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For a shelf life
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Music composer Monty Sharma says his goal is to bring the melody back with “Saawariya”
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Music in his blood Composer Monty Sharma
As the music of Saawariya makes waves, debutant music director Monty Sharma says the years of practice are showing in his music. “The lyrics and tunes are easy to remember still the music has a shelf life. Already seven-eight
lakh CDs have been sold, which is rare these days.”
Having started his career as a keyboard player in Shekhar Kapur’s Mr. India, Monty joined Sanjay Leela Bhansali with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, where he arranged the music. “Then I did the background score of Devdas and Black. I was supposed to compose for Bajirao Mastani, but the project was shelved. I have experience in all the departments of music. Nobody can fool me, as I can do everything on my own.”
Monty comes from a musical family. “My grandfather Pandit Ram Prasad Sharma is responsible for training many leading music composers including Nadeem. Pyarelalji is my uncle and my father Anand Sharma introduced viola in Hindi films’ orchestra.” Monty says Sanjay gave him a one-line brief. “He said it is a young love story, but I was given the script, which I believe is a must for a music composer.”
Not one to believe in creating a bank of tunes, Monty feels such music doesn’t have a shelf life. “Even similar situations demand different treatment. When you have the script, the composer starts living with the characters and that reflects in the music.”
Refusing to use the word inspiration, Monty says the word has lost its dictionary meaning. “I need at least 10 days to compose one original song. Where is the time to have a bank?”
Going into the details, Monty says he has created a fusion of Indian classical and western symphonies. “When you get a filmmaker who allows you to use a huge live orchestra comprising 40 violins, 12 cellos, double base guitars, rare instruments like bulbul tarang, dhols, trumpets and horns for one piece, you feel you have to give your best.” Bulbul tarang, says Monty, is rarely used in Hindi film music. “It was famously used in ‘Ek Do Teen’.”
Fusing genres
Talking of fusion, Monty says “Masha Allah” is a spiritual song where Kunal Ganjawala brings the Western effect while Shreya Ghoshal with her “Allah” refrain adds the classical touch. “Here, the lyrics came first and the tune was composed accordingly. Sameer has this quality of penning verse that is simple and easy to remember. The title track, ‘Saawariya daras bina nahin chain’ is something that will stay and linger. It is very youthful, and Rich Sharma’s voice is the novelty.”
“Chhabeela”, he says, is composed in the format of the ‘70s and ‘80s hit songs. “It is picturised on Rani Mukerji and suits the situation.” One of his favourites is “Yun Shabnami”, where, he adds it was the tune which gave way to words. “Here Ranbir compares his beloved with the moon.”
Already he is being compared with composer Ismail Durbar, who shone only under Bhansali’s umbrella, but Monty says he is game to diversify into all genres. “My only goal is to bring the melody back.”
ANUJ KUMAR
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