‘Bollywood must produce less films’

Raghav Sachar, touted as India’s first multi-instrument pop star, is not happy with the Bollywood scene today. He thinks there are too many films releasing in Bollywood. With more films, comes more music. And that is deteriorating the quality of composition. And unlike the West, where music composers are valued more than singers for their originality and effort, they lose out on their identity in the big melee here.

Raghav says, “The number of films produced in India should be cut drastically. Every production house producing 30 films should concentrate on making just four. That will bring some much needed originality in film music.”

Raghav, who has composed music for films like Sunday, Kabul Express and the  recent Haal E Dil, is disappointed with the fact that music composers are widely ignored during the film’s promotions as actors steal all the limelight.

“In India every credit goes to the actor, more so due to the illiteracy of the audience. In Bollywood everything is actor-centric and this is a big disadvantage to cinema,” he says.

Raghav, who is in talks with Yash Raj and Popcorn for a couple of films this year, wants to stick to these banners because he thinks that other production houses interfere too much in the work of music directors.
He says, “The kind of creative freedom that Yash Raj gives is found nowhere else.”

Raghav is also not too happy with the fact that many singers are opting for singing remixes as a short cut to launch themselves in the music world. He says, “Remixes are definitely overkill. Since there is already an original track and composition, all that the singer does is to rearrange the track.”

However, he thinks that there is no future for classical music in the market. He says the target audience of music companies has changed and fusions and international blends are the types of music that appeal to the audience.

His disappointment has reached such a level that he wants to deviate to acting. “I have been getting so many offers to act. But unfortunately they are all for second leads. After taking acting classes for quite some time now, I think I am ready to audition for lead roles,” he says.

And when asked what kind of role he would like, he shoots back, “Maybe roles in films that revolve around music and rock stars.”
c_sujata@dnaindia.net