Despite their massive fan base here, it’s been three years since the music trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy had a public performance in the UAE. But they prefer it that way, says Ehsaan Noorani.
“You can’t always keep touring to one place year after year because you get saturated. We have been to Dubai for smaller private events, but it’s always better to keep a gap,” says the composer and guitarist. “No point outdoing yourselves and the next thing you know, no one is calling you for shows, you know?”
One of the busiest acts in Bollywood right now, the threesome will perform as part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season 2016’s Bollywood in the Capital show on August 13.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy during their concert at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.
“We will have a new catalogue [from] new films and soundtracks from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Katti Batti, Dil Dhadakne Do…,” adds Noorani. “We are looking forward to the show. We haven’t really spent too much time in Abu Dhabi, never really experienced Abu Dhabi. Dubai has really been the base every time... This time it’s going to be fun.”
Noorani, Shankar Mahadeven and Loy Mendonsa have been working together for 20 years, and have composed for several hit films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Wake Up Sid. Individually, too, they are a force to reckon with in the Indian music industry, although Ehsaan says they won’t be performing any songs from personal albums.
“Personal songs [are] a completely different thing. [Our shows] are about Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy music. The only song we do which is not Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is Breathless [by Shankar] because people love it,” he said.
After an extremely successful year they return with two new releases later in 2016: Mirzya and Rock On 2.
Do an internet search, and songs purporting to be from those films are already showing up.
“No, no [songs on the internet] are random songs recorded by people and have nothing to do the film. Even Mirzya, there’s only one promo with a bit of song,” he explained. “Rock On!! 2 is all rock. Mirzya, I don’t like using the word ‘fusion’... I’d say it’s a very eclectic album because it’s a mix of a lot of elements. However, the music for neither is released”.
So does it bother him that there are people out there on the internet who are claiming random songs are composed by him?
“Well, today we know the internet is part of our lives. Nobody can fight this. You can’t fight if someone is using your name — in a way it’s an honour. But the point is that reality is reality. You can’t get away from that. You may do anything and call yourself anything, you know, but eventually do you write music like us? Do you sound like us? No. So, it doesn’t really hold. People know that one is [expletive].
“Plus stuff like this gets lost in the vastness of the internet. Unless it becomes a major headline, I don’t think it really affects anybody,” Ehsaan said.
Truly, it is quite easy to differentiate a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy from other compositions. It could be said that there is a certain style that the trio follows.
“Surprisingly I tend to disagree with that because if you hear our albums from the beginning, there’s nothing that can say it’s a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy song,” said Ehsaan. “It’s about the wholeness and the complete depth in each composition and stuff like that where every album has stood out on its own. This has actually been the USP for us, as each album was a different experience for the listener. You can’t say there’s any comparison in the music or style, say, between Taare Zameen Par or Bunty Aur Babli. They are both completely different and which is, I think, a good thing and why we’ve been around for so many years now.”
So how has the audience’s taste in music changed?
“The audience is always there for good music. There are a lot of hit songs that have come out now. Like all music, there’s good music and bad music, and sometimes bad music can also become a hit. I’ve always felt the audience is open — especially as far as we are concerned. There’s a tremendous amount of respect and position that we’ve gotten in the industry and with our fans, which is completely apart from everybody else. So in that case it’s not for them to change but up to us to change to make sure that the audience gets progressively inclusive, that music appeals to all of them. But not necessarily where you have to make a creative compromise and churn out rubbish. That’s something that doesn’t work for us”.
There has also been reports that filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar — who will be performing in Abu Dhabi a day before them — will be composing for Rock On!! 2.
“No, he’s not composing, he’s singing. Naturally he’ll be sitting in on the compositions, being the producer of the film and the actor. He also gives his feedback like everyone in the sitting but it’s not really composing,” Ehsaan refutes again.
Audiences love rivalries in Bollywood, especially between actors. Would you say the same exists among the Bollywood musicians?
“Not necessarily — at least not where we are. We were never in any case for stepping on anyone’s toes. There’s enough place for everything in the industry, enough place for good music. So if there’s rivalry, and if anyone does thinks he is a rival to us, it’s entirely his problem,” said Ehsaan.
Don’t miss it!
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy perform on August 13, at du Forum, Abu Dhabi. Tickets are Dh150 and Dh200 on ticketmaster.ae.
