Srivathsan Nadadhur
It’s unfair to pigeonhole artistes into a certain category or a specialisation because any work of art can never be termed exclusive; we live in a society where every sphere inspires the other in some form and that’s why we say art reflects the larger reality of the hour. This is best explained while discussing the career of singer, composer and lyricist Sangeeta Pant. While she is a fitness freak, the spiritual dimension completes her in many ways. Poetry comes naturally to her and so does music, whether she’s on or off the mic. Sangeeta has been in the news recently for X Zone, a thriller streaming on ShemarooMe Box Office, for which she has composed a fine blend of tunes – one of them even sung by Sunidhi Chauhan herself. Klapboardpost.com caught up with her for a freewheeling conversation.
Your name tells us that your destiny was tied up with music in some form, right from the day you were named. Do you feel the same way? What were your early years like and how did they shape your journey as a composer?
Yes, both my parents were great music enthusiasts though not professionally into it, so they named me Sangeeta. My household was always resonating with classical/semi-classical/Film/Western music. Later I learned various forms of Music under some great Gurus most prominently Ustad Naseer Ahmed Khan, Shanti Sharma, Mohinder Sarin etc. I also learned western voice culture under opera singer Celia Lobo. Having exposure to such a wide variety of genres early on, my creativity got an impetus as a composer.
Which musician has had a maximum influence on you as a composer and why?
Well, it’s very difficult to name one! However, if I have to pick one, then I think the Late RD Burman is one composer I admire greatly as he was way ahead of his times. His versatility, his command over all genres, his ability to produce great sounds from mundane stuff, is what inspires and motivates me.
X Zone is a film that has had a digital release. Most of the films/shows released on the digital medium (but for the exception of Bandish Bandits by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) aren’t, unfortunately, being recognised for their music or either doesn’t have scope for a great music score. What do you think is going wrong?
I think the Indian audience has far too long been used to films that have a theatrical release only. And unfortunately, film music has completely overshadowed any other form of music in India, be it pop, ghazals, bhajans, folk, regional etc. So the digital medium has also suffered the same fate till now. As it is, it’s a relatively new medium and we haven’t seen its music being promoted yet in a big way. However, I am very happy with the song promotions of X Zone. If we have more producers that have the farsightedness of Faisal Kapadi (producer, director of X Zone), I am sure songs of digital releases will be at par with those of theatrical releases, maybe even overtake the latter, as I strongly feel the digital medium is the future of Bollywood films too. Kudos to Shemaroo for being the pioneers in this.
How difficult is it to bounce bank as a composer when your first film doesn’t do well? How did you overcome that phase?
I believe success is getting up one more time than you fall down. Disappointments are a part and parcel of life. I do not dwell on my past but take it as a springboard to learn new lessons and forge ahead with greater enthusiasm. So I just kept doing my work with utmost sincerity. Life gives us many opportunities. For example, one of my singles got nominated in the London Music Video Festival.
How do you spend your time when you’re not making music or singing? Tell us a little about aspects beyond music that complete your life.
My major priority in life is my physical, mental and emotional fitness. So yoga, exercise, meditation and my spiritual practises are an integral part of my daily routine. I am a follower of Art Of Living and Soka Gakkai Buddhist philosophy and actively participate in their activities. I love to read inspirational books. In fact, I just finished reading the memoir of Michelle Obama, ‘Becoming’. I also love cooking, especially trying out new recipes.
X Zone appears to be a racy thriller. What were the inputs from director Faisal Kapadi like? Did you enjoy that it belonged to a genre that is vastly different from Kaagaz Ke Fools?
Oh yes! But I got my first break in Kaagaz Ke Fools, so it will always be special of course. X Zone was directed by Faisal ji too, so the interaction was more. Firstly, I got a very clear cut narrative of the film down to the minute details of the situations of the songs. Secondly, I was given a complete free hand creatively. Often, there’s a lot of pressure put on composers to copy a certain song or refer to a certain song. This restricts the creativity of the composer. I was not put under any such restraints. Also, I was encouraged to come up with original compositions. In this day and age, where everyone is just rehashing old popular songs, I am very lucky that I got to compose original songs. As a composer, it has been greatly satisfying and exciting at the same time, as I got the opportunity to explore and compose in such different genres of music from Punjabi and retro space in KKF to numbers with thrill, sensual undertones in X Zone.
Isn’t it a pity that a film industry that has a presence across the globe and is so popular, has produced only a handful of female composers (we could count the number by our fingers)? What needs to be done to usher in a transformation and make the atmosphere more inclusive?
Yes, we definitely need to encourage more female composers. With that objective in mind, The Music Composers’ Association of India (MCAI) has come up with a Women’s Cell, of which I am a panellist too. This is not only to address issues that are holding them back, but also to organise workshops for them for providing them technical support etc. We have around 100 female members now in MCAI, which is a good start.
Bollywood is gradually bouncing back to work even as actors are being affected by the virus and the cases are rising by the day. How have you spent the past few months and are you confident about returning to action in a precarious situation like this?
Honestly, I have been extremely busy with my online Live Shows (for India and international organisations), during the lockdown. A devotional song composed by me was released on the Art of Living app. I was invited to be a part of the Vande Mataram song released on 15th of August this year, which had the 100 leading music composers of India. I am a voice culture coach too so busy training too. Before the pandemic struck, I had finalised a few projects. Though due to the lockdown, there was a break, but we are starting to get back. Luckily, with the advancements in technology, I don’t really need to step out. Most things can be done online now, as far as music is concerned. In fact, I have composed for singers abroad without them having to fly down to India. But yes, I am an eternal optimist. I believe, like everything else, this pandemic too shall pass and we will bounce back in every sphere of life, as never before!
