MELODY IS WHAT MAKES A HIT
Musical duo Parampara Thakur and Sachet Tandon believe that melody is rightfully making its way back into Bollywood music
After stints in nine movies, lyricist and music composer duo, Sachet Parampara, have managed to successfully carve a niche for themselves. They have already given hit numbers such as Har Har Gange (Batti Gul Meter Chalu; 2018), Bekhayali and Mere Sohneya (Kabir Singh). Post reaching the finals of a singing reality show in 2015, Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur decided to work together in 2016, and the rest is history. In a candid chat, the musicians talk about the importance of melody, remakes and how they think youngsters are only out to pursue instant fame. Excerpts:
It’s been a little more than three years for the two of you in the industry, how has your journey been so far?
Sachet: We have gone through our share of ups and downs. We have seen it all — the struggle, emotions and angst, in our work.
Remakes and covers are currently in trend and some senior musicians are not in their favour . What’re your views?
Parampara: I feel it works differently for each individual and their aims. A lot of covers have helped several singers enter the industry and their versions of popular songs have helped the track in its own way. Everything has its pros and cons.
How would you say you’ve both evolved over the years?
Parampara: It’s been a journey and every day is a new experience for both of us. We deal with different people, scripts, writers and lyricists at work. It is such a dynamic industry that no two days are the same. We get to learn from our failures everyday. Even the way we overcome these failures are different. Sachet: What we have learned is that as we work in Bollywood, we get different situations for which we have to create music. Each scene has its own essence of music and it is necessary to get a hold of it, and move ahead with it.
What according to you has changed within the industry in recent years?
Parampara: One of the biggest points that we see, is not within the industry, it is with the audience. People are more open to newer kinds of music. They don’t want the same kind of arrangement or lyrics. Everybody wants something new to listen to. But having said this, as musicians, you have to be good enough for your music to be heard. Sachet: We have worked with directors and producers who believe that melody is fading away and they want it in their film. I think it was because of melody that songs such as Bekhayali and Mere Sohneya have resonated with the audience. The melody in these tracks was haunting and people are always looking for melody.
We deal with different people, scripts, writers and lyricists at work. It is such a dynamic industry that no two days are the same. We get to learn from our failures everyday. PARAMPARA THAKUR,
SINGER
Nowadays, do you think melody is lost somewhere in the middle of recreations and remixes?
Parampara: No technology will ever overpower the melody of a song. You need to have a strong and good melody and then the technicalities can come in to support the song. All famous songs in the world have really good melody. Sachet: Melody has always been there and even if recreations are the trend, then too, I feel it is not completely lost. The reason recreations and remixes work is because it has a wide range of listeners and it is created in such a way that audiences can listen to it on loop.
How do you think digital platforms have changed the rules of the game?
Sachet: Everyone has become more alert. Whether you do something good or bad, you will be noticed.
Parampara: Lots of people think putting anything up on YouTube will earn them fame or money. It might help for 10 days or even 10 months but in the long run, experience and hard work is the only key. Otherwise, you have everything available on the internet.