” he says. The offer that had initially come to Crystal Grass, an English band, finally went to Souvik by a consensus reached by the band members. Out of the five tracks of Purple Haze, there’s one item number, one slow track, one electronic number and two Blues songs.
While most of the debutant composers are

eyeing parallel films as perfect launchpads, Indrajit Dey chooses to march to a different beat. His first, Suvrakanti Chakravarty’s Sudhu Cheyechhi Tomaye is an out-and-out commercial venture. While Rupam, Rooprekha, Somlata and Chhote Miyan have already sung for this film, recording with Kunal Ganjawala and Shaan are slated in July. Indrajit, ex-Fossils keyboardist, who has assisted Rupam in Mahanagar@Kolkata, says, “I’ve tried to mix rock fusion with the base of Indian classical melody. In this film, I want to explore two different dynamics of music — Indian classical and Western rock. All the tracks are hip hop and rock with a qawwali twist.” Ask him about a change that he wants to bring in Tollywood music and the composer says, “In comparison to Bollywood, we don’t get to listen to too many groovy numbers here. I want to bring that new-age Bollywood groove in Kolkata.” When it comes to ambition, the young talents are never out of tune.

Singer Jayati Chakraborty, whose Sokhi bhabona... from Ekti Taraar Khonje has won rave reviews, is not dying to work in Mumbai

Do you belong to a musical family?
I started learning music when I was five. While my father used to play the mouth organ, my mother used to pursue music. She belongs to one of the distinguished families of Kolkata. My grandfather was Kalipada Mukherjee and I still have a 250-year-old Jagadhatri Puja at our maternal uncle’s house near Wellington. At five, I started learning music from Supriya Ghosh. Then, I went to learn from Sanatan Bandopadhyay, Sombhunath Mukhopadhyay, Subhankar Bandopadhyay, Jatileswar Mukhopadhyay and Biman Mukhopadhyay. Right now, I learn Rabindra Sangeet from Subhas Chowdhury, Khayal from Sanatan Bandopadhyay and get voice training from
Pt Ajoy Chakraborty.

When you are learning from Pt Ajoy Chakraborty, aren’t you tempted to learn Khayal from him too?
Guruji (Pt Ajoy Chakraborty) actually teaches me the technical aspects of music. Right now, I’m not in that stage in my career where I can devote myself completely to learning just Khayal.

Though you got married after the release of your debut album, how did you manage to maintain a balance between career and family?
From 2002 onwards, I’ve cut a variety of albums such as Durer Pari, Kagojer Nouko, Tomaro Ashime, E Hridoy, Akasher Nir, Megher Badi, Smaran and Ke Jabi. Credit for this has to go
primarily to my love for music. Besides, I have a supporting family. And finally, I believe in God and destiny.

Your rendition of Sokhi bhabona kahare bole in Ekti Taraar Khonje has been widely appreciated. How did you manage this, considering that not all Tagore songs used in movies get this kind of reception?
Here, I must mention the contribution of composer Prabuddha Banerjee. I had worked with him for serials. I’ve often sung this song (with khol accompaniment) at concerts. He showed me how to change the pattern/style of my singing to suit the film’s requirements. I didn’t sing it in the quintessential Rabindrik style though I did stick to the original notation. Initially, I didn’t even know that Arpita would be lip-syncing to it on-screen! Incidentally, Arpita and I have learnt singing together from Sambhunath Mukhopahdyay! Arpita is an extremely talented singer.

Are you saying this as a biased friend or as a professional?
I’m being strictly professional. She had won the first prize at the Dover Lane Music competition for both Ragpradhan and Bhajan categories in the same year. As a child, we had also competed together at talent hunts. While she would be at No. 4, I would be at No. 15. She was multi-talented. I wish she takes up singing again.

You’ve also sung Deke Jae for Jodi Ekdin. Was there any pressure that Anindya would be singing the male version of the same song?
No. I share a great rapport with JE’s composer, Joy Sarkar. When I sing, I only aim at pleasing my composer. I don’t worry about who co-artistes are or which city they are from.

A lot of comparisons are made between you and Subhamita...
Why should I be compared to Subhamitadi? We had started off together and somewhere her songs from basic albums became very popular. Subhamitadi’s singing ability is greater than mine. Her Dekhechho ki taake is a milestone. That apart, I love her Batash dake na aager moton and Jebhabei tumi sokal dekho. At shows, I’ve heard her sing Amader janlar phank diye... I wish she records it someday. Today, people are happy with my songs in films and Tagore-oriented albums. But that doesn’t mean I’m trying to take Subhamitadi’s place or competing with her.

