‘I still have so much to say and do’
THERE is more than enough evidence to back up the commonly held belief that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the finest Indian filmmaker of this generation. Recently, the producer, director, writer and accomplished musician released standalone album Sukoon. The stunning collection of songs composed by him are the perfect combination of classical Indian tradition, commercial music, and world-class singers. Despite achieving so much, he is not ready to stop, and spoke to Garavi Gujarat about his creative journey.
How would you sum up your remarkable cinema journey?
Beautiful – because it has been very rich with different kinds of films, huge subjects, wonderful actors, big studios, and the amazing technicians I’ve worked with. It has been a pleasure over these 27 years, working with wonderful people and telling the stories I wanted to, in my own way, without compromising because of the box office, stars, studio, or somebody dictating orders. There are many more stories to tell, so there is a long way to go.
Three things that connect your films are strong female characters, visual mastery and incredible music. Where does that passion come from?
It has been there since birth. My mother told me, ever since I was six months old, I would always react to music. She played the radio, and I would react in different ways, like moving my neck. She would wonder about the weird connection with music I had. I could never live without music. No frontline movie director in Hindi film history has ever released a standalone music album. What made you decide to do that? I was not doing enough films to express all the music that is in my mind. I wanted to explore more, with songs that come from my soul and deep down from my heart, which don’t have the pressure of being picturised by me on a film star. People have started watching music and stopped listening to it. They need a visual to a song, which I don’t believe is the right way to hear music.
What do you mean by that?
I can’t understand this new age – YouTube and all that, where everything is a music video and you only know a song is popular through it getting a certain number of views. So, I was very keen to do an album, like the great Jagjit Singh would have done. A lot of important people have made very beautiful albums, so I thought, why not make an album?
When did the idea take shape?
During Covid, I sat at home and had nothing to do. That is when I said, let me sing because it makes me happy. So I made these songs.
With your album Sukoon, you have found a hallowed middle ground between the classical and commercial. Was that a conscious decision?
Yes, that was a conscious decision because you need this kind of music to reach youngsters, who are the main listeners. They consume this music most, and to be able to take a ghazal, geet or something which is very traditionally Indian and bring them into it without making it too deep or too classical was the aim, so I used a semiclassical style.
You have kept evolving and have remained relevant, but what inspires and drives you today?
A love for my work. I have surrendered myself to it and just live for my work. I enjoy nothing more than going to a studio, whether it is a recording or film studio. If you ask me which is the best city in the world, I will say Film City in Mumbai, because there’s no other place that my soul enjoys being in more. When I go to a recording studio, I can be there for hours and hours. So, you have to love your work, and realise deep within, there is still so much to say and do. It will mean a lot more hard work, but I’m willing to give it my all.