Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have carved out their niche in the world of cinema in a short span of time.
Having scored songs and the background music for several films their works are not only popular but critically acclaimed as well. The films for which they have composed includes several hits like “22 Yards”, “Ungli”, “Mardaani”, “Heroine”, “Ladies vs Ricky Bahl” and “Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year”, among others while those for which they gave background score include “Bang Bang”, “Krrish 3”, “Race 2”, “Cocktail” etc. The two have been involved with Coke Studio too.
Salim Merchant has served as one of the judges of the 5th and 6th season of the television show, Indian Idol speaks to The Hindu about his passion for music, how he views it beyond entertainment and how it provides him a method of self-discovery, an escape from the temporal world.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
You have said that for you, “music is freedom”. Is there a specific incident or event in your life when you felt especially liberated through your music?
The incidents have been happening for the past 25 years. I’ve been saying that I’ve been on a holiday these 25 years. I don’t feel like I am working. I am free. Because I do what I really love doing.
How relevant do you think patriotic songs are today? Your experience in this genre?
I feel we are really fortunate as Indians living in this country today; we can actually celebrate the joy of being independent and being free.
There are so many patriotic songs which have already been created. We ourselves have made “Chak De India” which has become a sports anthem. Especially after so much that has happened, it was a huge challenge for us to create a song which has its own uniqueness, yet it had to connect with the country and have something for everybody –– something which people could relate to. It was difficult, but when the spirit is right and the feeling is pure, whatever you do from your heart comes out pretty amazing. This was something that worked in our favour while making “Peer Manaawan Challiyaan”. The emotion in the song is very pure.
Why did you choose to go with the elated mood of “Peer Manaawan Challiyaan”?
I wanted to keep it a very fun, celebratory kind of song. I didn’t want to make it be very solemn, slow and emotional. I wanted to create the celebration of being free in the music.
How does each piece of music you create affect your personality?
I’m in a beautiful, creative profession. I am blessed that I feel different everyday while I make music. Everyday I compose a new tune or write a new song, or I work on something that I am inspired by.
It is important for my profession and for my passion because every time I come up with something, it helps me to create something new for myself, for our listeners and our audiences. It’s like a handshake. Like a love affair I have with music. If I play something that I have done before, I push myself to alter it and come out with something fresh and new.
In an artist’s journey to innovate and experiment, do you think you are headed in a particular direction right now?
I don’t plan all these things. I don’t plan that I’m heading in this direction. That I’m going here or there. It’s not like economic planning, music is a free-spirited expression that comes from within.
