The Sum Total

“Mere Khwabon has a very melodious and modern score which reflects the aspirations of this extremely talented girl who is married early and wants to become a singer. The music has been presented pretty artistically,the songs have a high lyrical value and carries shades and moods of Pehla Nasha,Khamoshi,” tells Lalit who also got the chance to use a new voice,that of reality show singer Aishwarya. Lalit too has rendered a number in it while it’s Shreya who takes the cake with her performing number in the climax. “That’s a pretty upbeat track with a lot of drums and dhol,live percussion and sound. I’ve tried to lend a thorough film score and hence,on purpose added a lot of ambience in terms of sound,live voices and instruments….everything is beautifully textured,” says Lalit.

A hardcore RD Burman fan,Lalit grew up in a musically charged environment. “I took to it like fish takes to water,” his sisters,Sulakshana and Vijayata Pandit too were performing artists,Vijayata’s husband’s composer Aadesh Srivastava,his uncle is Pandit Jasraj,father Pratap Narayan…this list goes on. “In fact,I grew up listening to Boss and sang for Burman da as a child artiste,” Lalit rewinds. For him,music is heart and soul. “Not art,not science,but pure maths. It has a bit of fine art…something to create and science for logic to prove.” Maybe that’s why he always tries to make his own tunes,and convince the producers. And if they aren’t? “Then you act professionally and either modify or recompose,but you can’t lift the song as it is,” he plays by the rules. At the end of the day,whatever’s being composed has to be quality. “Hence,lyrics play a major role,and I make my singers rehearse a lot.” Apart from promoting new talent,another thing Lalit and his brother Jatin are known for is making the stars sing. They make Aamir croon to Khandala,Sanjay Dutt in Khoobsurat and now Nana Patekar in Horn Ok Pleasss. “Once you know what note and pitch they can sing to,your work’s done. Like with Aamir,he sang sagar jaisi ankhon wali,and then I tuned the song according to the notes his voice could take,” Lalit also loves collecting instruments from all over the world,the latest bing a steel drum from West Indies. “Before i’m a composer,I’m a musician,” he smiles,looking forward to his next Red Alert and Dulha Mil Gaya.