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Arko to compose music for 'Jism 2'
Priyanka Dasgupta, TOI | Apr 17, 2012
When he completed his MMBS from Burdwan Medical College in 2007, Dr Arko Pravo Mukherjee didn't have much of an idea of Sunny Leone. Of course, he had watched "Jism" and loved the music.
Five years and a Mumbai-shift later, Arko is now composing the music for " Jism 2".
Having recorded tracks with Shreya Ghoshal, KK and Akriti Kakar, Arko is now waiting to dub this week with Ali Azmat in Lahore.
Says Arko, who was in town for Poila Boishakh, "I studied in Don Bosco, Park Circus. Music always interested me and I had a lot of exposure to Western music apart from learning Rabindra Sangeet. I shifted to Mumbai in 2008 and went on to release an album online titled "Mira" with Dev."
The 29-year-old composer describes his meeting with the Bhatts and the subsequent offer to compose and write lyrics for "Jism 2" as something very dramatic and filmi.
"I had gone to meet Mahesh Bhatt with my friend, Prashant Narayanan. Prashant, who had done "Murder 2", and I often do music together. Bhatt saab asked me to drop a demo but I insisted on playing for him in person. I sang a few self-composed numbers and he loved it."
A 10-minute-long meeting ended up being one close to two hours. I later met Pooja and after a few meetings, I was on board for "Jism 2"," he says.
Considering that the songs of "Jism" have a cult status, how difficult is it to debut with the same franchise? "I love the music of "Jism" and those are large shoes to fill. My personal favourite is "Awarapan banjarapan". For "Jism 2", I have already recorded with Shreya, KK and Akriti."
While KK will be the voice of Arunoday Singh, Ali Azmat (who last sang "Garaj Baras" for "Paap") will return to Bollywood to lend his voice for Randeep Hooda. "Randeep plays the cello in the film. So, I have used cello as the signature instrument in Ali's songs for Randeep. I've penned the lyrics for the song - "Kuch rahein gaya baki". It has a Sufi-rock feel to it and has a world music sound. There is a thematic composition that's like a background score with lyrics. It's called "Yeh jism". While Ali will record it, I'll also get it dubbed by other female vocals."
So, is he going to Lahore to record with Ali? "We haven't decided it yet. Nowadays, one doesn't need to be physically present with the singer to record. In all probability, I might be recording with him on Skype."
Back in Kolkata, his peers are excited about his big break. "I have met Sunny at a dinner in Mumbai with the core unit of "Jism 2". My friends back in Kolkata are curious about Sunny. However, as a composer, my responsibility is to validate the director's vision. I am composing for the character and the story and not the actor."
Of course, he would want to record for Bengali movies. "I have a bank of Bengali songs. I am going to record an album of Bengali songs in September."
Finally, what's the reaction of his family to quitting his medical profession to compose for a film? "While my dad (Dr Apurba Mukherjee) is the head of Medicine at the RG Kar Medical College, my mom is the professor of Bengali (Mahesweta Mukherjee) at the Lady Brabroune College. In Bengal, parents are accommodating as long as studies are not hampered. I have always been good at studies. After doing my MBBS in Burdwan, I did my internship at the Calcutta Medical College. Since I don't practice, I don't use 'Dr' before my name. Music is my calling and even though I've had to struggle quite a bit, I am happy that my tunes are being heard."
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