Two to Tango - Salim & Sulaiman 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, December 28, 2004 - 06:52 IST
Salim-Sulaiman's music clearly stands out - slick, stylish and very modern, every project speaks class. Be it the background score for films like Hum Tum, Dhoom to Aitraaz they leave their signature mark in everything they do. After composing the score for 'Koffee with Karan' they are brewing up some more music for the ace producer in his new venture ' Kaal'
How does it feel to be in the Yash Raj Films & Dharma Productions camp?
Salim - It feels good, we've always wanted to work with them, every production house has its good side of working, it feels nice to be invited at the premieres and we get to meet the cast and being technicians it feels really good.
Sulaiman - Also there is this sense of achievement and being recognition, it feels that all the work we have done so far has been worthwhile.
How did you feel when you got a call from Karan Johar for Kaal?
Salim - We actually got a call from Soham and he wanted us to do the background score. So we did a movie theme and I think Karan liked it so much that he actually called us to brief us on the songs he wanted and then we recorded the songs.
Sulaiman - I was like 'Ya ok. That sounds good'.
Why did you not take a plunge in full-fledged music direction so far?
Salim - Honestly speaking we have not been approached and we don't have the attitude of approaching people and asking for work. Also we are waiting for the right break.
Sulaiman - We would rather have a good launch, good production house and a good director. Not approaching people may be our loss but that makes us exclusive and the wait has been worthwhile, because working with Karan has changed our perception of film music.
You share the space with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Anand Raj Anand. Does competition bring the best or makes you insecure.
Salim - We are never insecure and competition brings out the best in us. I am a fighter and I wouldn't mind if someone is doing background score also for the film besides us.
Sulaiman - We know our genre and the kind of music we can create and at this point there is no competition. If there is any, I am sure it will be healthy.
Where do you rate yourself as music composers on the scale of 1 to 10?
Salim - I would rate us in the top 3
Sulaiman - I won't give a number but I believe we are in the higher category, the work that comes to us and the work we do reflects that.
How many tracks are you composing in the movie?
Salim - We are doing two songs in the film, one being ' Tauba Tauba' and other is 'Kaal Dhamaal'.
Can you give us some additional details?
Sulaiman - Sunidhi Chauhan, Richa Sharma, Sonu Nigam and Kunal Ganjawala sing 'Tauba Tauba'. And the other song 'Kaal Dhamaal' (picturised on Shahrukh Khan) has been sung by Kunal Ganjawala.
What type of feel do you think the entire album has?
Salim - Normally the album is like the film but here the film and album are completely different. The Album has a good theme and the film is a thriller shot in the jungle with weird things happening here and there.
Sulaiman - This is the first time actually in India that someone is experimenting with the soundtrack like this. The album is very funky and danceable with lot of Sufi pop touches to it.
Describe the album ' Kaal' in one word?
Salim - Folk funky
Sulaiman - Funky
Most of your work in 2004 was racy and fast like in Dhoom. Do u consider that type of music your forte?
Salim - No. In Ab Tak Chhappan, we had lots of world music, orchestral music and then in Hum Tum the score was very romantic and emotional. Basically our USP is understanding all types of cinema and being able to score for all of them. Versatility would be our USP.
Sulaiman - I feel understanding the film to its fullest is our USP. If a film is going down somewhere we know how to create interest. We keep the energy alive and if there is any lack in performance we know how to cover them.
Your best piece of work so far would be… (2004)
Salim - Ab Tak Chhappan and Dhoom.
Sulaiman - Dhoom.
Your favorite music directors?
Salim - A.R. Rahman, James Horner, Allan Silvestri, Hans Zimmer and many more.
Sulaiman - There was a time I really used to like A. R. Rahman. Right now I don't think I can relate to him or his work, I am not overwhelmed by his music. But I still think he is one of the best music directors of the country.
What are you upcoming movies?
Salim - Vaada, Naina, Kaal, Being Cyrus, then there is a David Dhawan film & Salman Khan's untitled home production.
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“Kaal is a Gen-X film! It's very now, very today” - Lara Dutta
