Notesmith

How did you get the film?
Danny had been tracking my music for some time. In fact, every time he liked a Bollywood score, it turned out to be mine. So he planned to have me do a part of the project. But I told him that I8217;d either do it all or none. And he understood that I was asking for it because I could not put half my heart into the project and give him one score. I wanted to give it my all. Also, Anil Kapoor8217;s kids were instrumental in convincing the team to take me on for the project.

How involved was Danny Boyle?
To start with, I tried to see the film through his eyes. I found out what he liked and didn8217;t like about Bollywood films and their music. After an initial discussion, I e-mailed him four different ideas. He liked three of the four options; we then started interacting more. I kept sending him stuff and made short trips to London to meet him and finish the project.

You pushed the envelope with Slumdog8230;, giving it a racy edge.
There was stuff I8217;d wanted to do for a long time, but could never try it in our film industry. When Slumdog Millionaire happened, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to utilise those ideas, especially since I8217;d been given so much freedom to experiment. I then added elements that would surprise the audience. Indians may find it too noisy. I don8217;t think I can use this kind of music for our films because Indians like to listen to music again and again and this may not suit their palate.

How did you manage to complete the music in three weeks?
Danny was also concerned about it. You can say I concentrated the energy of three months into those three weeks. It was hard work indeed, and I didn8217;t touch any other project at that time. It worked because we all really wanted it to work.

Your work with M.I.A. in O saya is being applauded. How was it?
The equation was great. And it all started with a joke. M.I.A. said, 8216;You do romantic and sentimental music and my work8217;s very edgy. Let8217;s do a role reversal.8217; I then sent her the music online 8212; she didn8217;t even know the track because though she was present at the initial sittings, she had to return since she was pregnant 8212; and she sent me back her work. We then mixed it all together and it worked fabulously.

What8217;s your opinion of the film?
After Bandit Queen, this is the first film I have so much hope for. I like the contemporary touch and the technicalities are commendable. The spirit of the city has been captured well though there8217;s more resemblance to Mumbai of the past. Be it in music or screenplay, a right balance has been maintained. When the film was being made, Warner Bros, which has invested in it, was not even supposed to release it. Only a DVD release was scheduled. But then the response was so great that they decided to take it across.