One thing which is not often commented about, which I find very interesting about your work, is that as a director you have a fantastic grasp over music. How did that talent come about?
I obviously love music. I am very interested in different forms of music. I have a natural flair. I have a ear for music and more than that, I like to work on what kind of situations are going to come out in the screenplay (that will be conducive to music). I am very protective that a song should not come and disturb the story telling. So if a song does come, it should take the story ahead. And when that happens how will the song begin and how will it end. All that is predetermined because of the scene.
So when I share the information with (composer A R) Rahman, it becomes easier and quicker for him to come up with melodies and situations. What is going to happen within the songs, what happens in the first antara, what happens in the second antara is all screenplay driven. It makes it even easy for Javedsaab (lyricist Javed Akthar) to write the words accordingly.
Even though you are making films that are different from the usual Bollywood fare you are convinced that music is a must in your films.
I cannot make movies without music. I love music. When I go to see a film, I must have two things. One, I must have an interval and I must have songs.
What has been the collaboration with Rahman like? Even though he has lesser and lesser time for Indian cinema, he always makes time for you. Does Rahman like you because he likes your films or is it because you offer him new challenges?
With Rahman, it has been incredible, incredible. I think for me more than the melody that he creates, the songs that he creates, it is the background music.
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