Composer Pratik Rajagopal makes Bollywood debut with Tu Ya Main and Hollywood Dream
After spending six years in the US, composer Pratik Rajagopal begins his journey in Indian cinema with Bejoy Nambiar’s Tu Ya Main. In an interview with India Today, he talked about his friendship with Nambiar, Hollywood dreams and the need for patience to succeed in showbiz.
After six years of making a life and soundscapes in the United States, composer Pratik Rajagopal makes his debut in Indian cinema with Bejoy Nambiar’s film. you or me – A film whose music is based on underground textures, experimental energy and emotional intent. But this homecoming did not begin with any studio meeting. It started with 13 years of friendship.
in this conversation India TodayRajagopal talks about how he got the film and his Hollywood dream. He talks about discovering music through Metallica and why success in showbiz is always a long game.
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How did you or I happen?
Adarsh Gaurav and I go way back; We have been very close friends for almost 13 years. We actually went to college together and played in a band. We have been following each other’s journeys and respect each other a lot. He was shooting with Bejoy and he called me and said, ‘I think you should do this and start working in Indian films.’ I was always aware of Bejoy’s work, but now I have become more aware of it. I joined them and immediately started working on the film’s score. So it was all very simple.
That’s interesting. But if Adarsh had not been in this film, would you have moved forward to do something in Indian cinema now?
I think I may have had a good time because I left India only six years ago and moved to the United States with the intention of actually working here. So that’s been my trajectory, but as you know, fate has its own ways.
There’s also been a lot of noise about how the film is using underground music. What do you think?
I liked Bejoy’s thinking because he didn’t hire a traditional music director who creates scores and songs. They found different artists and licensed their music. And for the score, he really wanted to do something that Indian cinema hasn’t necessarily seen or heard. The score in this film is actually presented very deliberately. Since I have that background, I chose to do it from a different aesthetic of industrial and metal music and used experimental electronic music. The songs are very Gen Z and relate to the theme of the film.
You talked about making a career in Hollywood, but how much scope is there in music in India today. What is the reason for this migration, especially when you know how difficult it can be to get there?
I have always believed that I strongly listen to my mind. I was working in advertising in Mumbai and playing in a band. But at one point, I realized that I wanted to make a bigger impact in terms of my work. I really wanted to lend my voice to the big screen. It was my instinct that I didn’t want to just be an ad musician or just do death metal. I applied to the best film scoring program in the world and was selected out of 20 people. From there it was no easy task. All my work contacts, my path to working in Hollywood came directly from that school. It’s been fantastic, and the exponential growth has been crazy. Many sleepless nights have been spent, but there has been a lot to learn.
Having worked in both industries, how different is working in India and Hollywood – creatively and financially?
So overall, I think film scoring is really an art of collaboration. You have to get into the mind of a director, understand what motivates them, and tell a story through both yours and their lens. In the United States, logically, much more is tracked – unions, music editors, mix engineers just for the score. Musicians in India work more for less pay. Creatively, Indian films are song-oriented while Hollywood is score-oriented, so the language of storytelling is different. But things are changing everywhere. You just have to keep moving from one project to another and have fun.
So what’s your story with music? How did you get into this?
When I was quite young, my brother played Metallica’s symphony, and it blew my mind. I was 13 years old and I thought I’d never heard anything like it before. The next day, I told my brother I wanted an electric guitar. I practiced only metal music for five to six hours a day for years. When I moved to Mumbai I became more inclined towards it. We toured, wrote, produced and mixed albums. I was pursuing BBA degree when I came across advertisements through a friend who said that you can earn a lot by doing this. I tried, failed a lot, lost work – but I loved the thrill of composing in different styles every day. Since then, I have been on this journey to find out.
You talked about your experience with underground music and heavy metal. These are styles which are still not so popular in India. How difficult was that for you?
I grew up in Oman and I think within just a week of moving to Mumbai I was suggested to join a band by a sales associate at a music store. People here love music so much. I met Charan (composer Charan Singh Pathania), who introduced me to more artists and soon I joined a band. Then I was picked up from there to join Reptilian Death and then Gutslit. It was all very organic and exciting.
Movies like your profile star wars, Trolls: Band Together And edington. In India, just one big title can change the direction of your career. How are success and successful films viewed in Hollywood?
That’s a great question, because I think things have really changed in the West. Also, John Williams once said that you are not successful until you make at least 50 movies yourself. So it’s a huge journey and everyone’s journey is unique. Some people have tremendous luck and the stars align in the right way. Some get success very quickly, some take time. But especially with how different entertainment culture has become since COVID, things are always moving forward. You just have to keep moving from one project to another and have fun. For me, I think I’ve done a lot of successful things that people might have dreamed about, but my personal goals are very different.
except ideal pride, you and me It also stars Shanaya Kapoor.
