I miss the good old days: Music director Lalit Pundit

“I am really happy to be bestowed this prestigious award… What more do we want? Appreciation is all that we need. This boosts our morale and we know that we will have to give our best always,” says Lalit.

“Jatin and I started at a time when great musicians dominated Bollywood. I was just 19 when I started. We would go along with our didi, Sulakshana Pundit, who was an actor and a singer... We grew up watching these great musicians,” he says.

“Our first composition for Yaara Dildara became famous and the song Bin Tere Sanam was a hit. Thereafter Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander also received great reviews… I remember Naseer Hussain Sahib called Pancham Da (R.D. Burman) and told him ‘these kids have done wonderful music’. We were greatly inspired by Pancham Da,” adds Lalit.

“We have done about 11 films with Shah Rukh Khan. When we had composed Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, we did not know that the music would have such a successful innings. I remember the premiere was at New Excelsior and we were getting butterflies in our stomach… but everyone who came out watching the film patted our backs. We were happy and indeed surprised.”

Talking about how Bollywood music has changed over the years, Lalit says, “We enjoyed composing music then because we had a full orchestra. There were hundreds of musicians playing different instruments live. It would be challenging to work in that manner. We had to prepare a lot before recording. It was indeed challenging. However, now, with such a small recording studio of mine we have managed to record hit numbers like Munni Badnam Hui… We actually miss the old days (smiles).”

“Nowadays anyone can become a singer, whether or not he/she has good vocals! The quality of voice can be adjusted while recording. That is of course a good thing but we are losing originality,” he adds.

Talking about actors who often sing these days, Lalit says, “It’s a great sign. While recording songs for Salman’s Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, I remember we wanted Salman to sing the punch line O…O Jane Jana…to our surprise Salman caught on to the tune very quickly… We also made Aamir Khan sing Aati Kya Khandala,” he concludes.