Dubai makes me nervous: Amit Trivedi

Dubai - This is Amit Trivedi's first international concert

Amit Trivedi is basking in the glory of his latest Bollywood album "Dear Zindagi," starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan. The composer with a slew of experimental hits to his name is in Dubai to perform at The Great Mela tonight. We caught up with him to talk about the changing sound of Bollywood.

(Video: Amit Trivedi sings the title track of Dear Zindagi)
Your international performing debut will be at The Great Mela in Dubai tonight. What are your expectations from the city?
I frankly don't know anything about the audience in Dubai and it is making me nervous! It is also the first time I am performing internationally, so I am excited. I am also looking forward to the acts performing like Raghu Dixit, Thaikkudam Bridge, Avial etc.

Let's talk about Dear Zindagi, where the theme of the film is relatable and lyrics are conversational, does it become easy for you as a composer?

Honestly, no film is easy. Every film comes with its own challenges and expectations that you have to meet every time. Dear Zindagi was a difficult film because emotionally it is very layered and although the tagline says 'it is a slice of life', it is much beyond that. Composing music according to the narrative and making sure the audience like it was a difficult task. But having said that, I had fun exploring this light-hearted, easy listening album, which I haven't done in my career. There has always been experimentation happening, be it Udta Punjab or Fitoor.

How do you give character to each album? Your soundscape for Udta Punjab, Lootera, Fitoor are distinct from each other.

That's the most fun part of being a composer. I get bored of doing similar kind of music, people keep churning out romantic songs, item songs, I don't know how they don't get bored. Projects like Udta Punjab, Dev D, Bombay Velvet are challenging, I feel stressed on how to deliver differently and that really excites me.

If you look at the kind of work you are doing, would you say Bollywood is in an experimental space now?

90% of the music that is churned out is either romantic or Happy/Sad romantic like Tum Hi Ho, Teri Galliyan, Tu Safar Mera or item songs. There is no bracket other than these three compartments and I try to constantly break that and come up with a new dimension that also can exist. Most importantly, I am lucky as the filmmakers I work with, believe in me and feel that I can deliver what is on their mind. All the music I have done so far has stemmed out from the scripts and directors who had a vision.

In the recreation of Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le, you kept the essence of the original song by Illayaraaja sir intact and revisited it. Were you treading a fine line there?

It was another bomb thrown at me as Ae Zindagi is already an iconic song and people have an emotional connect to it. Arijit and me were aware that we might piss people if we change it too much. So, we thought and decided to keep it to the basic and not do anything gimmicky. We tried to stay true to the essence of the original melody and just gave it a contemporary touch.

But you went gimmicky with the Alia Bhatt version!

Raja Sir will hate it and would want to kill me. But the moment he hears it, I can show him the Arijit version and insist that I have created this too and save myself.

What is your equation with Arijit Singh?

I love him. He is an exceptionally talented person. When he goes on the mic you don't have to worry but just sit back and enjoy his performance. He is extremely gifted and a pleasure to hear too.

What's on cards from there?

There is Aamir Khan's next Secret Superstar, R Balki's next with Akshay Kumar, Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi and Yash Raj's next untitled musical with Habib Faisal. It has more than 12 tracks and we have been working on it since April and will take a year to finish.

• UAE
• Dubai