Two good for Bollywood

If you haven't heard it yet, you're really not keeping up. Music director and composer duo Ajay-Atul's next project, a cult classic, is already making waves

Two good for Bollywood

If you haven't heard it yet, you're really not keeping up. Music director and composer duo Ajay-Atul's next project, a cult classic, is already making waves. After all, it's Katrina Kaif who is dancing to Chikni Chameli, a spin off from their signature Marathi number, Kombdi Palali. After bagging a National Award for their music in a Marathi film (Jogwa) and making headlines with Singham, the brothers have another another big Bollywood catch in their kitty. They talk to CS:

Who: Marathi music directors Ajay (left) and Atul
What: Talk about making waves in Bollywood
Where: At their suburban studio

Musical connect
Atul: We have never received professional training in music. All that we have learnt is just through listening and practising on our own. I was in the fourth standard and Ajay in the second when we discovered music. We'd give rhythm/tunes to the poems in our books. That is how we chanced upon our passion.

Ajay: We make music by imagining the emotions we want to talk about. If it's a film we're giving the music for, we imagine the situation and then think about what the character would do and then make our music. We like to connect our emotions and personal life experiences to create a song.

Fame fatale
Atul: In fact, we never thought that Natrang's or Jogwa's music would become so popular. We just wanted to cater to our fans in such a way that they'd walk with their heads up. All I can say is that our work in the Marathi film industry has opened other doors for us. And we feel that we are lucky that Bollywood directors like Rohit Shetty and Karan Johar like our work and have approached us.
Ajay: But to tell you the truth, awards and recognitions, like the National Award, can really put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. After receiving the award, we went into hibernation because there was so much talk about us. We just hung around our home; we didn't make any music or hold any concerts for almost three months. Our fan following has grown to such an extent that it floors us.

No slack
Atul: Though we are brothers, we are worlds apart. And that is why it's a perfect blend. Ajay is a perfectionist and his voice has a soul that few are blessed with.
Ajay: Atul has the ability to understand a concept and analyse it hypothetically. We think alike where music is concerned but criticise each other like professionals. That is why the power of our music doubles. But on free days, you'll find us playing computer games or listening to soulful music by Mozart, John William, Beethoven, Shrinivas Khale, R D Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and others.