Music profile: Amit Trivedi

 

An Emosonal entry into Bollywood

 

 

Singer, lyricist, and music director Amit Trivedi, the man behind the music score of Dev D and Emosonal atyaachaar. What made him step from the ad world into Bollywood?

 

 

Fresh and different. Those are the terms often used to describe Amit Trivedi's music in Dev D. Amit has explored several genres in the film ranging from from Punjabi and folk to Sufi and rock. Not surprising considering that the man was closely associated with composing music for ad films as well as being a part of Om, a fusion band. Amit mentions that his friend Amartya, also an ad man, has played an important part in his career. Amit often composed music for his friend's films.

 

 

 

Although Aamir was his first Bollywood release, he points out that he was composing for Dev D much earlier. And it was Dev D that made him a household name. Anuraj Kashyap, the creative producer of Aamir, requested Amit to handle Aamir while he was still composing for Dev D. Amit enthusiastically recounts how he became a part of Dev D. Shilpa Rao, a close friend, recommended him to Anurag, who loves experimenting with his films and his music. He willingly agreed to make Amit his music composer since he was looking for someone new too. Besides, he loved Amit's approach to music. Anurag gave Amit full creative freedom - something that does not happen often in Bollywood - and the result has been a chart topper.

 

 

It had to be a different kind of music because the story Anurag had in mind for Dev D was a modern take on perhaps India's most famous love story, Devdas. In six months, Amit had six contemporary tracks ready. Anurag listened to them and passed them all as they were, smiles Amit. Of course, he was especially appreciative towards Shilpa Rao, who had sung the Dhol yaara dhol number and took her out to dinner since he wouldn't have been in the film without her recommendation in the first place. The next day, Amit was listening to a detailed narration and feeling very much a part of Anurag's team. The Saali khushi and O pardesi numbers were composed during this time. In all, eight tracks were ready even while the final script was being worked upon. Anurag, not wanting to waste Amit's creative potential, asked him to work on Aamir for the next eight months. While working on Aamir, Amit came up with Emosonal atyaachaar, which would make him a household name in India.

 

 

According to Amit, the Emosonal atyaachaar number was a collaborative effort - it was Anurag who suggested that the song with a local accent and conceived by him. Although there are 18 tracks (!) in the film including different versions of the same number and remixes, they are all easy on the ear. No easy feat in an era where movie fans do not tolerate any boring interludes in a film. Still, Amit is surprisingly modest about his feat, crediting Anurag and his team for the success of his numbers.

 

 

While basking in the success of Dev D, Amit has also been seriously considering other offers. His next film will be Rajkumar Gupta's next film, an action thriller. And after? He has a few offers he is evaluating, he reveals. He has every intention of continuing to work in Bollywood mainstream films but maintains that while he will ensure that the music suits the script, he will always compose his music instinctively like his idol A.R. Rahman. Will Amit attain the heights his idol has? If one is to judge from Dev D's music, he is well on his way to doing so.

 

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