The music maker

"Music is in my blood. It's my life." Himesh Reshammiya grew up with music. He's the son of the illustrious musician, Bipin Resham...

"Music is in my blood. It’s my life." Himesh Reshammiya grew up with music. He’s the son of the illustrious musician, Bipin Reshammiya and he’s been singing since the age of two. Ironically enough, the 26-year old Reshammiya has achieved fame as a television producer, rather than as a music composer with serials like Andaz, Amar Prem, Nirma Aaha and now Dum Duma Dum. But he’s all set to change the equation. He’s got his break as a film music director with Bandhan and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, the music for which was recently released.

Reshammiya’s story began when his software company, H R Enterprises, struck paydirt with its Zee TV debut, Andaz. Now 175 episodes later, the serial is still going strong and successful. Andaz, Reshammiya claims, came in reaction to DD serials which predominantly had the "Hum Log kind of a look". "The idea struck me that anything which is glossy is bound to succeed," he says. There were elements in Andaz which were never tried before on TV but which have been perfected in Bollywood. "It is a masala kind of a serial, a big film in the form of a serial," he adds. Reshammiya ensures that his serials have high production values. "If I am showing a rich man, I see to it that he wears that kind of clothes, drives that kind of a car and lives in that kind of a bungalow." In fact, Reshammiya insists that after scripting, the next most important aspect of serial making is the presentation. " The days of shabby serials are long gone," he feels. The channel choice plays a vital role too: had Andaz been on DD, Reshammiya is confident it would have flopped.

If glitz is the hook in a successful serial, then the line and sinker are emotions and drama. "Richness combined with emotions have always been a hit in India," Reshammiya explains. Of course, the serial should also rake in the moolah and, more importantly, provide a much-needed platform for his musical impulses. He has scored the title tracks and background music for all his shows. His second serial Amar Prem wound up after 129 episodes. But it is his third venture which became an albatross round his neck — Nirma Ahaa drew unprecedented flak and ridicule from the audience. The audience rejected Farooque Shaikh "behaving like a joker." "It failed only among the sophisticated crowd," insists the producer. The latest serial from the H R Enterprise stable, Dum Duma Dum, stars Shekhar Suman and Laxmikant Berde, both playing inane and incredibly “funny” double roles!

Story continues below this ad

Reshammiya is not content with merely composing music and counting profits. He is on the sets and involves himself in all aspects of a shoot. In fact, he has earned the dubious title of "aadha-director". But the only department where he maintains absolute monopoly is music — music is something where too many cooks are bound to spoil the octaves. Other than the occasional suggestion from his father, Reshammiya insists that he is his own musician. He relies on strong basic Indian melodies. "Melody never fails and is the formula for success. A sweet simple tune touches the heart of everyone — whether in Mumbai or in Sholapur," he says. He is inspired by R D Burman and Shankar Jaikishan and has tried to blend the two in his compositions. “I have never copied from anyone. I have over 200 original tracks ready," he says. And he hopes to see a major chunk of his music in movies, rather than on television. "Films have a lot of grandeur and situations," he adds.

But if music is his life, then sizzlers are his passion. So much so, that in an unheard of diversification move in television history, Reshammiya has started a fast food joint! "Nothing fell into place. Any other hotelier would have earned profits, but I did not. I am a creative person and this was certainly not the right line for me," he admits. So Reshammiya is now concentrating on what is music to his ears: Music.