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After 17 years and more than 150 films to his credits, the most sought-after guitarist of Bollywood is a content man. But it was a chance music competition which kindled the fire in him to try his luck in the capital of showbizdom, Mumbai
Kalyan Baruah still can’t believe that he has survived nearly two decades of his musical career in Bollywood. “How did you get to know about me?,” the humble guitarist asks this correspondent over phone from Mumbai. A little bit of assurance and a slice of nostalgia about old memories of home, convinces the Assamese guitarist to open up for a chat with us; squeezing time from his recording studio. Interestingly, he gets emotional as he reminisces the journey from Guwahati to Mumbai (then Bombay), in the early 90s. “It wasn’t that easy those days. During my honours in Anthropology at Cotton College, Guwahati, I started taking part in music competitions. I was doing a lot of college shows those days,” says Baruah, who was born in Dibrugarh, before shifting to Guwahati.
“After my graduation (1982) I took up a job. But I believe that was not my true calling. I quit it mid-way to pursue my passion. It was then, when I started working with music maestros like Bhupen Hazarika and singer Zubeen Garg,” he mentions adding that he was encouraged by his sisters during his struggling years. Four years later in 1986 came the turning point of his life, according to Baruah. “It was a music competition by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati that took me to Mumbai. I eventually won the ‘Best Guitarist’ award in the competition. It was a great feeling. Probably that kindled the fire in me, to seriously give it a thought to shift to the Hindi film industry,” recalls Baruah.
Meanwhile, back at Guwahati after the competition, he was feeling uneasy with his work. “I was feeling stagnant,” he quips. So after some fleeting years in the city, Baruah ultimately packed his bags and landed up at Mumbai in 1991. Did that start the real struggle? “No doubt. I was lucky though that I started getting offers to work for advertising jingles, and television commercials. In fact, it was a chance meeting with the music director Salim (of the Salim-Sulaiman duo, who are the music directors of Chak De India) which opened the floodgates of offers from the music industry,” remembers the guitarist who is passionate about blues and jazz. Gradually he began to work his way with Taufiq Qureishi, Anu Malik and the big shots of Bollywood. “Within no time I was a familiar name in the industry,” he says.
Life began to look rosy for the guitarist after those initial struggling years. “I have lost count of the number of films I have worked for. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Jhankar Beats, Metro, Taxi No. 9211, TaRaRumPum and Naqaab. I have played in almost all major Yash Raj productions. I am fortunate to have worked with young music directors like Salim-Sulaiman, Vishal-Shekhar, Pritam and Bappa Lahiri, son of Bappa Lahiri as well as veterans like Anu Malik,” says Baruah. Any regrets? “Not really. I should have come to Mumbai before, but I think my initial years in Guwahati also prepared me as a professional. I am enjoying my work and any day is a memorable day for me. Working with diff erent kind of music directors, and understanding their sensibilities gives me a high,” he feels, who loves to indulge in photography and travelling.
It was in Mumbai where he met the love of his life. “I met my wife in Mumbai,” says the father of two sons. Currently, the guitarist is busy doing live shows with Adnan Sami and KK. “I am also co-producing the album Aks, which is going to come this year-end. It was my long cherished dream and my first solo album. I have dabbled with blues, jazz and certain northeastern folk music in this album. I am desperate to see it materialise,” signs off the guitarist.
source- The Electric
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