Winning an award feels nice: Vijay Dayal

Vijay Dayal, who won the Best Sound Recording award for the song Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baaja Baraat) speaks to Aparna Phadke about Nagpur, his passion for music and more...
If you're hooked to the beats of Ainvayi Ainvayi from Band Baaja Baraat, and love the sound of it then probably you have Vijay Dayal to thank for! This award winning song composed by Salim Sulaiman has been 'engineered' to perfection by Vijay."There's a lot that goes into a song after it’s been composed and sung and I am glad that the effect I gave to the song has been recognised," says the sound engineer with all humility. And the word 'effect' that Vijay Dayal uses so nonchalantly is actually a complex science that needs to be studied in depth and merged with your creative faculties. Tell him this and he says, "You know after Resul Pookutty won the Oscar, the common man started recognising technical talent. Till then it was just people in the film fraternity who knew about our talent. So, yes winning an international award does feel nice, but I'm not the kind who works just for an award or wants the spotlight. I am comfortable being in the background as my passion for music drives me to do better and better."
‘I miss Nagpur’
As he speaks about his passion, he can't help but go back in time. Recalling the days he spent in Nagpur, he says, "I learnt music and the harmonium under my father Vasudeo Dayal. He would sing on AIR often and all the music I know today is because of him. But when I was in the first year of college, he passed away; and then it was my mom who ensured that I pursue my dream of becoming a sound engineer." A student of Dharampeth College of Commerce, Vijay Dayal says, "I spent my best years in this college and I remember each and every teacher and professor who taught me." He adds with a laugh, "But you know what? They may not know me, because I was a very average student!" Speaking more about his city, "I shifted to Mumbai in 1992 and from that day though my career keeps me busy in Mumbai, I have always missed Nagpur and especially my friends. Family you can always meet, but it's my friends I miss the most."
Mission music
The sound engineer has films like Om Shanti Om, Fanaa, Dhoom 2, Rab Ne ban Di Jodi, Natrang and many more to his credit and he has worked with big names like Asha Bhonsle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali (in Saawariya), Yash Chopra (recent productions), Ajay-Atul, to name a few. Speaking about them, he says, "These are the people who know and understand music and that's why I love to work for them. When they appreciate my work, I've got my award. Two years after Saawariya released one day Sanjay ji called me and said, ‘I’m in my car on a long drive and listening to Saawariya. I must thank you for doing such a great job!’ Even singers understand the technicality of music and appreciate my work and that makes me work harder in my music mission. It's one reason why I get very irritated, when I see some newbie singers coming to the studio and acting like they know everything about music, when in reality they have no knowledge at all!" While he has wrapped up his work in Singham, Vijay Dayal has his plate full with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar's next films.
All we can say is let the music play...