Often referred to as the ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ of the Hindi film music industry, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is an Indian musical trio of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa. They have composed music for over 50 songs across five languages and won numerous awards including National Film Award, Filmfare Awards and IIFA Awards. They were in the city to perform in the concluding day of .Fest. In a brief interaction with Orissa POST, the trio discussed their forte and future plans.
How do you feel to be a part of .Fest?
It’s an absolute pleasure to come to this city once again. We look forward to our performance which would begin shortly.
What is the secret of the bonhomie among the three of you?
We sincerely feel that the reasons for our camaraderie are respect for each other and for each one’s space. It is almost like a marriage. We had to work on the relationship among the three of us.
How do manage differences of opinion?
We fight a lot. However, that’s the point. We are not engaged in synchronized swimming. Difference of opinion is healthy for music.
What would you attribute your success to?
Not running after success is the key to our achievements. Even if the music of a song in a particular film fails, it wouldn’t lack the aesthetic appeal. We are very quality conscious. We focus on our work rather than the possibility of success.
Many budding musicians have failed to establish themselves. What has enabled you to
survive in this demanding industry?
There is something called depth in music. Anything which is deep usually stands the test of time. If an author has depth in his writing, he would thrive for a long time. For a musician, the aesthetic appeal of your music would enable you to succeed. Even in item songs like Kajra re, our music possesses the depth which is required at this stage. Our music is respected by eminent musicians and masses alike.
What changes have you noticed in the music industry in the last three decades?
The industry changes according to the trends. We have watched various trends come and go. However, we are still here doing what we do. We can find five composers in one film these days. I honestly feel sad as no one gets to know who the composers of all these songs are. The right amount of credit should be given to the composer of the song which is popular.
Can you throw light on your upcoming projects?
We are currently engaged in a lot of projects. We are working on a film Zoya Factor starring Sonam Kapoor. We are also working on Manikarnika and Panga both starring Kangana Ranaut.
What are the things that you love about Odisha?
We love this state a lot. We have given music for the upcoming movie of Nila Madhav Panda. We love the culture, food, infrastructure and beaches of Odisha.