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Romuz: You have
just come back from Bollywood recording the songs
for Hason Raja. As
a British Asian film maker this is your first venture
in conjunction with Bollywood. Can you describe your
total experience there and working in Bollywood and
with the legendary music director Bappi Lahiri?
Ruhul:
My experience is so immense, it’s not easy to
say in few sentences but I’ll try my best. As you
know, Bollywood produces largest number of films in
the world. Culture of cinema is so vibrant that you
can feel and sense its dazzle colour everywhere. My
journey to that spectacular movie land is almost like
a fairytale.
My uncompromising determination and love for
cinema provided me with all the courage and I finally
landed in that breathtaking land, where music is an
integral part of the society, music brews relentlessly
and intoxicate the air around you.
Ruhul
with Shaan
Romuz: Can you tell us about the
arrangements of musical composition and what way it is
distinct from the past Hason Raja music
?
Ruhul:
I had instance sessions with
the music director, going through every visual and
working out the compositions of the orchestration
which depicts the songs. One of our main aims was to
create a different kind of fusion, which is to blend
western and Indian classical with the traditional
Bengali folk music. Bappi Lahiri took his time and
came up with some sensational mixture of melodies.
Some are so melancholic and has nostalgic quality
which I think will definitely touch people, and
some are so vibrant that, will rock the audiences. We
had some top musicians of the industry dedicate a
great deal in this unique creation. We have six
top Bollywood singers sung for Hason Raja. I
particularly spent times with the singers going
through the situations of the scenes. And then we were
meticulous at working out specific lines needed
particular emotional projection to capture the real
spirit of the poetry. I must say it was a gratifying
experience to work with the wealth of talents in
Bollywood. I think this is the first time something of
this nature has evolved within the Bengali film music.
Bappi Lahiri passionately indulged himself into this
project. He told me the lyrics and the story line of
Hason Raja moves him very much.
Romuz:
Who are the vocalist from Bollywood and Bangladesh
have contributed?
Ruhul:
from Bollywood we have, Shaan, Alka Yagnik,
Kavita Krishnamurthi, Abhijeet, Bappi Lahiri and Kumar
Sanu, and from Bangladesh, Pantho Kanai, Shipol, Opi
and Onima.
Romuz:
Why did you feel it is necessary to use Bollywood
singers and could they reflect the authenticity and
the flavour of the Bengali folk tradition?
Ruhul:
We have used artist both
from Bangladesh and India. You see, to me artist are
not confined within any territory, their horizon is
much broader then any geographical boundary. And most
of those singers are Bengali and their origin is
Bangladesh. Our total effort was to create different
kind of music maintaining the authenticity of the of
Hason Raja songs. And I think we have successfully
accomplished that.
Ruhul
with Kabita Krishnamurthy
Romuz:
It seems the music of Hason Raja is going to create a
wonder amongst the Bengali music lovers. Do you think
the traditionalist would be offended by this
experiment?
Ruhul:
I feel this is a serious
breakthrough in creating exciting music for cinema.
For so long, so called traditionalist have died any
expansion to any of our valuable music, As a result
our beautiful and powerful music has a limited
accessibility to the younger generation and beyond.
Romuz:
Can you tell us about your discovery of two young
female singers from the land of Hason Raja and what
kind songs have they sung?
Ruhul:
Yes, it was quite an
adventures discovery. I needed a traditional Sylheti
wedding song. I met many accomplished singers from
Sylhet, but I could find the particular voice I was
looking for. On the day I landed in Sylhet I bought a
latest copy of wedding song. I asked almost every
singer and nobody had nay clue of their where about
and rather everybody were dismissive about them.
Finally I went to the shop and managed to get a
telephone number of the distributor. It took a while
for me to find their house on the outcast of the town.
Two little girls, Opi and Onima, as I explained the
possibility, the girls were shocked with disbelief.
Finally the arrangements were made and their uncle
accompanied them to Mumbai. On the day of the
recording they were extremely nervous at the studio,
but with the help and charm of Bappi Lahiri they
regained their confidence and sung a wonderful weeding
son. They were greatly prised by Kavita Krishnamurthi,
and everybody around the studio. Bappi Lahiri thinks
they have great voice.
Romuz:
We heard the final mix of the music is taking place in
London. What is the reason for this?
Ruhul:
In fact this is the idea of
Bappi Lahiri. He feels this is his finest achievement
and would like to retain the highest quality and I’m
all for it.
Romuz:
When do we expect these songs to be released in the
market?
Ruhul:
We will release the music
just before the release of the film.
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