The Maverick Musician

A National Award,winner for Best Direction in music for Dev D has confirmed his arrival on the scene,following his winning compositions in films like Aisha,Udaan,Wake Up Sid,and No One Killed Jessica — does that affect him? “Life hasn’t changed. I’m a music composer,I make music for commercial feature films,and will continue to do so,” says this Mumbaikar who was in the city for a break. While Trivedi takes success in his stride,life,on many levels has changed. “No award goes to my head,but it does bring its pressures and responsibility to do better.”

Although Trivedi is aware of the competition and is conscious of making great music,he’s surprisingly not insecure about it,a quality exclusive to his generation of new entrants to the industry who are an experimental lot. What makes Trivedi one of the most sought after music composers is the element of surprise. “I’m an unpredictable person. I get bored very fast and am constantly innovating,ideating and creating.”

This has been like a ritual for him ever since he realized that ‘music was inside him’. “I don’t come from a family of musicians. I was always a good listener of SD Burman,Sahir Ludhianvi,Madan Mohan,Shankar -Ehsaan-Loy,and Rahman who I consider my mentor. He is the one who got fresh sound to this industry through a magical combination of technology and heart. Then there is the talented Ram Sampath who finally got his due with Delhi Belly. These are my influences,and my inspirations,” he says.

Music for him is the one that comes straight from the heart,and not that’s borrowed,like rock. “Instead of being a wannabe,we need to be rooted,make music that’s Indian in appeal like Indian Ocean,Advaita or Raghu Dixit are doing,” he says.

Making music that’s global in sound is certainly on his agenda and he is doing the same for Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna.

Then there is R Balki’s English Vinglish,Chopras Ishqzaade,a crazy score in Sachin Kundalkar’s Aiya and music for Karan Johar’s Ek Main Aur Ek Tu,which Trivedi found a challenge,especially the club song that gave him sleepless nights.