Why Bollywood is going back to Orchestra?

Vintage music has experienced a surprising rebirth in recent years in the ever-evolving world of Bollywood, where trends and tastes are constantly changing. A growing nostalgia for the timeless and heartfelt songs of the golden age of Hindi film has emerged amidst the exuberant dance numbers and electronic beats that characterize today’s playlists. Filmmakers and music directors are increasingly returning to the oldies because they understand the emotional resonance and genuineness found in older songs. A younger audience is also introduced to the beauty of classic tunes through this cinematic nostalgia, which also appeals to older generations who have happy memories of the original songs.

 

But to say this resurgence would not be completely right, and this is so because the use of older Bollywood music in a reimagined manner can be traced back as far as the 90s, which is when we see the rise of India indie-pop music. Renowned Bollywood songs (kabhi aar kabhi paar, mere naseeb me etc) were given a fresh spin by numerous indie pop remixes which were appropriate for the changing musical preferences of the era. In the early days  in the early 2010s broadband era, through their YouTube channel, Sanam amassed a large fan base and international fame by first posting cover versions of classic Bollywood songs.  Mikey McCleary and his band The Bartender are well-known for their ability to provide a modern twist such as combining electronic and live instrumentation to classic Bollywood tunes while maintaining their original spirit, the most famous example being the 2015 period film Bombay Velvet.

 

 

 

Mikey McCleary’s renditions of old vintage classics

 

But in recent years, especially post Covid, we have seen a rise in the production of period films and television series, especially in the online streaming platform space. And this particular trend has only risen in the past one year. As more filmmakers and artists explore stories set in bygone eras, capturing the essence of a particular time and offering audiences a nostalgic journey, this trend is reflecting a societal interest with the past. These performances provide a window into the common cultural history by taking viewers back in time to a time when life, society, and social mores were distinctly different. 

 

But with these renewed attempts at producing quality work set in period backgrounds, we see the revitalisation of the sound of these periods as well.  2023 was the year in which we see the continuation of the trend of classic vintage and retro music. And we do not mean just remixes. Original works in the style of classic vintage and retro music have begun to make rounds in these period drama and film productions and in some cases have become instant viral hits on the internet as well.

 

The orchestra plays an important role here. The introduction of Western classical music to India can be attributed to colonial influences, particularly during the British Raj. European composers and musicians brought their musical traditions to India, leading to the establishment of orchestras in major cities. These orchestras primarily served colonial elites and were often associated with the promotion of Western classical music. Indian royalty, especially during the princely states era, played a significant role in fostering orchestral music. Many Maharajas and Nawabs patronised Western classical music, leading to the formation of court orchestras. These orchestras, consisting of Indian and European musicians, performed Western compositions alongside Indian classical music. The advent of Indian cinema in the early 20th century had a profound impact on orchestral music. Film scores became a major platform for orchestral compositions, blending Western orchestration with Indian melodies. Composers like Naushad, S. D. Burman, and R. D. Burman contributed to the orchestral landscape by incorporating diverse musical elements.

 

Beginning exactly a year ago from now, in December 2022 we saw the release of the Netflix original film Qala, directed by Anvitaa Dutt. The film is set in the Kolkata music industry  during the late 1930s and early 1940s, and its soundtrack is reminiscent of Bollywood in the 1950s. The film’s principal music director, Amit Trivedi, stated in an interview with The Quint’s Swati Chopra, “The inspiration definitely was Hindi film music from the 40s and 50s. We listened to the beautiful tracks of R.D Burman, Madan Mohan and Hemant Kumar. In terms of creating the landscape we relied on the music of the maestros”. There were no electronic instruments on the soundtrack to fit the story’s early 1940s period. The accordion, tabla, dholak, rebab, violin, and sitar were among the instruments that Trivedi chose, which embodies the essence of the ideal Indian orchestra. The song “Ghodey Pe Sawar” became a viral sensation on the internet, with reels, memes and more being made using the song. 

