New Delhi, 28th April 2025 – The Filmy Hustle’, an entertainment podcast by India TV, a leading news channel, in its latest episode features the legendary Shekhar Ravjiani, one of Indian music’s most celebrated voices and composers. In this expansive conversation, Shekhar explores his journey through Indian cinema and independent music, reflecting the power of melodies, memories, and human emotion in an age of rapid change.
Shekhar recalls how singing for films like Jhankaar Beats and Dus shaped his career. Hindi cinema offered him a “playground”, an endless training ground in melody, storytelling, character work, and emotional expression. “Films taught me that music is not just about rhythm and pitch, it’s about feeling,” he shares.
Shekhar reminisces about collaborations with some of India’s most iconic directors like Farah Khan (Om Shanti Om), Rohan Sippy (Bluffmaster), and Aditya Chopra (Salaam Namaste, Befikre). “Farah knows the pulse of the audience. Every song had to feel like a celebration”, he quips, adding that Rohan encouraged experimentation, mixing hip-hop, jazz, and Bollywood. We created sounds people hadn’t heard before.”
Talking about Aditya Chopra, he says, “There was a time when our music had to pass the ‘FM Test’. If you heard it while driving and didn’t change the station, it was a hit!” He also shares endearing stories about working with Shah Rukh Khan, Javed Akhtar, and Siddharth Anand, and how each collaboration added a new dimension to his understanding of music and narrative.
Shekhar also sheds light on how the South Indian film industries, especially Tamil and Telugu cinema, approach music differently. There, he notes, music directors are treated like heroes, full albums are still cherished, and storytelling through music is much more vibrant. He credits his time working with South Indian filmmakers for expanding his own artistic vocabulary.
Reflecting on the pre-YouTube era, Shekhar recalls how songs found success organically. Audiences judged music instinctively either on the radio, in theatres, or during live shows. Today, he notes, the emphasis on “numbers” likes, streams, and trends often overshadows the emotional connection between a song and its listener. “We have reached a stage where the ‘virality’ of a song might matter more than its soul,” he says.
Talking about the influence of Artificial Intelligence in music creation, Shekhar says, “You can train an AI to write a tune. You can’t train it to feel heartbreak, or longing, or joy. That only humans can do.” He stresses that technology can empower musicians, not replace them. While shedding a thought for the younger generation, Shekhar saysquips, “Embrace technology—but guard its boundaries”. While tools like AI and streaming platforms offer incredible opportunities, he cautions that they should enhance, not replace, the irreplaceable soul of music. “Protect the human heart behind every note,” he says, adding that that’s what truly connects us.” These words, distilled from decades of reinvention, serve as both a roadmap and a rallying cry for the next generation of creators.
Another pressing topic Shekhar tackles is the urgent need for better artist rights in India. He shares how, for years, artists have had little control over their creations, especially playback singers, composers, and lyricists. With the launch of his independent label, Garud Music, he aims to give artists both creative freedom and rightful ownership. “Artists deserve respect not just when they are trending, but across their careers,” he says passionately.
