What strikes you first in his apartment are the guitars. They’re everywhere — from Fenders, Gibsons, Corts to Yamaha. A guitar with the autographs of artistes, including A R Rahman and Benny Dayal, is the crown in his collection. A Bob Marley poster is, perhaps, the most imposing feature of his vibrant abode. “It all started with Marley,” he says later, of course, with due reference to Hendrix in his formative years.
Meet Sanjeev Thomas, lead guitarist for the Oscar-winning A R Rahman. He has played the chords for popular movies, be it in Bollywood or with Deepak Dev in the south. He has even crooned for Ek Deewana Tha, the remake of the Tamil flick Vinaaithandi Varuvaaya. “He is obviously very talented,” Sanjeev says about Rahman, “More than his music, one cannot but help notice his humility and tireless energy.”
Cinema was not Sanjeev’s first calling. “Straight out of college, I composed six tracks for a Bollywood project involving big names like Shreya Goshal and KK. The movie never saw the light of day as the producer pulled out at the last minute. Then in 2005 or 2006, I randomly got a call from Rahman in the middle of the night, asking me whether I could go jam in his studio at 6 am. That was my break," Sanjeev says.
“Now, I am working on a new album with a lot of electro and fusion,” he goes on, “ I hope to release the first song, ‘Jammin with the Indian,’ next month. It will have English lyrics and in other languages too.” Asked about the catchy title, Sanjeev who is known to stir contemporary issues with his lyrics, explains, “It’s a take on how an outsider might view an Indian, who holds a lot of frustration, vents it out through loud protests and yet is completely devoid of the true purpose of the hue and cry.” Sanjeev has touched upon issues like the Babri Masjid and Cauvery disputes in earlier days. “These lyrics originate from a very personal space,” says Sanjeev.
Being a Jack of all trades has not exactly been a boon though. “I’ve handled various aspects, be it direction or shooting videos for my album. I don’t fall into any category which tends to confuse directors and puts me in a bind, commercially speaking”. Sanjeev’s musical itinerary is full. “I've got shows lined up with Rahman. In February, at Dhaka, I will perform the theme music for the Kochi Strikers live at the stadium before the team’s first match in the CCL league.”
Is it hard for a musician, amidst the spotlight on singers, to be recognised in the film industry? Sanjeev thinks so. “Abroad, though vocalists steal the show in most cases, guitarists and instrumentalists do have a niche market. However, barring a few names like Sivamani and Keith Peters, the instrumentalists are still in the background. In Bollywood, you are practically non-existent.”
Other than his tryst with MTV’s Coke Studio, the highlight of his musical journey was the Jai Ho World Tour. “I travelled with a group of 30 artistes, including not only musicians, but dancers, acrobats and contortionists. We toured many cities in the US, where it struck me that was what it was all about, the travel, the bonding and the coming together of artistes on a common platform. That was my best experience as a musician,” Sanjeev remembers.