Destiny's child

Music composer Prasanth Pillai is definitely going places. The man who scored the earthy mystical notes for ‘Amen’ seems to have hit the right note at Bollywood too. With Hindi movies ‘Sixteen’ and ‘Isaaq’ set for release and a couple of Malayalam movies in his kitty, Prasanth seems to be having a smooth  multi-lingual ride so far.

Prasanth Pillai, who is busy making music for Lijo Jose Pallissery’s ‘Disco’ and ‘Anti-christ’

says he was lucky enough to connect with the right people at right time.

“I was working with A R Rahman after completing my course in sound engineering when I uploaded a few jingles I scored. Bollywood director Bejoy Nambiar stumbled on this. That’s how ‘Shaitan’ happened. Lijo Jose Pallissery was a mutual friend. It was Lijo who introduced me in Malayalam through ‘City of God’ and ‘Nayakan’,” says Prasanth.

However, it was ‘Amen’ which brought the music prodigy into the limelight. “ Lijo and me spend over an year discussing the music we wanted for ‘Amen’ since it was a musical satire. Lijo wanted it to be earthy, but not necessarily that bears the feel of Malayalam or Tamil. At the same time, it should go along with the concept (magical realism) of the movie. So we opted for something global, a mix of Spanish-French-Mexican folk music what we hear from traditional artists. Anyway, it is good to hear that music lovers lapped up the songs, but the entire credit should go to Kavalam Narayana Panicker sir. It was his lines that gave the music its life,” says Prasanth Pillai.

Quiz him on how he managed to bag good projects in Bollywood where competition is cut-throat, Prasanth says staying in Bollywood was not an arduous task for him. “Actually, it is difficult for the producers and directors to make the call. My music don’t abide by any rule and I may not make the run-of-the-mill masala chartbuster. My music is different and picking me for their project will be experimenting with something new,” says Prasanth.

How does he describes his music? “It is actually difficult to bracket it to any category. A lot of people ask me this question. But, I feel my taste for music is global but it may show the influence of Jazz and blues,” says Prasanth who is set for his first Hollywood project starring actor Harvey Keitel.

For someone juggling between Bollywood and Malayalam movie industry, which language satiates the musician in him? “Actually, both are the same for me as I don’t think in both languages. My though process is mainly in English and whatever Tamil I know. I don’t find a difference at all. I do what I love and language doesn’t matter,” says Prasanth who uses his website to promote and meet up with people who are passionate about music.

Future projects? “Offers are definitely pouring in. Besides Lijo’s movies, I have been approached for a few more movies as well,” says Prasanth.

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