They add to the narrative. In fact, Kamal Haasan showed us how important a role it plays with his silent film, Pushpak. It is the background score that can effectively turn a high-powered and tense emotional scene into a light moment. Be it action films such as The Avengers and the Star Wars franchisee or dramedies like Barfi!, the right background score can make all the difference. Bengaluru-based music composer Arun Vijay would agree.
The 30-year-old composer is in the news for his recent project, Attention Please. The Malayalam film has been receiving rave reviews from the audience and critics alike at the 25th International Film Festival of Kerala. Directed by debutant Jithin Isaac Thomas, the film is an anthology-of-sorts with an aspiring script writer narrating five thrilling stories to his friends. “The entire film is just one frame where the struggling writer is narrating dark tales to his group of friends while they are having dinner. It was one of the most challenging projects I have worked on,” says Vijay, who collaborated with the National Film Award-winner Justin Jose on the project.
“From using broken buckets, sounds at construction sites, and everything that was accessible near me, I managed to develop the background score,” he recalls. Each project is a challenge in itself as they all have different requirements and demands to help support the storyline, is what Vijay believes. “It is also equally challenging to stay at par with my counterparts. I keep honing my skills so that I stay updated with technological advancements and trends in the international market,” he says. Growing up in the cultural hub of Palakkad, Kerala, Vijay would attend concerts and music festivals from a young age. “I got a chance to watch performances of several prominent musicians and meet them. I started learning Carnatic music and piano during my engineering college days as I was sure I wanted to be a musician,” says he.
Keeping his career in mind, he pursued a Diploma in Composition from the Royal Academy of Music, London, and a Diploma in Piano Music from Trinity College of Music, London. Soon he was called on by music director Leela Girish Kuttan in 2009 to help him arrange the sounds in the Malayalam film Orkut Oru Ormakoot. Since then, there has been no looking back. So who does he look up to for inspiration? “Real-life experiences and people—especially non-musicians,” is the prompt reply. “My son Abram is also a great inspiration. His emotions and innocence inspire me,” smiles the composer. Vijay is candid enough to admit that the opportunity to work with the Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty for the Telugu feature film Praana changed his perspective towards filmmaking. Directed by VK Prakash, the film had Resul Pookutty mentor Vijay.
Source: Akhila Damodaran (Express news service)
