I'm constantly challenged by myself: Indraadip

Indraadip Das Gupta will get Kaushiki Desikan to sing a duet with Shaan for Anindya Banerjee���������s ���������Chaplin��������� starring Rudranil Ghosh.
It���������s been a question that has intrigued many music lovers for years. Why has Kaushiki Desikan taken to record Bengali playback? Finally, the vocalist is all set to record her first song for a Bengali film in Mumbai on January 13-14.The composer who has offered Kaushiki to do playback for ���������Chaplin��������� is Indraadip Das Gupta.
Along with Shaan, Kaushiki will be singing the only romantic number in the film. ���������More than a romantic song, I���������d say, it���������s a song of love and on love. The song is a combination of two forms ��������� Indian semi-classical and Western classical. While Shaan is singing the Western portions, I wanted somebody as brilliant and pure as Kaushiki to render the other form. I am a huge fan of her music too. She agreed to sing this song when I was recording with her for Purbayan Chatterjee���������s album titled ���������Trialogue���������,��������� Indraadip says.
Kaushiki, however, is quick to insist that she isn���������t shifting gears or her priorities by singing for movies. ���������It���������s a song that I liked. I had sung for ���������Water��������� too. Earlier, I had been offered to sing for Bengali movies. But, I couldn���������t gel with the set-up of those projects. I���������m glad that Indraadip thinks that I will be able to do justice to his composition. While Shaan will sing the portion that packs in attitude, my portion has a certain dadra feel.���������
In the pipeline is a Rabindra Sangeet for Rituparno Ghosh���������s forthcoming film. ���������There are certain songs that Debajyoti Mishra and I are mulling over. I wouldn���������t be able to name the songs as yet, ��������� she adds. Meanwhile, Kaushiki has also recorded a pure classical album with her husband, Parthasarathi Desikan. ���������The album is called ���������Togetherness���������. Since we���������ve a pitch constraint, we don���������t sing together. For this album, we���������ve done one piece together. In the pipeline is a project involving the two of us. where we are expanding our horizon. Despite judging ���������Sa Theke Sa��������� or singing for films, I refuse to be uprooted. I���������m a newcomer in this field. I���������m most comfortable doing classical music. Those who are offering me movies are doing so only because of my classical renditions. That remains my priority. Always.���������
Indraadip Das Gupta talks to TOI about how he redesigned folk songs for Lopamudra Mitra���������s ���������Monfokira���������, why certain Bengali film songs don���������t deserve the hype and what he thinks about his fairweather friends.
Do you feel folk music in Bengal has an appeal in its raw, authentic and unadulterated form that���������s not touched by modernization?
It works both ways. Both the original form and reworked forms work wonders in folk and classical music. But, then again, if the essence is maintained and so is the spirit of the content, the style of presentation hardly matters. One can only reach out to the audience if the content doesn���������t get diluted.
Lopamudra Mitra has worked on folk forms before. Did her earlier body of work make it more challenging for you to compose for this album? What were the do-not-dos for you as a composer?
I am constantly challenged by myself and by my fear to perform well in front of myself. My first listener is me. Lopadi has sung for two of my films ��������� ���������Mohul Bonir Sereng��������� and ���������Kaler Rakhal���������. So, we had a basic understanding of each other. When I work for an album, I try to become a part of the artiste���������s system during that period of time. When you do that, the biggest block or problem you face is the temperament of the artiste. I think they also face the same about me. Finally, we land up somewhere to be in sync. In case of Lopadi, she was supportive all along. Right from the first day, she accepted me as her master for the period we were working on this album.
Every artiste has a trigger point. What is it for Lopamudra?
I think, extremes trigger the best in the singer in Lopadi. The day she is either happy or very sad, she gives her best output. If she is happy, her state of mind translates into music. On days when she is sad or nothing is going right for her, she takes shelter in music and surrenders completely. Lopadi recorded ���������Hori din to gyalo��������� during one of the saddest phases of her life.
You have strong reservations about the term remix. Why is that so?
Remix is a term which is technically done on an existing track of music. It is part of additional arrangement. When somebody has designed something, I don���������t have any right to touch it. If I have the guts to do anything further musically, I should start afresh. I would rather redesign the mainline melody of a song than add to the existing design.
Aren���������t you doing that when it comes to ���������Ghate lagiya dinga��������� that was earlier composed by Sachin Dev Burman?
I haven���������t used Sachin Dev Burman���������s track. His song has a traditional value now. I have not added anything further to Sachin Dev Burman���������s existing track. I have arranged something afresh on the song that was composed by him and written by Mira Dev Burman.
What would be the difference between remixing and redesigning a song like ���������Hori din toh gyalo���������?
It���������s a song about salvation. My idea of designing is to just punctuate a song keeping in mind my emotions at that very moment. I have tried to understand the philosophy of the song and use my own insight to interpret it my way.
Lopamudra���������s husband, Joy Sarkar, is also a composer. How is the dynamics between you and Joy with regard to this album?
Joy and I are the best of pals. We will remain to be so whether it is a music album or a packet of biscuits.
Does he remain aloof while you are composing or does he make positive criticism?
Neither do I interfere in any of his projects, nor does he. We share our views retrospectively on each other���������s works. He participated in this album voluntarily as a backing vocal artiste. He designed his own lines.
What do you have to say about the standard of playback music in Bengal today?
The level is rising though I still think we are not up to the mark. That���������s because we are more introspective and emotion-driven. That is why our performance isn���������t situation-driven. In playback singing, we have to master the art of situations.
Do you think the kind of hype some Bengali film songs are now getting is well-deserved?
I think, the hype is well-deserved because it is much better than most of Bollywood���������s trash. Success always depends on fate and not merit only. There are many songs that are getting noticed because of fate only. Many a times, I have seen songs turn into anthems more because of their fate and face value than the content. Compositionally and lyrically, not all of today���������s popular songs deserve so much of accolades. Perhaps, that includes some of mine too.
While earlier there were comparisons of you with Jeet Gannguli, now you are also pitted against the much-experienced Debajyoti Mishra. How challenging is it to be in such a situation?
I���������ll answer questions on this comparative study in 2012. That���������s a promise. Let me have more back-up body of work. Right now, my job is to work and do something fresh and keep on changing the form slowly. Evaluation is not part of my duty now.
Some detractors say that a lot of credit for the music of ���������Ley Chakka��������� should go to programmer Prasad who charged a lakh but made sure the two numbers that he programmed turned out to be very peppy even in terms of today���������s Bollywood standards. How would you silence your detractors?
Please name them. I would ask them to hire Prasad and then, produce the same stuff. I don���������t talk like this about anybody because I know what I can do and what I cannot. It���������s their ass which is on fire. Happy burning tandoori egos. That���������s the latest dish this winter!
Has the number of your friends in the music industry increased after you won the Best Music Director award at a recent ceremony? Does success allow friendship?
I don���������t have many friends in this industry, except those who have been around since the time I had just started out. They still remain the same and I am sure will continue to do so. The rest are all fairweather birds.
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