Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
Swimming with the sharks
|
He is a jazz fan who has made it big in Bollywood's music industry. Sandeep Chowta is going great guns these days after early setbacks
|
Sandeep Chowta: 'I'm ahead of my time.' — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
HE MADE his beginning as a member of the band, Pulse, in the early Nineties with Sivamani and Suresh Thomas. And he made it big right away, winning the Channel [V] award for his album, Reaching Out. Chowta was then spotted by Nagarjuna to score music for the Telugu film, Chandralekha. Chowta did well here, but later went through a lean phase. As luck would have it, director Krishna Vamsi took him on for the other Telugu film, Ninne Pelladatha. Chowta made it big in this film and there was no looking back for the man of tunes.
Chowta then joined Ramgopal Varma, scoring background music for Satya and Kaun. His "brooding treatment" of the two films prompted Ramgopal Varma to sign him up for Mast. Chowta came up with a peppy score, replete with a tribute to R.D. Burman, in his borrowing of "Poochho Na Yaar". He then scored music for Jungle, starring Fardeen Khan and Urmila Matondkar, and for the recent film, Samay.
In all this, he gave us hits such as "Kambakht Ishq", "Khallas", and "Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo", which earned him scores of fans. The man, who saw ups and downs, and finally made it big, talks about his journey and dreams.
What does music mean to you?
Music is my life support system and I mean it.
How does it feel to be described as one of the finest music directors in the country?
Yes, it does feel great. It takes a lot to get here. In my solo career, my first release was Ninne Pelladatha. Since then, I have come a long way. The Mumbai film industry is full of sharks, but once you learn how to swim you can cross the waters.
What does it take to get on despite initial disappointments?
All it takes is self-belief. I was making music that nobody was ready to take. They said I was mad! They said no one would listen to the crap I made. But I had faith in my work. When my music became a hit, the same people said I was ahead of my times (laughs).
Do you need godfathers in the industry to secure a break?
Apart from conviction and talent, I do not know about fathers, you definitely need God (laughs). Talent cannot be hidden. If you have it in you, it will find its way.
You have launched singers such as Sunidhi Chauhan and Sowmya.
I gave Sunidhi and Sowmya opportunities to sing not because I wanted to launch their careers, but because I wanted their voices. I heard Sowmya on the Channel V Pop star hunt and I thought she was really good. In fact, she was the best singer of them all. Her voice, I thought, many not have been suitable for a group setting. But I knew that she, like Sunidhi, had the potential. So, I gave her Babuji. She became a celebrity overnight.
What do you look for in a singer?
Talent — a whole lot of it. And commitment. You do not necessarily need a classical background to be a singer. Music is something that comes from within. I just have to listen to a person sing once to find out the potential in him or her. Moreover, there is always scope for improvement. People give me cassettes in which they have imitated Lata or Asha Bhosle. But I want to listen to your voice! If I need Asha Bhosle's voice for some song, why will I call you? Why not the original? I want originality, not imitation.
What kind of music do you personally like?
Jazz.
Who are the directors who give you freedom to compose your kind of music?
Now, all of them do! They have trust in me.
From music direction to video — is Sandeep Chowta multi-faceted?
(Laughs) You tell me! Yes, I conceived and directed a video for my solo album, Mitti. The video is about a young girl, and her two childhood friends.
What are the new projects under your belt?
I am working with Grammy winner Fatboy Slim. We are going to remix one of my songs. I have also signed for a Kannada film. Apart from that, I plan to direct my own film. I have been thinking about direction for a long time now. Nothing is finalised yet. Just that, it is going to be a thriller without any songs.
MEGHA MAMGAIN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