 

 

Anushka Sharma channelling 1920s flapper girl aesthetic with a finger wave hairdo, gaudy pearl set, beauty spot and feather accessory for the song Ghode Pe Sawar from the album of Qala 

 

This tryst with the orchestra and vintage music continued throughout the year. The next big period series production, this time on Amazon Prime Video India, was Jubilee, released in April 2023 whose principal music director was again, Amit Trivedi. Set in the Hindi film industry of the 1940s and 1950s, the songs feature a classic club jazz number “Babuji Bhole Bhale”, waltz number “Nahin Ji Nahi”, slow Indian jazz orchestra mix “Dil Jahan Pe Le Chala” and of course the classic orchestra mix “Na Koi Mera” featuring Sidhant Gupt and Aditi Rao Hydari as vintage film stars. Lyricist Kausar Munir, in an interview for Scroll.in calls the recent wave of period films and series as India’s “Downton Abbey Effect ”. 

This year’s blockbuster Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani also featured an extensive homage to classic Bollywood films and featured a beautiful medley of some of the most popular oldies such as “Hawa Ke Saath Saath”, “Ye Shaam Mastani” and more.

 

 

 

Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi romanced to a hit medley of classic vintage songs in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

 

The vintage craze was not limited to the films based within the music industry. Popular war films of the year such as Pippa which features the song “Main Parwana”, Sam Bahadur which features “Itni Si Baat” and more have also shown us beautiful examples of vintage aesthetic soundtracks. The trumpets reminiscent of classic Shammi Kapoor songs invoke images of ballroom dancing, creating a delightful atmosphere with intricate simplicity unique to AR Rahman. The orchestration in this album is exceptional, featuring Arijit Singh and playful Hinglish lyrics reminiscent of another period war film, Kaatru Veliyidai’s song, “Tango Kelayo” like mischievous ballroom antics. Arijit’s whimsical performance and the melodious chorus incorporating classic 70s dramatics, and distinctive instruments stand out in the composition. The incorporation of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, which has had a long history of music with Indian cinema since almost the time of Ilaiyaraaja, is only the cherry on top of a scrumptious cake. 

 

 

Ishan Khatter and Leysan Karimova grooving to the Russo-Indian jazz banger Main Parwana on the sets of Pippa 2023

 

In Itni Si Baat, we see Vicky Kaushal’s enigmatic portrayal of Indian military legend, Sam Manekshaw romancing his future wife Siloo Manekshaw, played by Sanya Malhotra, to a slow jazz reminiscent of the the song Hum Aapki Aankhon Mein of the film Pyaasa, Guru Dutt’s 50s epic blockbuster. The song is a complete antithesis to the peppiness of Main Parwana, providing us with the perfect dose of  nostalgia for slow, cold winter.

 

 

Vicky Kaushal and Sanya Malhotra are serving winter fairytale romance goals in the song “Itni Si Baat” as Sam and Siloo Manekshaw.

 

This incorporation of music in war films is not unfounded. Since the 17th-century Maratha Empire, martial music has been a component of Indian culture. As early as the 1700s, the British Army introduced organized military bands to India. Indian military bands frequently take part in ceremonies honoring different national holidays as well as international festivals.  The Indian Armed Forces’ military bands are made up of a combination of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments; occasionally, they are just wind or brass bands. The majority of senior military bands can be set up as marching bands, concert bands, jazz ensembles, traditional music bands, brass quintets, woodwind ensembles, and drumlines, among other smaller ensembles. We can take the example of the Indian Army’s official full-time music group called the Indian Army Chief’s Band. It was established in 1990 as the premier band in the armed forces and the official band of the Indian Army. In the nation’s capital, the band represents India at the most significant governmental functions. In 1990, it was revived with the goal of “retaining the true representation of the entire nation in one band” by recruiting musicians from other Indian military bands. When a string section of cellos, violas, and violins was added in April 2011, the ensemble became a symphony orchestra with 72 players.

