Can't compose music without script and characterization:Pritam

Mumbai, May 12 (UNI) Music composer Pritam credited with the music of runaway blockbusters like Dhoom and its sequel Dhoom 2 to name a few says that he cannot function without a script and characterisation.

''The flavour of my music varies from film to film, which I think is disadvantageous to me. Be it films like Metro, Ankahee or Just Married, it does not matter whether the film is Dhoom or its sequel Dhoom 2 because situations and characters were different in both the films'', he told UNI in an interview.

When asked why he feels the variety of his music is disadvantageous, Pritam says that audience does not identify with his music, just like one would know that the music of films like 'Ashiqui' or Dhadkan has the stamp of Nadeem-Shravan.

But Pritam says he has learnt to compromise and prepare a bank of songs by creating his own characters and situations. ''I do not know how long I can be able to keep a stock in such a manner,'' he said.

Speaking about his latest film 'Metro' where he makes appearance in all songs of the film as a rock band with singers James, Soham and Sohail, Pritam said, ''Metro, as such, is a film which has no scope for music. But director Anurag Basu has very tactfully seeped in songs into his screenplay, without any song looking forced. That's primarily because none of the songs are lip-synced by any characters in the film and are just used as transition tracks. It was an interesting feature as every time a song is played onscreen, we turn up on screen singing the songs in the backdrop of the actual scene.'' It remains a mystery how the audience takes it. But, given the success of the music album, it looks like rock genre has entered film music. ''Rock was not an accepted genre like sufi rock earlier in film music. Here, we have used electric guitar, sitar, rock harmony, drums in the Metro music'', he explained.

Pritam says that when Anurag Basu offered him to do the Metro band, he was skeptical on whether rock would be accepted in a hindi movie. ''Anurag always thinks out of the box. In the film, the band is the sutradhar and talks about a common emotion in it'', he said.

Pritam has just finished recording a song for Sanjay Gadhvi's next movie 'Kidnap' starring Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan.

The music composer says he hates making item songs. ''They are like mathematics. A hooky, catchy phrase and addictive groove makes a item number. Item songs come from the brain while romantic songs come from the heart'', he said.

Pritam says his upcoming releases are 'Race', 'Goal', 'My Name is Anthony Gonsalves', 'Speed' and 'Dhol'.

''I plan to take a break for myself. I have ten releases in 2007 out of which eight have already been released. This is taking a toll on my quality,'' Pritam pointed out.

He said, ''If I am in the air conditioned recording room throughout the year, I will lose touch with the changing trends behind me. I do not want to be left behind. I want to rejuvenate myself and take note of the changes happening around me.'' Pritam said he and his Metro band are planning to cut a private album. ''But my busy schedule is not letting that happen. We have plans for it. We have also started discussing the name and the sound of our new album,'' he added.

UNI