Musically Yours: Sohail Sen

My Kind of Music I listen to all kinds of music be it jazz, rock, pop, Read More">hip-hop. Even in What’s Your Raashee? I have tried to incorporate different genres of music. I truly believe for a composer it’s very important to hear different kinds of music. It helps you grow more creatively. Role Models MyRead More

My Kind of Music

I listen to all kinds of music be it jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop. Even in What's Your Raashee? I have tried to incorporate different genres of music. I truly believe for a composer it's very important to hear different kinds of music. It helps you grow more creatively.

Role Models

My grandfather Shambhu Senji was a big influence in my classical training. I am also a huge fan of Madan Mohan saab. Lataji singing for Madan Mohan's compositions is truly magical. Among the current generation of composers, I am a huge fan of A.R. Rahman's music. Even Pritam, Vishal- Shekhar and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are doing some really good music.

What's playing on my iPod?

Michael Jackson's Invincible

I wish I had sung…

Madan Mohanji's composition 'Lag Jaa Gale'

Favorites among the current lot of singers

I really like Mohit Chauhan's voice. He has sung some really good songs lately.

Future projects

Right now I am on a break for a couple of weeks as it has been really hectic in the last few months composing the background score and music for What's Your Raashee? There have been some offers but I haven't yet signed any new project. I guess I will start meeting people again after a short break.

Composing music for What’s 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, Read More">IRead More

Composing music for What's 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 What's 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 Harman's voice. The credit for it should go to Ashu Sir.

Favourite song

For me all the songs of What's 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'. It's 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.

Read More">My Background (Growing up years) I belong to the fourth generation of musicians in my family. My great-grandfather Jamal Sen has composed music for movies like Daayra etc. My grandfather has composed music for films such as the Hema Malini starrer Mrig Trishna. They all were composers. My father Sameer Sen (of Dilip Sen- SameerRead More

My Background (Growing up years)

I belong to the fourth generation of musicians in my family. My great-grandfather Jamal Sen has composed music for movies like Daayra etc. My grandfather has composed music for films such as the Hema Malini starrer Mrig Trishna. They all were composers. My father Sameer Sen (of Dilip Sen- Sameer Sen duo) has also composed music for many hit films such as Aaina, Haqeeqat, Yeh Dillagi and Ziddi. So it was quite natural that I had to continue their legacy and follow in their footsteps. I started learning music at the age of 6 - 7 years. I learnt the piano for around 5 - 6 years from Mr. Tony Pinto. I also learnt the tabla for 3 years and learnt classical music from my grandfather.

My First Break

At the age of 13, I composed my first song and it was for a tele-film called Roshni. I had just returned from school for the recording and in front of me was Kavita Krishnamoorthyji ready to sing the song. In spite of the fact that I was just a 13 year old kid, she was very professional and didn't treat me like one. After years of learning music and honing my skills, I got my actual first break through Mr. Salim Aftab for the film Sirf. However, the film got delayed badly and took almost two years to release and my music went unnoticed.

The Turning Point

After my first film Sirf, I was a bit disappointed that the movie wasn't promoted too well. Besides, there was one more music director in the film which I was not happy about. At that very moment, I decided that in future I would only work in projects where I am the solo composer. I was always keen to work with Ashutosh Gowariker and my dad knew him from before. At that time he was looking for someone to compose the music for What's Your Raashee? I asked dad to fix a meeting with him. My first meeting was a casual meeting at his office where I told him I would like to make him listen to some of my compositions. He immediately agreed to come to my studio the next morning. Ashuji came to my studio and heard some of my tunes and really liked what he heard. After a couple of weeks, Ashuji called me and we had a long discussion and suddenly he said 'You are on for this project'. For me, it is the happiest day of my life.