 

Lastly we have the most recent vintage release which is Zoya Akhtar’s Tiger Baby production The Archies, which attempted to recreate the perfect vintage feels of the 50s and 60s. The song Va Va Voom is a perfect rock & roll number (a genre which again traces its roots to jazz, boogie woogie and jump blues) that shows the lead characters shaking their feet to 50s drum band music in their crispy striped shirts and frilly frocks. Songs like Sunoh and Dhishoom Dhishoom reference stylistic appeals of the vintage big studio musical films from Hollywood, which often featured a foot tapping number from Frank Sinatra.

 

 

The perfect 50s rock n roll vibes in the song “Va Va Voom”

from the album of The Archies 

 

The revival of Indian orchestral music heralds a forceful rebirth in the country’s both Indian and western classical and traditional music environment. The admiration and interest in orchestral pieces that combine Western orchestration techniques with traditional Indian instruments have grown in the last several years in our period films and series . The rich cultural legacy and diversity found within the Indian classical music tradition are becoming more widely acknowledged as a result of this renaissance. 

 

This year the Symphony Orchestra of India of the National Centre for Performing Arts, announced a Triple Concerto tour in the UK, which included performances of Zakir Hussain on tabla, Niladri Kumar on the sitar, Rakesh Chaurasia on the bansuri or flute, displaying the strength of the Indian orchestra scene around the world. Also after achieving world acclaim, 87 year old Zubin Mehta, ace conductor, who was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1968 when he was only 31, has come back to Mumbai to conduct for the Symphony Orchestra of India. Ricky Rej, a Grammy nominated artist, recreated the Indian National Anthem Jana Mana Gana, with the UK’s Philharmonic Orchestra. 

 

 

The Symphony Orchestra of India with, from left, Zakir Hussain (tabla), Niladri Kumar (sitar), Alpesh Chauhan (conductor) and Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri) © NCPA

 

This vintage crazy madness does not restrict itself to making and listening to music alone. This year itself, publications such as The Wire, Homegrown, The Times of India, The Statesman India, Rolling Stone India have all released new reports on the resurgence of vinyl record collection and vintage turntables’ sales in India. Vinyl has a warm, genuine sound that appeals to audiophiles and music lovers. They also value the tactile, ritualistic experience of handling records and turning them on turntables. Vinyl records are cherished for their physicality and collectibility. The large album covers, the tactile experience of handling vinyl discs, and the act of carefully placing the needle on the record contribute to a sensory engagement that digital formats lack. Collectors appreciate the tangible nature of vinyl, turning the act of buying and owning records into a hobby and passion. A robust vinyl culture of ardent collectors, record shops, and events has been fostered by this comeback. Online shopping has also been made available in a myriad of vintage record stores in India, especially in metro cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. 

The resurgence of analog culture in India reflects a broader societal shift towards a more mindful and intentional way of living. Whether it’s in the realm of music, photography, fashion, or lifestyle choices, the appeal of analog experiences lies in the authenticity, craftsmanship, and tangible interactions that these practices offer in contrast to the often fast-paced and digital nature of contemporary life.

 

References.

1. “Anvitaa Dutt & Amit Trivedi Decode the Music of ‘Qala”’, Interview with Swati Chopra,  15 December 2022, The Quint.
2. “Kausar Munir: ‘For a song to become really memorable, the lyrics matter”, Interview to Nandini Ramnath, Apr 11, 2023, Scroll.in
3. “Zubin Mehta is back in Mumbai to perform for the first time with the Symphony Orchestra of India”, Narendra Kusnur, August 17, 2023, The Hindu
4. “India’s only symphony orchestra displays its international reach”, Simon Broughton, September 30 2023, Financial Times.
5. “Ricky Kej ‘felt honoured’ recording National Anthem with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios”, Soumya Vajpayee, August 09 2023, The Hindustan Times

 

Image Sources

1. Shazam
2. Apple Music Song Cover
3. ABP news
4. IMDB
5. AsiaNet
6. Telegraph India
7. Business today
8. Times India
9. Financial Times India
10. Hindustan Times