“SRK loved the score of Ra.One immensely” – Abhijit Vaghani

By Devansh Patel -

October 12, 2011 - 5:45 AM IST

I recollect David Guetta, one of the most famous music producers in the world, who once quoted - "Music is music. It never faces difficulty. Good music will

“SRK loved the score of Ra.One immensely” – Abhijit Vaghani

always find an ear and some feet to dance". Now put Abhijit Vaghani, one of Bollywood's most talked about music producer, who quotes, "I'm here to introduce

new styles in music in Bollywood and I'm hell bent on re-inventing the term - music producer". Both are music producers, creators, performers and engineers

in their own right but more importantly, both suckers for introducing new styles. Abhijit also known as 'Acid' in the film fraternity has worked on movies

like Zinda, Kurbaan, Rocket Singh, Pyaar Impossible, Teen Patti, Kites and the forthcoming releases Aazaan and Ra.One. I met him at Yash Raj Studios

where he was busy presenting his creation to Adi Chopra for his dream venture - Dhoom 3. He shows me his new Nespresso machine that he carries with

him whenever he is out on a mission for music. So how did Abhijit succeed where so many before him had failed? He says, "You have to have music and caffeine

in your nerves to create good music." Shockingly, that's what he survives on because that's what brings him the success. Remixes have always been a niche

genre in India. While it may top the charts in the US and Europe, Indians have never been interested in it. But when I talk to the 6 feet tall Abhijit 'Acid'

Vaghani, I sense - He's here to change it all. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent takes you on a musical ride

with the man who is hell bent on changing the music in Bollywood for good.

"I want to introduce new styles in Bollywood and change the whole 'formatting' thing of how the tracks work"

When I started my work, I wanted to be the top most music producer in Bollywood.

I am not quite there but I am heading there. I also wanted to make a difference in saying that I am all about 'class'. My music has certain niche. It's not

what the director or producer wants. Every music producer has a voice of their own. So when the tracks are on, I give my opinion straight away on their face.

I have to tell them what's right and what's wrong. I want to introduce new styles in Bollywood and change the whole 'formatting' thing of how the tracks

work.

"The term 'music producer' doesn't exist in Bollywood and I'm hell bent on re-inventing it"

People think that music producer is the one who puts in money for

music. That's not right at all. Music producer is a term used internationally inclusive of the term music director. Music producers also compose. What does

David Guetta do? He too composes but he is known as a music producer. The term 'music producer' doesn't exist in Bollywood and I'm hell bent on re-inventing

it out here in India.

"My favourite track in Aazaan is the Desert Mix I've done for 'Afreen'"

I've worked on Aazaan. I've done two remixes. One is 'Afreen Desert Mix' and the other is 'Khuda Ke Liye'. Both of them are different

genres. For the 'Afreen' one I got the reference of 'Stereo Love' from Edward Maya. The other was Armen Van Burren kind of a trance feel for

'Khuda Ke Liye'. The only way I can introduce new genres is by doing re-mixes because they are bonus tracks in the entire album that plays in clubs

the world over once they become a hit, a rage. Remixing isn't about putting a groove to the original track. There are lot of changes that happens. I have to

introduce new chords, etc. It's treated as a remake more than a remix to be honest.

"There were talks of Khalid of 'Didi' fame singing 'Afreen'"

It's a strange story but the first time I heard the original 'Afreen' with Salim-Sulaiman, I loved it. There were talks of Khalid of 'Didi'

fame singing it. But we soon turned to Salim's voice. He did a great job on it though. We also did an acoustic version that was sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

"The chase sequence in Ra.One was loved by all so much that it eventually became a song called 'Jiya Mora'"

When we started with the score of Ra.One, the look of the

movie was as good as any Spiderman or a Batman or a Tron. So our mindset was totally in the zone of all super hero movies for the score. We

wanted to give it our best in terms of experimentation. I've taken my engineers in my car along with a mike and recorded sounds from inside my car. The point

of this was, one of the pieces, which was the 'chase' sequence was so loved by all that it eventually got converted into a track called 'Jiya Mora'. I

also added the 'dub step' in the middle of the track.

"SRK loved the score of Ra.One immensely"
Shah

Rukh Khan loved my work in Ra.One. He is a great man and has an even greater ear for music. There is a Spanish piece that we've done. I have sung in

it too. We called a Spanish translator too. It's an interaction scene between the two people and SRK loves that piece. Shah Rukh loves trance type of music

and I'm all about electronic music. But he loved the score of Ra.One immensely.

"Pritam sat next to me and briefed me by saying two words - Dhoom Machale"

Dhoom 3 experience so far has been innovating and exciting for me, the reason being that we are trying out a lot of different styles. Creating a new

groove is a challenge and we've somehow cracked it. Pritam briefed me just one thing after he sat down. He told me 'Dhoom Machale' (laughs). I'd love to be a

part of Indian cinema's most prolific action movie franchise. It's an honour to work on Dhoom 3 as I haven't worked on Dhoom and Dhoom

2. I'll make sure in the days to come I tear a woofer here and there (laughs).

"If there is a line of vocal change in the song, Adi Chopra will come and hear it"

Adi Chopra is a great guy. He is there to make sure the smallest of changes are taken care of in music. If there is a line of a vocal change he'll come and

hear it. He has a very good music sense in him and gives you a clear brief of what he is looking for in the song. I'm lucky to be in the construction stage

of Dhoom 3 right now and all credit goes to Pritam and Adi.