In the ever-evolving landscape of Bollywood music, music composer duo Sachin-Jigar have constantly pushed the boundaries not only with their innovative compositions but also by introducing new sounds to the industry.

Their latest project, the much-awaited ‘Stree 2’ album, is no exception. In this candid chat, Sachin Sanghvi and Jigar Saraiya share their insights on collaborating with regional talents – Madhubanti Bagchi and Pawan Singh, the creative risks involved, and how the industry’s acceptance of new voices is reshaping the narrative of music in Bollywood.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Since ‘Shor in the City’ you’ve become known for bringing new sounds to your music. What inspired this approach?

Since ‘Shor in the City’, we have tried to incorporate a new voice in every song. This approach brings a breath of fresh air to the music. It’s like when you are making a love story in which both the boy and the girl die, like in Romeo and Juliet – you always look for new faces. You want their voices to have that innocence, that pure quality, which gives a new perspective.

I am not saying that Arijit Singh is overused now. In fact, he is a gift to our times, a legend. But, you already know what to expect from him. There are no surprises in the way he will sing songs. Now, when you listen to his songs, you almost expect, “Arijit, sing one more song.” You love him, and you want more, yes, but there is a certain predictability.

How did you start working with Madhubanti Bagchi for the song ‘Aaj Ki Raat’ from the ‘Stree 2’ album?

Adding a new voice to a song can give it a different twist. Madhubanti Bagchi did exactly that in ‘Aaj Ki Raat’. She is a superstar from Kolkata and has sung many songs. Sachin and I had been trying to work with her for a while now. She has sung ‘Barbaadiyan’ in ‘Shiddat’ and she is incredibly talented. We tried again and again to fit her into our songs and when it finally worked out, it was a combination of her voice, her performance, our luck and everything else. We are just happy that it worked out.

Pawan Singh was another surprise addition to the album. How did this collaboration happen?

Pawan Singh was called at the last minute. The song is amazing. NativeAnd Divya Kumar originally sang it. Divya is like a brother to us, part of the A-team, and he is as rooted as anyone in Bombay. But we realised we needed a different kind of voice, a specific talent, to make the song resonate well in that region. Someone from the team suggested Pawan Singh just a day before the song’s release.

Sometimes, you have to appreciate the freedom and courage given by Dino sir (Dinesh Vijan). The way the label reacts to Dino’s ideas tells it all – they trust him because of his consistent success. He is a courageous person who allows these things to happen. As composers, our power is often limited to giving suggestions to the producer. What happens next is beyond our control. Even the actor can decide who will sing the song, he can reject the voice he doesn’t like. So, having a producer who supports your creativity is like a dream. It is literally a place where you can embrace your madness.

So, what benefits do you see in bringing in new voices?

When you try out a new singer, initially there is curiosity about how the artist will perform. Of course, it is not just about talent; that talent needs to be proven in the studio. Stepping into a dubbing booth is no less challenging than entering a boxing ring – you have to deliver a performance. So, while new talent may initially attract listeners, it soon offers even more. You feel like you have given your song a 50% chance of grabbing the listener’s attention. This is something we have always believed in.

How do you think the industry has changed in terms of supporting new artists?

Earlier, we did not get enough support from labels and producers, which is understandable – they want their songs to make a strong impact. They prefer popular singers to ensure that the song reaches a wider audience. But, times have changed. It’s a very interesting phase in the industry. If you look at Spotify’s top 50 or top 10, there are more indie artists than Bollywood artists.

This shift shows how much power is in the hands of artists now, and people are willing to listen to new sounds. They don’t care as much about established names anymore. Of course, legends will always have their place, and there will always be fans for these legends. But, there’s something special about newness that keeps music fresh and exciting.

Known for its unique blend of horror and comedy, the ‘Stree’ franchise has made a deep impact in the hearts of the audience, making it one of the most loved series in recent years.

After its 14th day of business, the horror-comedy surpassed the overall India collections of ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (Rs 421 crore), and raked in a staggering nett of Rs 424 crore.

‘Stree 2’ has enthralled audiences since its release on August 15. The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and Aparshakti Khurana in lead roles, while Tamannaah, Akshay Kumar and Varun Dhawan have cameo roles.