Rapping to Indian tunes
For years now, music and Indian cinema have been undergoing various changes. Musicians have begun experimenting with styles and genres that have not been explored in the past, giving film music a welcome twist.
Renowned percussionist Sivamani says this trend began way back in the 70s, when music legends began to incorporate western elements into Indian music.
He says, “I am very proud of the music composers, especially considering the extent to which they are experimenting with film music.
“When I started off as a musician, there used to be rap and hip-hop composed by Vishwanathan and Ramamurthy, but of course, that style was very different. Young musicians nowadays are exploring western styles which are enjoyed by audiences. Listeners have a wide range of choices in today’s world. I also have to mention that some films have excellent background scores, considering the exposure to technology such as the BGM.”
Rappers and pop artistes like BlaaZe and Baba Seghal’s entry into Indian cinema sparked this trend, which seems to have become big now. Songs such as Pappu can’t dance from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and other peppy numbers have proved to be hits with listeners, who not only appreciate the rap elements, but have been happy with the fusion genre and are waiting for more. With the changing levels of technology across the world, music has also adapted to such changes.
Young music director Dharan, who composed in Kollywood for K. Bhagyaraj’s Parijatham in 2006, says, “Generally a lot of hip-hop music is being introduced, though not so much of rap. As a music director who tries out different styles, I experimented with western in one of my films. There was a situation in the film, which allowed for that particular sequence. The song featured the villain. Considering rap is difficult to sing, this sequence was even more so, because we wanted the lyrics in pure Thamizh!”
Talking about the listeners and what they like, Dharan says, “People down South preferred melodious tunes and are now opening up to rap and hip-hop. Though it may sound difficult to follow at first, once you listen to a song two to three times, one can get the hang of it.” He adds, “Music directors do not follow hard and fast rules when it comes to composing, which gives us the freedom to experiment.”
BlaaZe, who feels world music has now come to everybody’s doorstep, describes the trend with a rap sequence:
“With the Indian sounds going global,
And the global sounds going local,
New styles and flows without boundaries,
Are created by each new fusion of discovery,
A new sense of experiment,
A new melody of content,
The world is smaller, closer and dear,
As music without language is near and ever clear...”
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