Musically Yours: Sohail Sen : Bollywood News

Composing music for Whats Your Raashee?

When Ashuji first told me that I was on for the project, I was thrilled but when he later said that there would be 13 songs in the movie, one song for each of the 12 raashees and then one song in which Harman makes the final choice, I was taken aback. These days you hardly get to hear 13 different songs in one album and that itself was quite a task. However, I took it up as a challenge and started work on the music. If you hear the music of Whats Your Raashee?, you will realize that in each song we have used different orchestrations to give a different feel. For e.g. in Jao Na we have used the guitar, in Pyaari Pyaari we have used the piano extensively, in Bikhri Bikhri, which is a very soothing number, we have used the flute, Su Che has a garba feel to it while Aaja Lehrate is a dance number. However, I think composing Chehre Jo Dekhe Hain was really the toughest task since I had to incorporate the flavor of all the 12 raashees in that one song.

However, I must add that with Ashuji and Javed saab by my side, making music was a lot more fun. Ashuji has a great ear for music and through understanding of the various nuances while Javed saab is a legend and I consider myself fortunate to have got a chance to work with him so early in my career.

Singing and composing in my first film

Initially, I had not planned that I would be singing so many songs. I have a habit of humming the tunes which I compose and when Ashuji heard my voice, he quite liked it. He felt that my voice suits Harman and that I should sing most of the songs. I was a bit apprehensive at first but when I myself saw a couple of songs on screen, I felt that it does suit Harmans voice. The credit for it should go to Ashu Sir.

Favourite song

For me all the songs of Whats Your Raashee? are very close to my heart but if I have to pick one, I will pick the song of the Cancerian girl Bikhri Bikhri. Its a very melodious and soothing number, moreover since even I am a Cancerian, there is a special attachment towards that song.

Making Ashutosh Gowariker sing

Ashuji had sung a few lines in Swades in the song Pal Pal Hai Bhari. Whenever we used to have our jam sessions, Ashu sir used to always hum a few lines here and there. I quite liked his voice and decided that I would ask him to sing a song. When I composed the song Maanunga Maanunga, I decided that I would ask Ashu sir to sing the song. He agreed quite easily and I must say his voice indeed suits the song perfectly. Apart from Ashu sir, even his sister Ashlesha has rendered a beautiful song Aa Le Chal for the Scorpio girl.