Ace music directors Ashish Rego and Raju Singh speak on composing music for television serials

Music is well said to be the speech of angels. - Thomas Carlyle (Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era) It’s not just angels who communicate in musical notes. In this mortal world, musicians find it enlivening to communicate through music than through written or spoken word. On World Music Day (21 June 2013), we decided to interview two of the top music directors in the TV industry who have woven magic into TV serials with their musical genius. Read on to know what they said… Raju Singh who has composed music for shows like Geet, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Qubool Hai, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Just Mohabbat, CID, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak? and Boogie Woogie feels that music composing in films and TV are a different process. He avers that in television despite operating in constraints there is an open feel too. He feels that in the years to come the divide between films and TV as far as music composing is concerned will be narrowing. “In the last ten years just as there has been a great improvement in the quality of advertisements India makes, the background scores of TV serials have also undergone a sea change.” He adds that the proof of the pudding is in the eating as the background scores of TV shows are getting better response from the viewers. He feels that shows like MTV Coke Studio should be encouraged as non-film music is encouraged through it and it gives music artistes great freedom of expression. He adds that shows like the musical serial Glee can only be made on Indian television if we have seasons with a substantial bank of episodes. Ashish Rego has weaved music for shows like Kitty Party, Dhadkan, Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, Crime Patrol, Kaagar Balika Vadhu, Laado, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Haar Jeet, among others. He is of the opinion that composing music for TV shows is a very creative process because unlike films, music directors in television get plenty of freedom of expression. He explains, “In films the Director is very clear about the kind of music he is looking for. In television the call on music composing lies on the music director.” He feels that the main challenge in composing music for television lies in delivering fast. He, like Raju, points out that a serial like Glee can only be made in India if the musical episodes are shot way in advance. “In the West, the shows speak through the stories whereas in India it is TRP based.” He is of the opinion that music composition on television is improving with every passing day. “Post Balika Vadhu, greater subtlety and artistry has come in to the compositions. The typical Balaji music with loudness and bang effects do not work anymore. Many folk tunes from states like Gujarat and Rajasthan have lent greater diversity and nuances to television music.” When asked how music composing for television shows may be improved upon, he feels that music composers should be given more time and greater money should be pooled into it. We hope that the channels and production houses understand that music should be given as much as importance as acting, direction, editing, cinematography, styling, jewellery, makeup and hairdressing are given. After all, music communicates directly to the soul!!!