Bollywood tends to play safe: Clinton Cerejo

Composer of the ‘Madari’ fame feels indie space gives artistes more chance to experiment

NEW DELHI: Singer-composer Clinton Cerejo, who has sung popular Hindi film songs like Yaaram and Kya Karoon, says when it comes to Bollywood, artistes play safe as a lot of money is involved in making film music.

“Bollywood tends to play safe as there’s so much of money involved. You don’t find that much of experimentation. One song becomes a hit and then others are asked to follow it,” said the musician whose song Madari, that was featured  on Coke Studio @MTV,  got very popular.

“They tend to go by what’s currently popular like when Why this Kolaveri Di became a hit, every music director said they want a Kolaveri Di. It’s natural.”  Cerejo, who released Ananthaal album with bandmates Vijayprakash and Bianca Gomes last year, said in an interview.



He believes that unlike Bollywood music, which rules most of the charts and hearts, the indie space gives artistes more chance to experiment.

“Since there’s not so much of investment in the indie scene and the stakes are not high, there is a lot more chance to experiment... to do something that your heart is into. And you feel like doing it whether people will identify with it or not. Bollywood will take time to reach that stage,” the 38-year-old added.



He first began doing arrangements for Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, and went on to work with popular composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. And now, he has eyes on more “interesting collaborations”.

“Hopefully, I’ll get to collaborate with international artistes whom I admire like John Mayer.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2016.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.