What’s the future of basic albums?
Today, the scenario is such that no company can claim that albums aren’t selling well now but will sell better in the coming weeks. However, Bengali cinema has also gone through such a low. Today, films are giving exposure to composers/singers of basic albums. We need to give time to our composers to reach a stage where they will have a say and be able to insist on using more local talents to sing in films.

Any plans of working in Hindi movies?
I am not dying to work in Mumbai. I’m content with my career here and am waiting for the release of my songs in Bedeni, Banshiwala and Tokhon Teish.

If you’ve always dreamt of screaming fans, big stages, large audiences and your very own music video, Supastars is the place to be. The auditions for India’s first ever reality-based pop band hunt, is going on in full swing, with numerous entries coming in. This being the last ten odd-days, before the entry closes, the excitement and adrenaline rush is all around – be it the contestants or the mentors. Taz, of Stereo Nation, says, “Supastars is a great platform for any new and upcoming artiste/ band. I feel the sheer talent that will be showcased here will be very exciting. I’m sure it would be thrilling from here on.”

Leslie Lewis, who is often credited with starting the pop culture in the India with Pari Hoon Main in the 90s echoes the same, “Supastars will be a huge opportunity for all the young bands to get the best in terms of guidance and recognition” Advising the hopeful participants to hurry up with uploading their compositions on http://supastars.indiatimes.com Palash Sen of Euphoria says, “Though ten days may sound a little premature as a ‘countdown’ idea, the fact is that the procedure for application does take time, as the band needs to prepare, perform, record and send an original pop composition. So, the ones who are still in the ‘thinking mode’ should pull up their socks and start the process now. If they don’t, it is unlikely they will be able to get in the entries by the last date!”

To participate, all the bands need to do is send in samplers/ demo CD with their original composition to the Times Music office, 8th floor, Times Tower, Banhem Estate & IT Parks Ltd. Kamala City, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai. The winner will get a fully produced album and a music video by Times Music.

“Our country needs music beyond film music. Though earlier too people have tried to make pop bands through reality shows, seldom have they turned into hit pop bands. The problem in India is that we try to categorise music all the time. This should not be the case. Music is music at the end of the day, why classify it?” asks Palash, whose band Euphoria has enjoyed a huge fan following for the past 15 years.

Leslie and Taz on the other hand feel that there is a greater need to focus
more on lyrics and song quality. Leslie says, “A good song is what makes a good band. Bands in India don’t give that much importance to the lyrics. A band should write its own songs and sing its own songs. This as a concept has not caught on in India. ”

“To establish a connect with the audience, and to have an international yet Indian feel, a band needs to have good star quality image and presentation. But more importantly, original pop songs of an international level are needed. Copycat emulations are not good enough. Other than that, my advice is – Be yourself,” says Taz, who has hits like Oh Carol and Pyaar Ho Gaya to his credit.

Palash too had an advice for the contestants. He says, “The only way to reach the top and sustain is through talent. In the end, beyond the hype, it is only talent that shows. So, I would suggest, make music from your heart and don’t think about the hype and glamour aspect of it. You will rock if your music rocks. Just play music for the sake of music.”

DJ Ashley Wallbridge talks about music and more...

This is your first trip to Kolkata...
Yes, very much. I’ve been to India twice before, but this is my first time in Kolkata. Needless to say, I’m loving it.

Did you find time to look around the city?
Not at all. Kolkata is extremely hot. I had always come to India during winters, so I didn’t realise that the weather could be so unfavourable. But even if the weather is so unfriendly, the people aren’t. They are very warm and loving.

So, what is that you’ve brought for the city, musicwise?
I have brought a good lot of progressive music with a twist.

How is the party scene in the UK?
It’s pretty happening. Trance and progressive are very much in demand. In between, for a year or so, nothing major was happening in terms of events. Party animals were left heartbroken. But all that was because of recession. Now things are again looking up.

Do you think Kolkata, with a long nightlife, is at par with UK when it comes to the party scene?
Both are different, I would say. What party animals are looking for in both these places are different and so is the way they party. But, the music scene in Kolkata is truly rocking.

Did you get to meet your counterparts in the city?
Last time, when I had come to India, I got a chance to meet quite a few DJs from the country. But this time around, there was no time.

