Over the years, Anirudh Ravichander has worked with a diverse range of artists. The roster varies from from Jonita Gandhi (“Arabic Kuthu”), Badshah (“Aaluma Doluma”), Yo Yo Honey Singh (“Ethir Neechal”), and Vishal Dadlani (“Jailer Theme”) to Arijit Singh.
In a conversation with Billboard India for the 50 Notes series, we asked the Chennai-based composer about his favourite creative partnership. He explains that singer Arijit Singh, with whom he’s delivered hits like “Chaleya,” “Faraatta,” and “Badli Si Hawa Hai”, has played a significant role in elevating his craft.
“Whenever I sing for others or I record somebody, I’ll always record a few options. I’ll record like three, four options. But what Arijit does is… he sends me about twenty correct takes.” The composer then goes through them one by one. “I’ll sit and edit word-by-word from the takes I liked. For example, in “Chaleya”, I’ll take one line from one take, and the second line from take 16. So that’s a big process by itself. I get everything right, and I’m very happy. Now I’ve set it, right?” That is when Singh calls him.
“He’ll call me one day and he’ll say, ‘You know what? I’ve just re-sung it. Can I send it to you?’” Ravichander says, laughing.
It has changed how Ravichander treats his own work. “When I make a melody, it happens fast. But then a production around it, once I work on it, I take time. I come back to it, I revise it, I get used to the song more. It’s almost like a living being, right? From the time it’s born to when it comes out, the way you nurture it really matters.”
Watch our full conversation with Anirudh as a part of the “50 Notes” series, now live on Billboard India’s YouTube channel.
