When did your musical journey start?
Jigar: We come from typical Gujarati backgrounds where either you get into the family business or white collared professions like medicine, law or chartered accountancy. It took some time for our parents to come to terms with our passion. When we were music arrangers our relatives thought we were part of some orchestra, they didn’t know that we are into composing.
Sachin: My father is a chartered accountant so I was expected to pursue a degree in chartered accountancy to join my father’s firm. But whilst studying, I was doing theatre, television and lot of work had started pouring in. But when I didn’t clear the final exams, my father felt I should consider music as a full time occupation. Our families supported us and both of us got the push at the crucial time.
What inspires you?
Jigar: We draw inspiration from people, experiences and life in general. Music exists in every iota of the universe you just need to have a keen intent to recognise it. A major musical influence was AR Rahman Sir. His music was life-changing for so many youngsters like us – we had never been exposed to the kind of soundscapes and arrangement that he brought to the fore.
Sachin: We owe our success to Pritam sir and will continue to owe to several other mentors like Neeraj Shridhar , Sameer Sir, Vishal Shekhar, Shankar Mahadevan. These have all been very encouraging and have lent us a helping hand when we needed guidance.
Can you describe your journey from arrangers to independent composers? How much has mentorship and working under other composers impacted your work?
Jigar: We always took risks. Just when we started doing well in theatre we got into television and while we were flourishing there we got into arranging for Hindi films. We joined Pritam sir who eventually gave us a go-ahead to arrange for other music composers, and we started working for A R Rahman, Anu Malik. But it wasn’t easy. When we decided to compose, we were discouraged by two very big directors. They heard our songs and said that it won’t work and that we should either go back to arrangement, or better still go back to our respective father’s business. But Pritam sir instilled hope in us saying - ‘Times are changing, sounds are changing and so will the music’.
Sachin: Our stint as arrangers will stay with us all our life. To be able to assist these people at the peak of their career, to witness how they go about their business is wonderful. Each one approaches the process differently: if one goes for the melody first, another goes for the production, etc.
What is the dynamic within the Sachin-Jigar duo? How do you work and collaborate together?
Jigar: Sachin and I worked on some projects together to share work , I think we both realized at some point of time that we complement each other – his strengths are my weaknesses and vica versa.
Sachin: We are not just partners in crime but also in rhyme. There is no set formula. Sometimes Jigar has an idea and I build upon it, and vice versa. We can both arrange, compose and ideate. Nothing is planned, it is a creative process.
Do you have any plans working with Tollywood ?
Yes, we definitely do. The South market is a very important market for any musician. Infact our music is much respected in South India and we’d love to contribute to the industry in some way.