Vishal-Shekhar, the iconic duo is renowned for creating music that continues to dominate our playlists, proving their enduring taste in music composition. The duo believes in creating songs that continue to last long and it shouldn’t fade away after a few months or so. Discussing the same, on the evolution of designing film songs, Shekhar Ravjiani sat down for an insightful conversation with Bharti TV, hosted by Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa.
During the conversation on the LOL podcast, Shekhar Ravjiani shared details about his professional journey, from his early attachment to music to how he and Vishal Dadlani became the duo known as ‘Vishal-Shekhar’. It’s interesting to learn that despite having different lifestyles and personalities, they share the same passion for creating music. When they collaborate, magic seamlessly happens and its visible!
When asked, “If a director tells you ‘the hero and heroine are walking around the hills’, how challenging is it to create music when you’re working alone on everything?” Shekhar responded, “Indeed, it’s easy and I would be very happy if we receive a brief about the song’s requirements according to the film’s situation. With that clarity, we can create an accurate sound. However, when there’s no brief and they directly demand a superhit song, it becomes challenging to produce quality music”.
Shekhar Ravjiani further elaborated, “Nowadays, it’s different. They might just inform us, ‘It’s an action movie; we need two songs for promotion!’ Because where do they add songs in the script?” He added, “As a result, music has become a marketing tool. Since a film requires 4-5 promotional materials and after the first and second promos, they need something for the third and fourth. That’s where songs come in to promote the movie. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but the process of creating music has changed in today’s time“.
Shekhar also highlighted another critical issue, the fading nature of songs today. He emphasized that in the past, songs had a longer lifespan and were played during various occasions and celebrations. However, today, it’s different and he believes in creating music that remains in people’s playlists for years.
He added, “If I’m performing a song at a concert and the audience sings it enthusiastically without a single pause, it proves our song is a super hit. But now, how will I know if my song is a hit?” He cited the example of the current sensational track of Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Tauba Tauba’, stating, “If the audience is still listening to Tauba Tauba after a month, I’ll be very happy and consider the song a superhit. If it plays on December 31st, then it’s definitely a super hit.”
For those interested in more of Shekhar Ravjiani’s insights, the full podcast is available below.
Shekhar Ravjiani is not only a talented music composer but also an actor who received a film offer for the heart-touching 2016 film ‘Neerja’, where he played the love interest of Sonam Kapoor’s titular character. Although his role had a short screen space, he received so much praise that he was even nominated at the Stardust Awards in the Superstar of Tomorrow category. Also, his collaboration with Vishal Dadlani is undoubtedly timeless, the duo continues to deliver musical hits that resonate with audiences, making them one of the most beloved music composers in Indian cinema.
