Mithoon

Composer-lyricist Mithoon on how emotions colour his music

song. Tamil is a rich language and I’m still trying to get the essence of it. But when I do decide to work down South, I’d love to work on a love story. The ones made here are full of passion and very realistic. I like that,” he says.

Given that the music industry is seeing new talent emerge every other day, from sound engineers to composers, does he feel the heat of competition? “Not really. There is room for everyone in the industry. I’ve always been low-profile and let my work speak for itself. That said, I’ve worked with plenty of fresh talent — Atif Aslam, Arijit Singh, and Chinmayi — and it’s been a great experience.”

On a new horizon

And what inspires his music? “I draw inspiration from human life. And when I’m working, I don’t like being disturbed at all. Just silence. In fact, I give my staff a few days off till I get the essence of my song right. Once that is in place, I get them to give their inputs. But the essence of the song is the nerve, and I simply have to get that right,” he says.

The composer, who is busy working on his next project, Aksar 2, says that this year, he will also be focussing on a lot of independent music. “With online platforms being thrown open to talent, it is a great time for non-film musicians. It throws open great avenues for them. Also, when you work on film music, you are restricted by factors such as plot, soundscape and expectations from the team. Here, there are no such barriers,” he says, adding, “While covers are great, I believe they are a part of the journey. It’s important to not make them the end goal. Original music needs to be encouraged.” And has he found a cover of one of his works that has left a mark on him? “Not yet,” he smiles.