Mithoon Sharma, known as Mithoon, is the grandson of the legendary Pt. Ramprasad Sharma, composer and musician, who trained so many major names in film music for generations. His uncle is the legendary (Laxmikant-) Pyarelal, Hindi cinema’s most successful composer, while he is also the son of arranger and composer Naresh Sharma.
Through Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt, Mithoon started his career with two Pakistani re-creations in 2005, “Woh Lamhe” in “Zeher” and “Aadat” in “Kalyug.” Luckily, his first original song, “Tere Bin” from the 2006 “Bas Ek Pal” was also a big hit. His journey, in a way, comes full circle as he recreates and sings “Ae Mere Humsafar” from “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” in his next film “All Is Well.”
But though he worked on films with acclaimed songs like “Anwar” and “The Train,” big-time was not for him. The good times really began when Mahesh Bhatt again gave him a song in “Aashiqui 2,” the sequel to the film “Aashiqui,” for which his father had arranged the music of Nadeem-Shravan. The song was the sensational “Tum Hi Ho.” After that came a better lot of work like “Yaariyan,” “Ek Villain,” “Creature,” “Alone” and “Hamari Adhuri Kahani.”
Why has Mithoon, in a decade, done less than 15 films with very few solo or complete movies? His answer is eccentric: “I primarily do music for myself, and that makes me very happy. So I do not see the need to go overboard. I also do not believe in the theory of ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ I have this strong check-list of do’s and don’ts. And I have kept up a certain standard of remuneration.”
He goes on, “I also take some responsibility for my work. Like after being praised for ‘Anwar’ and ‘The Train’ but criticized for ‘Aggar,’ I actually went off work to introspect, so my next release was ‘Lamhaa.’ In those three years, I spent time with myself, understanding my musicality.”
We dare to mention that the reason for the brickbats could be that his music remains within fixed parameters and may be termed monotonous. He nods his head and says, “I do agree that versatility is important in my line, but I am not desperate or trying hard to venture out, because I feel that a certain easy flow must be there in my songs, whether it is ‘Phir Mohabbat’ (‘Murder 2’), ‘Baarish’ from ‘Yaariyan,’ or any of the songs I composed for my other films like ‘Ek Villain,’ ‘Creature,’ ‘Alone’ or ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani.’”
What is his father’s role in his career? “My father is an unofficial institute. His contribution in my career cannot be put into words,” says Mithoon.
“He gave me the right training and suggested my name to the Bhatts for ‘Zeher,’ although they had approached him to do it. He helped me understand the whole process of music. He was not successful as a film composer, but I have seen him working with the best composers of his times, and they would request him to arrange their songs like Anu Malik or Nadeem-Shravan. I feel that maybe that was his true calling — giving shape to others’ creations. So I also think that success is about responding to my calling and not just conforming to the world’s expectations.”
Mithoon’s mindset is obviously unique: he never considers his tunes as his property. “I think they belong to God,” says this man, who believes a lot in Jesus Christ, though he is Hindu, simply because for him, Christ is an example of an ideal man who led an exemplary life.
But we ask him how much involvement can a composer have for a film in which he only contributes one or more songs? Again, his answer surprises us: “A film composer, ideally, must work on all the songs. But the final call is the director’s. Also, I am very slow at work.
"I take one month on one song sometimes, and what is wrong in that?” he counters.
One director who has taken that call is Ajay Devgn, who has entrusted Mithoon with the task of doing all six songs for his next directorial, “Shivaay.” “It was obviously his vision,” explains the composer, who is also a lyricist now and is also into singing some of his compositions.
“Well, it all started, because there was an urgent need when I wanted Sayeed Quadri-saab for a song in ‘Murder 2’ and was randomly writing references to what I needed. As he was not available, Mohit Suri told me that one of the references I had written was exactly what he wanted. The song was ‘Ae Khuda,’”
Of course, he soon discovered a poet within himself as well. “Creature 3D" was one film in which he wrote all of the four songs that he composed, including the hit "Hum Na Rahe Hum.”
Unlike most GenY music makers, Mithoon has decisive roots in Hindi film music. The composer explains: “I am lucky to have my father expose me to veterans as far back as Husnlal-Bhagatram, C. Ramachandra and Hemant Kumar, even though I was initially bored to listen to their songs!
"Without this anchorage in the roots, you cannot do good music,” he sums up.
Besides “Shivaay,” Mithoon is now working on Onir’s “Shab,” “Traffic” and Tips’ “Kaash,” all of which are full scores.