Recent stories of DJ Tiesto’s death in an accident were untrue. However, hoaxes of musician’s deaths are not new, finds Reagan Gavin Rasquinha. Here are some of the more famous cases

Fans of the very popular DJ Tiësto got a shock last week when stories of his premature death in an automobile accident in California hit the Internet. This however proved to be untrue when Tiesto himself tweeted that he was alive and well. Later, he jokingly added: “Somebody told me that if somebody says your dead and it’s not true then you are gonna (sic) live a very long life... So happy with that news!” This one is just the latest in a line of celebrity death hoaxes — stories doing the rounds that claim a musician is dead when he or she is actually very much alive.

Take for instance, the case of iconic Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. As Keith Richards once commented about him, saying that Kurt ‘always had a death wish’, towards the end of his life, Cobain was a walking time bomb. During the band’s Italian leg of their European tour, Cobain overdosed on some pills and went into a coma. He was then rushed into hospital but remained very much alive even though a major TV news channel reported that he had died in March 1994. Although a month later, in April, he did tragically pass away. An act which brought about the end of the grunge era.

Car accidents seem to be the mode of choice for premature appointments with the Pearly Gates. As in the case of Miley Cyrus. On September 5, 2008, a false article published in a news wire service spread around the web claiming that Miley Cyrus had died in a terrible car accident. This incident, which was also reported by a Hollywood paparazzi website, was quickly debunked, as Miley performed in concert the following Friday. A similar incident took place on November 16, 2008, when someone hacked into Cyrus’ video sharing account and posted a video stating she died after being hit by a drunk driver. Although this second hoax has got more to do with a disgruntled person with too much time on his hands, than anything else.

Paul McCartney’s ‘Paul Is Dead’ hoax is without doubt the most famous of them all. Started way back in 1966, four years before the Beatles split, the musician was proclaimed dead (in a car crash) in by a caller to radio DJ Russ Gibb’s show on WKNR-FM Detroit. A few days later, New York DJ Roby Yonge was fired for discussing McCartney’s possible death on a late-night show. Hundreds of supposed clues to McCartney’s death were reported by fans and followers of the legend; they include messages perceived when listening to a song being played backwards, and symbolic interpretations of both lyrics and album cover imagery.

The most commonly cited examples are the belief that the words spoken by John Lennon in the final section of the song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ are “I buried Paul” although Lennon and McCartney each later said that the words spoken are actually “Cranberry sauce” and the belief that the Abbey Road album cover symbolises a funeral procession (Lennon is shown dressed all in white, supposedly like a clergyman; Ringo Starr in a black suit, like an undertaker; George Harrison in blue jeans, supposedly symbolising a gravedigger; and McCartney is dressed in a blue suit without shoes, and is walking out of step with the other Beatles as, supposedly, a corpse would). Both Lennon and McCartney subsequently referred to the legend in their music.

Lennon called the rumor-mongers “freaks” in his 1971 song ‘How Do You Sleep?’ McCartney with the title and cover of his 1993 live album Paul Is Live neatly parodying both the Abbey Road cover and its ‘hidden clues’.

You’d never have thought this, but Lou Reed too was pronounced dead by numerous US radio stations in 2001, caused by a hoax email which said he had died of an overdose. Rumors of Kiss bandmember Ace Frehley’s suicide began to circulate around the Internet on Friday, February 23, 2007. The rumor stated that Frehley committed suicide by taking pills, and was reported dead at 2am. Frehley himself responded by saying, “I don’t know how this ridiculous rumor got started.”
Overdoses and car crashes seem the be the recurring theme here. But most ironically, Jimi Hendrix’s stepsister Janie Hendrix refused to believe her brother had passed away on the day he died — because the family had been targeted by a death hoax just a month earlier. When a classmate broke the news that the superstar had died on 18 September 1970. She refused to believe her friend’s claims, and rushed home for reassurance — but was left devastated to learn the news was true. Hendrix was 27 when he passed away in flat he had rented out from Ringo Starr in Montagu Square, London.

There’s more than just sports to look forward to at the upcoming Commonwealth Games scheduled to take place between October 3-14 in Delhi. Some of India’s best musicians will lend their magic to the multi-national, multi-sport event.

