Jeet Gannguli

“My biggest pride is that Bollywood called me because of my work in Bengal.”

“Perhaps the number of new hits is not being noted the way it was done in the era of records or cassettes with the emergence of Internet.”

“It was a major turning point in my career when Anup Jalota invited me to accompany him on his various world tours. I was in two minds whether to pursue a music career in Mumbai or to stay back in Calcutta. Being the only son, it was a tough decision.”

“This trend used to exist in Bengali playback where singers and composers would have their own hit series. I am thrilled that Bengal is seeing a revival of that trend.”

“My childhood was full of Salil Chowdhary, R.D. Burman and Madan Mohan sahab. My father used to play with them and I used to play my guitar on their notations.”

“People often compare me and Srikant Mohta with the legendary Raj Kapoor-Shankar Jaikishan jodi. They say, when ever we work together on a project, it turns into gold.”

“I don't follow any particular musical trend.”

“With 'Ekla Akash,' I have sought to re-capture a different feel and mood, I will also explore other realistic films through music.”

“I am overwhelmed by the reaction to my songs. At Mitra, people went crazy dancing to Paglu's songs. Naveena, which hardly ever screens a Bengali movie, is screening 'Paglu.' I got mobbed at the theaters and lost my watch and shades.”

“The lyrics of 'Ekla Akash' brought tears to my eyes.”

“I've more than 50 hits in Bengali cinema and it's a great feeling to have them released separately in the form of albums that are independent of the movies.”

“Because a composer's soul goes into a film, they should do the entire film, even the background score. If not, then don't do it.”

“My father, Kali Gannguli, is an arranger, composer and accordion player who has worked with Salilda whose songs I had grown up hearing.”

“There are very few people, like Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt, Bhushan Kumar, and even Yash Chopra, with whom I have worked, who understand music.”

“I hail from a family of musicians for the last 18 generations. My grandfather was a classical singer; his father was a sitar player.”

“I consider my music edgy, urban and with an earthy element.”

“'Barsaat' is a romantic love song penned by Rashmi Virag. It is a song very close to my heart - that's why we plan to release it first. Actually over so many years, whenever I used to make a composition it would get selected for a movie. This time I was very determined to release it as an independent album and didn't give it for movies.”

“Songs and lyrics should be subtle. They can be fun, but not vulgar.”

“Initially, when I started working in Tollywood, there were only three or four releases in a year. But after 2010-11, the figure went up to three-four releases per month. It's impossible for one music director to work simultaneously in so many films.”

“It is very challenging to work with the Bhatt Camp as they have great sense of music.”