Then Vs Now
The kids who grew up in the 90s will agree that this era will forever be iconic for good music. One can give out many examples of how a hit song brought in people to the theatres. Be it ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani’ or ‘Tu Cheez Badi Hai’ in ‘Mohra’ or all those dance numbers of Madhuri Dixit. Veteran composer Viju Shah ( known for helming the music of films like ‘Gupt‘, ‘Mohra’, ‘Tridev’), opines, “In the 90s, one knew which music is working because it would play in every nook and corner. We didn’t have to be told or we didn’t have to tell anyone that music chal gaya. It drew the public to the theatres and you had the box office draw happening in those days. But today, one cannot figure out if the music is actually working. I don’t think today people are coming to theatres today because of music. But today, the songs are also just having the ‘mukhdas’. In those days, we had songs with three antras. I remember in ‘Tridev’, I made songs with three ‘antras’. Then we came down to two antras, then one and now we barely have a mukhada’.”
Film trade expert Taran Adarsh feels that music is still very relevant. He pointed out that the popularity of the song ‘Tauba Tauba‘ did help in bringing in those opening weekend numbers for Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Bad Newz‘. He further added, “Sometimes we had movies minus the songs and it’s important to have music. Many years ago, there was a film called ‘Tezaab’, it was a very important film. But Ek Do Teen created such a wave. Khalnayak was such a big film but that one song ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ took it to another level. So, never underestimate the power of good music. It takes the film to another level. Of course, the content matters eventually. But music can really add as a hook to attract the audience.”
Finding a connect with the audience
Last year, Vicky Kaushal, Sara Ali Khan’s film ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ was a sleeper hit. A large credit for that was given to the film’s music. Especially, the song ‘Tere Vaste Main Chand Launga’. Music composers Sachin-Jigar who did the film’s music feel, that music is important to also give the film’s vibe to the audience and thus, find that connect. “We could have made a song about other things, but when two people in love speak, they only talk about stars and moon. We wanted to connect to people to the roots and we didn’t want to stylise the song. It was a rooted film and we wanted to keep the honesty and simplicity intact. We didn’t want to make something stylish, we wanted something which people can easily sing and relate to. People came in to experience the film and the song they like,” said the composer duo.
Producer and film expert, Girish Johar echoes this sentiment and says, “There is a very strong connection. Music is a very critical element especially in India, in making the audience excited to come to the theatres. I don’t remember any movie which has done at the box office and the songs are not hits. There are certain films where songs are added as background scores, but they do help to emotionally connect to the film. It is one of the critical elements to the film.”
Music is no longer cool?
It cannot be denied though, that slowly as Hindi cinema has also followed the west, many film-makers have also looked down upon music in their movies and preferred to not have songs. Ramesh Taurani who is the head honcho of music label Tips, and also a producer, says, “Music has always been important but people are not realising it these days and many think, ‘music is not cool’. The requirement of the subject of the movie or the content matters but for our Hindi movies, I don’t think there are any movies which may not require a song. Even if you see the south movies that have worked – be it ‘Baahubali‘ or ‘RRR’ – they’ve all had great music. Not many directors in Hindi movies are understanding that.”
Taurani further said, “There are many movies like that ‘Soldier’, ‘Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai’, Raja Hindustani, Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani, Phata Poster Nikla Hero – which had good music and that gave us a good opening. We should pay attention to our real form and take music damn seriously. ‘Pathaan’ had only two songs but both the songs got popular. If the film has the chance to score Rs 100 crore, then it can get to Rs 150 or Rs 125 crore if the music works.”
Manoj Desai, executive director of Gaiety Galaxy and Maratha Mandir cinema, confesses, “I’m an exhibitor since 52 years but I’m also the producer of ‘Khuda Gawah’ and the songs of the film are still popular. The content has to be good and 2-3 songs of the film have to be good. In today’s times, there is no content, forget good music. The producers just sell the film to distributors, exhibitors and then when it doesn’t work, they say, ‘agli picture mein dekh lenge. Ab agli picture na jaane kab aayegi. Ismein sabse zyada nuksaan exhibitors ka hota hai’.”
He further added, “We have seen in the past that films have worked due to good music. See ‘Humraaz’ – all the songs were so good. The late Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai (who was also my uncle), and then there was Yash Chopra who also passed away. These directors paid attention to the music.”
Song as a souvenier?
Composer duo Sachin-Jigar, known for a long list of the most loved songs in recent times, further had a very important point. They said, “I think we have been kids who loved cinema with music. From where we come from, we have always seen films with great music. Hence, we believe that music is like a souvenier. That’s what makes our films different and special from the world. That’s the USP of our films. With so many of our projects, we seen how music has worked so beautifully. For example, there was this film called ‘Shor In The City’, for which we made Saibo. That’s what we meant by Souvenier. Many years later also, one may remember the song and think, ‘yeh kaunsi film ka hai’? And then it will remind you of the film also. Songs are remembered much longer than the films. Songs are also very handy and you can listen to them anytime, anywhere. They make films much more palatable to the audience.”
Not just MUSIC, but picturisation is the game-changer!
Well, Viju Shah admits that the picturisation of ‘Gupt’, took the songs to another level and further contributed to the movie. He added, “What I feel is, in ‘Gupt’, music didn’t draw the public. It became popular after watching the film. People think the music of ‘Gupt’ was ahead of its time. At that point, I remember, we had gone for a show with Mr Bachchan, Farah Khan. They heard the casette and they were numb and quiet. There was no response from everyone. I’m talking about July 97. People didn’t understand the music of the film that time. For ‘Gupt’, I feel it’s the picturisation which has taken the song to another level. I remember telling director Rajeev Rai, that he took the songs to another level.”
These days, we’ve seen many examples where some songs have gotten popular after the film’s release and that in turn got more people to watch the film. Point this out and Girish Johar agrees. He added, “I can give you the example of ’12th Fail’ and recently ‘Laapataa Ladies‘. A song like ‘Sajni’ from ‘Laapataa Ladies’, which got popular after the release, but it did contribute eventually in spreading the buzz around the film and bringing in more people to theatres later, or then watch the film on OTT. Once you find that connect, the box office result is a given. Even for ‘Animal’, ‘Papa Meri Jaan’ had a huge connect and ‘Arjan Valley’ also did well. Music is a very important factor. No two ways about that – be it ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’, ‘Animal’ or ‘Kabir Singh’.”
Things getting back on track!
There was a phase where things were not on track when it came to music. But we are slowly getting back to realising its importance. Girish Johar says, “The music has come down a bit, but now post pandemic makers are realising that and music is coming back on track. For example, the music of ‘Stree 2’, the song, ‘Aaj Ki Raat’, is already getting popular now as the film is nearing release.”
Sachin-Jigar who’ve composed the ‘Stree 2’ album, also feel, there is slowly a shift now. Talking about the scenario, they add, “There was a time in between where people didn’t think that songs played that kind of role and films only had songs in the background. Then there was another time of just doing remixes. Now there is slowly a realisation among the audience and also the film-makers. Producers and directors are realising again that music can contribute hugely to a film’s success. In recent times, we’ve met so many makers coming to us, and asking us to make music which is a part of the film. In between there was a phase where they said, ‘bas ek promotional gaana dedo’. But the audience is smart where they realise ke yeh bas promotions ke liye banaaye hai. It had lost its charm for a while in between. People have now started taking that effort again to have good music and promote it before the film comes out.”