There’s always more than what meets the eye. For instance, the labels on film music CDs and albums say everything about the credits but probably nothing about the creative freedom. Or the lack of it.
The chartbuster, Humari Adhuri Kahani from the recent release, Gangster, is a case in point. It was on the express instructions of the film director Anurag Basu that this old Bangla song was reworked for contemporary effect by the music composer Pritam. While the controversy of plagiarism rages on, it brings up an important question - what about the music composer’s creativity?
As composers would like to put it, there is hardly any creativity left as they have to increasingly pander to the item song rigmarole necessary for a film’s success. Says music composer Sandeep Chowta, "There are too many people to tell what kind of music should be given when you compose for a Hindi film."
Agrees the biggest of them all, AR Rahman, "With too many elements, it’s tough to work freely." While Rahman is already on his way to set up his own music production house, Chowta waits for ‘the’ assignment, which will give him the freedom to create music.
According to singer Kumar Sanu, this kind of interference can spell doom for the industry. "There are even times when the director asks the music composer to copy an old song."
According to singer Kumar Sanu, this kind of interference can spell doom for the industry. "There are even times when the director asks the music composer to copy an old song."
Kunal Ganjawala, whose
Bheege Hot Tere
(Murder) became a national hit, says, "Nothing will change by just talking about it. Directors should not interfere in the musician’s domain beyond a point." Agrees Basu, "Directors should limit their contribution by just explaining the concept of the film." Say what?