Pritam Chakraborty

Indias oldest music company Saregama and Karan Johar have decided to collaborate over the music of Johars next directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The soundtrack will have songs composed by Pritam Chakraborty. Ranveer Singh may sing on screen, but unlike his rap in Gully Boy, this time around it will be different. Alia Bhatt who has sung in her earlier films like Highway and Udta Punjab will also contribute a song for Karan Johars film.About teaming up with Saregama Karan Johar says, To me, this is more than a strategic union of two cinematic entities, but one that I am emotionally invested in as well. Saregama and Dharma have a relationship that dates to the early 90s when we came together for the film Gumrah, and then in 1998 for the musical hit Duplicate.Karan Johars latest directorial is expected to be a full-blown musical. With Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani poised to become a part of the rich legacy of Saregama, it augurs a new chapter in the relationship. There is no greater joy than seeing an ambitious project come together and take form, with like-minded people, bound by a drive to produce good wholesome content for our audiences. And I am happy that we get to have Saregama in this special fold now.Ranveer Singhs character Rocky and Ali Bhatts Rani are expected to serve up a duet for their fans.

Music composer Pritam Chakraborty lost his father Prabodh Chakraborty on May 24 after his two year battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. His father was in the hospital for the past three months.Pritam, his mother and sister were there with him until his last breath. His last rites were performed in Amboli, Mumbai. Amid the lockdown, the religious formalities were performed in the presence of immediate family members.On the work front, Pritam Chakraborty's next work includes Kabir Khan's 83, Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra, and Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha.

Shah Rukh Khan has been keeping busy with the promotional tour for his film, Jab Harry Met Sejal. SRK along with Anushka Sharma and director Imtiaz Ali visited New Delhi which was their last trip for the promotions and launched of the song Phurr.The trio launched the song which is a collaboration between Pritam Chakraborty and international artist DJ Diplo. While in Delhi, which is Shah Rukh Khans hometown, he took his kids to his old DDA flat. Speaking to a leading daily, SRK revealed that he took his kids to his old C-73 223 DDA flat around 2:30 am in the morning to show his kids his previous home before he moved to Mumbai. As the present residents were sleeping, he left a note for the people living there. When asked what he had written in the note, Shah Rukh Khan said that he used to live there and had come to show his kids the flat. They were sleeping otherwise he would have disturbed them. Directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Jab Harry Met Sejal stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma and is all set to release on August 4, 2017.

No multiple voices, no re-recordings, no double and triple versions of the same tune... Only Arijit Singh would sing for Ranbir Kapoor in Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil . This was what producer-director Karan Johar and his music composer Pritam Chakraborty decided when they embarked on the musical journey that was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) . It can now be revealed that Ranbir Kapoor plays a singer in ADHM. And it was decided only Arijit Singh will sing all the songs for Ranbir. According to sources, Ranbir Kapoor felt Arijit Singh suited him vocally.

Arijit Singh admits it is an added responsibility for the playback singer to give voice to an actor when he plays a singer. "I've done it earlier in Aashiqui 2 , where Aditya Roy Kapur played a singer. Now with Ranbir Kapoor, I am again giving voice to the character of a professional singer, and it's different, more challenging than the usual playback singing. Ranbir Kapoor had already shot the title song with a scratch recording (song recorded in a makeshift voice). I sat and observed Ranbir Kapoor emoting to the words .Then recorded my songs." Arijit Singh is all praise for Ranbir Kapoor. "It is very rare for an actor today to be able to hold the camera on his face for almost a minute emoting to the lyrics. Ranbir Kapoor has done it in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil . Not for a second does one feel he is faking the emotions. When I watched Ranbir Kapoor emoting to the words and tune, I felt inspired and challenged to give better than my best. I've seen how Ranbir Kapoor responded to the music that he had to sing in Rockstar when he played a singer. It's very inspiring for any playback singer." The ADHM experience has made Arijit Singh realize how important it is to have an actor understand what he is singing. "Ranbir Kapoor isn't just using my voice in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil . He is experiencing and savouring the words, letting them flow into his soul. It's such a pleasure to sing for him because as a professional playback singer, I know Ranbir Kapoor's screen presence will carry my song very far." Arijit Singh says he is still recording songs for ADHM . "We haven't decided on how many songs I will sing for Ranbir Kapoor. But I can tell you this. Whatever Dada (composer Pritam Chakraborty) and Karan Johar decide, it will all add up to a grand musical experience. And for those who are raving about my first song for Ranbir in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, here's news. My second song for Ranbir Kapoor is even better. I rate it as one of the best songs I've sung so far."

The song 'Illahi' reprise, from one of the hit album Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has added to Pritam Chakraborty's favorite track list. The banjo and guitar played in the song is by Matt Menefee who is the creator of the band Cadillac Sky and who's played and toured with Grammy Winner Mumford and Sons.

His banjo was not cutting through the heavy drumming of Arijit Singh's version as much as Tapas's dotara so the music team- Pritam, Matt, Sunny made another version. Sunny added a groove with Matt's guitar and banjo and they had this more authentic bluegrass arrangement ready.

Mohit Chauhan too loved this version. "When Mohit came to dub the song, he insisted he wanted to sing on this version" says Pritam Chakraborty. Matt also played for another hit track 'Balam Pichkari' which is Matt's favorite song.

Thanking Matt Menefee, Pritam Chakraborty conveys, "Thank you Matt for being a part of YJHD . As everybody says you are truly the best banjo player in the world and we are privileged to have you in this album. And thanks Nikhil you made this possible.''

Last year in December, we had reported that music director Pritam had bagged the prestigious Asia Pacific Film Festival award for his rendition in Barfi . Now he's done it again, this time Pritam has won the Best Music Award for Barfi at Asian Film Awards, Hong Kong.

This is his second international award of best music for Barfi . Apart from these two, he had also won the Filmfare for the music of Barfi . An elated Pritam says, "I am very happy as Barfi continues its journey collecting various awards in India and internationally."

Even before the Oscars take place, here is some good news for the film Barfi. The news is that music director Pritam has now been nominated for the music of the film at the prestigious Asia Pacific Film Festival to be held in Macau. Readers may note that, he is the only Indian musician to be nominated at the award ceremony that will be held during the course of the festival.

For starters, The Asia Pacific Film Festival is an event hosted annually in different Asian Cities by the Board of Directors of the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific. This year, the festival will be held in Macau.