Composer-musician Ranjit Barot has been appointed as the music director of the Games while A R Rahman has been commissioned to compose the theme song or the official anthem. As music director, Barot will be working on all segments of the event, including the opening and closing ceremonies, along with Rahman, Taufiq Qureshi, Hariharan and other musicians. “There are a number of cultural segments involved in the Commonwealth Games, so there is plenty of scope for varied styles. However, since the Games will be held in India this time, the underlying feel will be quintessentially Indian. We have tried to capture the essence of ancient and contemporary India through the music. It is a challenging and hugely satisfying experience,” says Barot.

Bad news hits music lovers who were planning to shuttle off to the picturesque, but faraway Ladakh for the Ladakh Confluence 2010 as the festival was called off yesterday. Confluence 2010, was the second edition of the annual four day festival, and was scheduled to begin next Thursday.

The organisers of the event, mostly urban professionals, apologised on their website and also on a social networking website, saying, “We have run into opposition from two local bodies – the All Ladakh Tour Operators Association and the Ladakh Buddhist Association which is led by the same individual.Over the past few days, threats of physical violence have been made against the organisers ... Yesterday, the tourism minister, Mr Rigzen Jora bowed down to pressure from these groups.”

The announcement was met with disappointment from people who had already booked tickets for the event, which also showcases local art and food. The tickets range from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000, and according to the organisers, the refund wouldn’t be immediate. However, many have already signed an online petition to the J&K government asking for a reimbursement. The local bodies who are against the Confluence are opposing the festival on the ground of ‘drugs, western culture and rocking music’. The Confluence in 2009, witnessed many youngsters smoking up, and a lack of a security check, even with the presence of J&K CM Omar Abdullah at the event.

TOI catches up with Mohit Chauhan, whose smooth voice has cast a spell on Bollywood and fans alike

What is your latest album - Fitoor all about?
Fitoor is my first solo album after Silk Route. The album chronicles the experiences of my life, my travels, my physical and mental experiences. The album comprises of ten compositions, all of which are expressions, a collage of my experiences in life so far.

What are you currently working on? Playback singing or solo albums?
I’m working on both. I have recorded songs for some upcoming movies including, like Once upon a time in Mumbai, Lafangey Parindey, a Deepti Naval film titled Do Paise Ki Dhoop and Chaar Aane ki Baarish. I have also started working on my next album. I actually started working on it as soon as I wrapped my latest solo album – Fitoor. But, it’s too early to talk about it.

Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
Honestly speaking, there is no one particular genre of music I listen to. I don’t listen to too much music, and I’m not really into looking out for who is singing what. I just listen to whatever that pleases my ears, and lyrics which connects to my heart. Coming to inspiration, I seek inspiration from nature, life, and folk music. I’m basically a nature’s guy. I was born and brought up in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, amidst the lap of nature, and that is what I turn to when seeking inspiration for my creations.

Your solo albums are infused with Sufi-rock style of music. While for the movies like Veer, there was a shift towards the romantic. Is there a specific reason as to why music directors give you only romantic numbers to sing?
It’s not really like that. Most of the songs that I’ve sung are romantic because romantic songs tend to flow into the storyline of Bollywood films. But I’ve also sung Khoon Chala for Rang De Basanti and Masakalli for Delhi-6 which are not the quintessential romantic songs.

You were recently felicitated with three awards this year for the songs Masakali from Delhi-6 and Yeh Dooriyan from Love Aaj Kal. Have you set any target for this year?
(Smiles) It always feels nice to be awarded. It’s nice to know that people appreciate your work. But I haven’t set any targets as such. If awards happen, then it’s beautiful. Ironically, my band Silk Route was awarded the best band, best debut and best video for Dooba Dooba in 1998, at the Channel [V] Music Awards. Sadly, no other award followed after that. It’s a sad thing that today Indian music channels have become a base for airing reality shows and sitcoms, rather than music.

You were a judge at Music Ka Maha Muqabla. Do you think such reality shows help in bringing forward new talent?
Yes. The people who come on these reality shows are from small villages who won’t get noticed otherwise. There is a lot of talent hidden in our country which is not acknowledged. So it’s a good thing if these talent shows help you to get noticed. But then, there is as much that these shows can do. At the end of the day, it depends on the person’s talent, originality, dedication to music, and commitment which will take the singer forward. It is up to the contestants to use the opportunity given to them in the best possible manner.

Who are your favourite artists?
I’m a great fan of Kishore Kumar, RD Burman, SD Burman, and the likes. Among contemporary artists, I adore AR Rehman.