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Ranjit Barot and Amit Heri strike up a musical conversation
`We're two of a kind'
Ranjit had to audition for his dancer-mother, Sitara Devi, in a music store to get a drum set as a gift, while Amit had a father "who did not know the repercussions of buying his son a guitar from England".
Years later, the two are greatly in demand as musicians, each famous in his own right, and experimenting with new sounds.
It is 10 a.m. and Ranjit Barot and Amit Heri are tired after the previous night's concert. That does not stop them from indulging in the time-honoured tradition of pulling each other's leg. Subha J Rao, who enjoys their witty exchanges, takes notes.
Ranjit: Amit, both of us started playing pretty early. Did you ever think music would be something that we would do the rest of our lives?
Amit: No. But, I was serious about music. By the way, Ranjit, I read somewhere that you played in your school socials?
Ranjit: Oh Yes! That was the first time I laid my hands on a drum set. It was one of those bass ones with a cymbal. I just kept the groove.
But, somehow, a connection was established. I knew there was something in those drums.
Amit: I know. By 14, I was also seriously into music.
Ranjit: Before my socials, I was into athletics in a big way. But, the day after that, everything was different. I had grown up... boom! Just like that.
Amit: I understand. I was quite good in academics. How about you?
Ranjit: Umm. Just ok. Once, for my biology exams, I went totally unprepared, thinking I would cheat. The person sitting next to me looked quite studious till he asked me what a plant cell meant. I then came to know that it was his fourth attempt. There went my chance of scoring good marks.
Amit: Did you have your own set of drums?
Ranjit: Oh! No. I used to borrow it from anyone who had a set.
Their only condition would be that they be allowed to play two songs. It used to sound terrible; but my friends were very tolerant.
(Amit, ever silent, listens.)
Ranjit: Don't you think that the intensity with which we played - then and now - has not changed one bit?
Amit: Yes. The focus has been the same. You have to be fully into music always. Tell me, how do you react when there are technical glitches during concerts?
On staying cool
Ranjit: I am usually short-tempered; but the best thing to do when things go wrong is stay cool. Freaking out does not help.
Amit: Staying calm is so important. The audience comes first.
Ranjit: You have to think that this is what you have. So, give your best and focus on playing.
Amit: What do you think is special about fusion concerts?
Ranjit: In fusion, what the audience hears is the sum total of contributions of those on stage.
Amit: I agree. The flow depends on whom you are playing with. Which is why it is very important to have good musicians with you.
Ranjit: True. My playing depends on the character of my fellow musicians. The core is me, but my music changes.
Amit: Take film music. Both of us have composed for films (Amit for `Mango Souffle' and `Morning Raga' and Ranjit for `Fiza'). How do you look at the experience?
Ranjit: Let's admit it. The lack of playing opportunities for our genre of music forced us to look at other facets of our music.
Amit: From the composer's angle, I am happy as I am allowed to do what I want to.
Ranjit: One conclusion I've come to in film music is that it is about dealing with people.
Amit: So true. If you manage to get a good composition, you are lucky.
Ranjit: Actually, with the expanding audience for Indian cinema, they need people who will compose keeping in mind the sensibilities of listeners.
Our music will contain elements of our personality, no?
Amit: Yes. We bring our unique perspective to cinema music.
Our knowledge of Carnatic music also helps. We have grown up listening to Hindi songs. So, that is another influence.
Ranjit: Film music allows us to express ourselves in a language of our choice. I dream in English. I love India; but my thought process is in English. That duality is reflected in our compositions.
Amit: We understand what will click with a Western audience and what will not. Even what emotion a particular piece will evoke.
Ranjit: Yes. Indian music has that kind of impact. And, having been in the West for some time, we have learnt to look at our music differently.
Amit: Also, from a different perspective.
Childhood passion
Ranjit: You know? I kept my passion for the drums a secret from my academics-loving mother for quite some time. Her biggest mistake was leaving a 16-year-old who was crazy about drums all alone when she toured for three months.
Amit: I still use the guitar my father gave me for practice. What about you?
Ranjit: In all these `house shiftings', I guess the drum set has got lost. It was an old model. Coming to talent, as a parent, I've decided to let my child find out where her talent lies and focus on that.
Amit: Doing something you don't believe in is difficult.
Ranjit: That reminds me of my calculus professor. I used to daydream in his class. Soon, he called me and said I was more attuned to doing other things.
Amit: Have you ever wondered how similar our backgrounds are?
Ranjit: Even when it comes to our wives.
Amit: Yes. Both of us fell in love with girls at work (Ranjit's wife is Maya and Amit's, dancer Madhu Nataraj-Heri).
Ranjit: Maya was seeing someone else when I first met her.
I would bang my head on the drums when I saw her going out with him. Arrogant me, presumed I was best for her.
(Amit listens... )
Ranjit: We then got to work on a Hema Sardesai music video.
Two to three days of shooting were enough to convince her.
Amit: And, both our wives are Konkanis.
Ranjit: Hey! That's another similarity. That makes us two of a kind.
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