Have My Fingers Crossed for ‘Udta Punjab’: Music Man Amit Trivedi

Amit Trivedi tells us all about his ‘Udta Punjab’ experience and why he’s got his fingers crossed for this one.

Who would’ve thought that Amit Trivedi, one of Bollywood’s most influential music directors today, will make it this big without any professional training in music whatsoever? But for Trivedi, the day he found his calling was the closest experience he’s had to nirvana. His success though doesn’t always protect him from the brunt of depression when his work doesn’t hit bullseye. In this exclusive, the musical genius tells The Quint all about his passion for music, his almost psychedelic trance album Udta Punjab and how he deals with failure.

Q: Musicians that have influenced your life have been Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, who are very classic. But the music that you give us is very eclectic...

Amit Trivedi: It’s the same as you and me. We have all grown up on this music. I’ll tell you honestly, there is no connection between the kind of music I listen to and the kind that I make. I always like to disconnect. Whatever I listen to is for my pleasure but what I am creating doesn’t necessarily have to be that. I have heard the same kind of music that all of us in our generation have – RD Burman, AR Rahman, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson…

I am always on the look out for my own voice and giving it the character definition that I have in my mind, which has no influence whatsoever from anywhere. That is why there is a difference like you pointed out.

Amit Trivedi, Music Director 

Q: Is there any one contemporary who takes your breath away?

Amit: If you talk about a contemporary band, Coldplay is one that we all love. I am a fan too. The alternative rock style which they have is very interesting to listen to. I remember Pink Floyd used to get this kind of response as they were a psychedelic rock band. These guys are not psychedelic rock, but they are very different from the regular music scenario.

Q: Despite of the low blow that Shaandaar, Bombay Velvet and Fitoor got at the box office, their music rocked the charts. But does the failure of any film affect the composer?

Amit: A lot! I can’t even tell you how badly it affected me. I went into depression because of that. I had worked very hard on Bombay Velvet. That whole vibe of music was very new for our country. No-one had explored Jazz as such. We were trying to create a new genre called Hindi Jazz. So when the film bombed at the box office, it took everything away and pulled down the music as well.

I create music mainly for the screenplay and the characters.

Amit Trivedi

It is not like the regular practice of creating a hit song from a music bank that you already happen to have. It’s an organic process, like one of the characters of the film.

In all these albums that didn’t work especially Bombay Velvet and Fitoor, the music was an integral part of the screenplay. That was a big blow for me as I felt very miserable when these films flopped. I want everything to work in totality. It is more fun when the entire package works.

The conflict of a super hit album, with a film that flops is not something that I enjoy. It’s not like mera toh kaam ho gaya. When things are like Lootera, Dev D, Queen, Kai Po Che, IshqZaade, it’s a great feeling as compared to what happened in the last 3-4 films.

I know that the music of Udta Punjab is getting popular, but I am praying very hard for the film to work at the box office. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I want the film to work because it is an amazing film. The whole controversy part of it being banned and what not is something that will keep on happening, and is a part and parcel of movie making.

Q: What inspires you to create? The lyrics or the film’s script?

Amit: The script. It always takes me to that world, and if that world is exciting enough, you feel charged. For instance in Udta Punjab, Abhishek Chaubey explained that we have to create a new sound for this artist called Tommy Singh. He’s an independent artist who has a voice and style of his own, which was very exciting. It triggers many things inside me and we start with all kinds of brain storming sessions.

I make sure I research what kind of a human being the character I am making music for is. What was his upbringing? What were his influences? What is the kind of life he is living? All that will reflect in his music. It was intriguing for me.

We went along doing that and then created the soundscape for Tommy Singh. Honestly, it took a lot of time especially for Shelle (lyricist) as he had to write what goes inside Tommy’s head. Me, Shelle, Chaubey and Shahid worked very hard to bring this character alive.

Q: Is giving music for a performing artist in a film challenging or easier as there’s scope for an experiment?

Amit: It’s both. But the first reaction to something like this is that it’s going to be very challenging. When it hits you for the first time, it hits you hard and you think, ‘How the hell am I going to do this?’ Gradually you figure how to go about it, and then it becomes exciting. There’s so much nervous energy till you hit the right note.

Here is my most favourite pic pic.twitter.com/ln9ZHZDMlK

— Amit Trivedi (@ItsAmitTrivedi) February 3, 2016

Background scoring is the most difficult thing ever. You can ask anyone. Making songs are a cakewalk after that.

Amit Trivedi

Q: Also, how do you know which song would fit just right in which album?

Amit: It’s your gut that tells you. It also depends a lot on your knowledge and how you see the world. Everything comes in play. Instinct is something that drives the whole world, and I trust my gut and move on.

Q: How do you make time for it all? Composing background scores, songs, giving live concerts etc. They all need a different kind of skill, energy and effort, no?

Amit: If the film is score heavy then you can shit in your pants. You are right, it totally requires a different skill set. The biggest problem with scoring a film is that you have very limited time to do that. Just 6-7 weeks at the most. Sometimes that’s not enough, but you have to force the creativity out of your head and be like, ‘Bloody, come out!’ Speaking of concerts, you better be good on stage. You also need to look good on stage, sing well, play well. There are so many things to take care of. That’s another skill set and head space you need to get into. So, I am always tackling three different things in three different directions.