Music composer as important as the film hero: Salim Merchant

Mumbai: Salim Merchant of music director duo Salim-Sulaiman feels that a music composer is as vital to a film as the lead actor.

`Music director is as important as the main actor in the film because he plays a very pivotal role in the making of the film. Our films are audio-visual and that`s why audio is also very important and hence composer is a key person in this process,` Salim told reportersin an interview. Salim, along with his brother Sulaiman, entered Bollywood by giving background scores for films such as `Krrish`, `Mujhse Shaadi Karogi`, `Bhoot` and `Dhoom` among others. Soon they progressed to composing music for films like `Chak De! India`, `Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi` and `Fashion`. Talking about their journey, Salim said: `There has been a progression. We never imagined that we will get into music composition one day. Both the things are very different from each other, yet not very different. `According to me, a composer should be able to give background score as well. Because when we used to do background score, each of our pieces used to be like a complete song,` he added. Along with their good track record, the duo received tremendous acclaim for their musical score for 2010 hit film `Band Baaja Baraat`, which has got them a nomination in the best music directors` category for this year`s Chevrolet Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA). `Talking about GIMA, it`s very important because it`s an only music award. It`s like our own Grammy. It`s just about music...whether film or non-film. So it`s an honour to get nominated there,` he said. Asked if they predicted the music of `Band Baaja Baa`aat` to be such a hit, he said: `We don`t make music with the thought that it`ll become a chartbuster. We make music to satisfy ourselves and to give out some love to the world. When we make music we never think: come, let`s make a hit. It is made so that we feel good when it is played,` he said. Currently, Salim-Sulaiman are working on numerous projects including `Love Breakups Zindagi`, `Azaan`, `Ladies vs Ricky Bahl`, `Shakal Par Mat Jaa`, `Shaadi Fast Forward`, `Ada Apni Apni` and `Ishq In Paris`. IANS