What are Dylan, Gulzar doing on Imaad’s mind?

Son of Naseeruddin Shah, Imaad, is returning to the big screen, this time as a music director. In Prawaal Raman's thriller 404, Shah plays a dual role

Son of Naseeruddin Shah, Imaad, is returning to the big screen, this time as a music director. In Prawaal Raman's thriller 404, Shah plays a dual role

After Dil Dosti Etc, you play a college student again.
Yes, in 404, I play an eccentric but erratic genius. The film has a dark and funky storyline. The way the college scenes have been staged are great. I tried to go back to memories of college for the role.

How did you turn music director for the film?
When we were shooting for the film in Dehradun, we (the producer and director of the film, along with Shah) would often end up singing after a few drinks. When I sang some of my own songs, they seemed interested. They asked me if I would compose music for the film. Since I have my own band (Pulp Society), I collaborated with them on the film. A lot of the music is my own production.

Do you have any musical training?
The first instrument I ever played was the harmonium. My parents had appointed a tutor to come home and teach me Hindustani classical music. I used to listen to classical music, vocals and qawwalis, so I tried learning for a while; but it didn't last long. Like most teenagers, I found the guitar way cooler. I learnt it on my own and that is how I developed an ear for music. Now I have gone back to playing the harmonium. The instrument helps when playing the keyboard, which I use for my compositions.

How was Pulp Society formed?
I would play the guitar in someone's band or the other.
I have also played my own solo songs with just a guitar or a harmonica. Some college friends and professionals came together to form Pulp Society.

You have also written lyrics.
The producers and I agreed that since the film is a dark one, we needed songs with a different hue. So the songs try to lift the film's mood with funny and twisted humour.

What kind of music have you been influenced by?
Blues, Punk music and disco. I also love listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab and Bob Dylan. I also like lyrics by Bob Dylan, Sahir Ludhianvi, Mirza Ghalib and Gulzar.

You have a tattoo on your left arm, which says 'bol'.
There is a short poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz called Bol. A friend and I enjoyed that poem so much, we got the name tattooed.

Will you ever write and compose an item song?
Yes, why not? It would be a weird and fun thing to do. I would do it just for the kicks. I consider myself very versatileu00a0-- I can do something very abstract, and something that's mass and catchy.

Which is your favourite song from 404?
Kya Dekh Raha Hai. I did a lot of work on the lyrics of the song. We were looking for an everyday phrase that we could use in the song. When a woman says, 'Kya dekh raha hai?' it has a different meaning since she is referring to sleazy men. That message delivered by a woman is powerful, cool and funky. We are even planning to make T-shirts for girls with 'Kya dekh raha hai' printed on them.

Your father did a bit of lip-synching for a few film songs.
He did a few of them but really suffered. I think that was the dark phase of his career. But Bollywood is changing and so is the meaning of lip-synced.

Which is your favourite lip-sync song from your father's films?
Oye Oye from Tridev was very trippy. It was the best, the worst and everything in between. Bollywood News Service

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