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Entertainment

Getting his swagger on

I remember listening to Banno (Tanu Weds Manu Returns) first at a friend’s wedding last year. This was before it hit the airwaves. I heard a demo version on a <g data-gr-id="120" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">cellphone</g>, and remember telling the composer that it was going to be a monstrous hit! And, as is usually the case, my prophecy came true! The composer and lyricist, my mad friend Vayu (aka Vaibhav Srivastava), is poised for greatness, and this is only the beginning. And, with the festive season right around the corner, what is a better excuse than to get your swagger on, and groove to Banno! 

This is me in conversation with Vayu. Read on to know more about the madness behind the man! 

 First of all, tell us if you’re tired of being requested to sing Banno everywhere you go. You know, how Celine Dion said she got sick after My Heart Will Go On turned out to be a monstrous hit. Has anything similar happened with you?
A: (laughs) Rarely has anybody asked me to sing Banno, but whenever I go to a party, they expect me to dance to it. Like seriously! But thanks to my two left feet, it never happens twice! 

Did you think, while you were composing the song, that it’ll be so huge?
A: Well, the benchmark was already set with Saddi Gali from the prequel. We knew we had to beat that, but of course, we were scared. But as they say, <g data-gr-id="117" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">best s</g>*** comes out in great pressure (That’s vintage Vayu, for our readers!). And yes, we were confident once Anand sir accepted the song for the film.

What was Kangana’s reaction when she first heard it?
A: I wasn’t there to see her reaction, but I heard that she wasn’t too impressed. Especially, the use of word ‘swagger’ in a song based in a village in Haryana was something she couldn’t agree with. But this is what I heard. Kangana would know best!

Tell us about your partner <g data-gr-id="105" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Tanishk</g>. How did you guys connect?
A: We connected like two poles of a magnet. It was the polarity in our approach that brought the best out of our work. I met him as a struggling and desperate lyricist dying to get some work and, after trying hard for a couple of years, he finally accepted me as a composer.

We see bands splitting up all the time in the West, but musical <g data-gr-id="110" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">jodis</g> seem to work quite well in Bollywood. What do you think is the reason?
A: Numerology maybe (guffaws) However, apart from being a <g data-gr-id="113" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">jodi</g>, we are doing our own independent stuff too. So, we aren’t a regular Bollywood <g data-gr-id="114" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">jodi</g>. So, the idea of breaking up doesn’t actually exist in our case. We work together only when certain projects requires us to work together.

Do you guys plan to continue working together? What are your upcoming projects?
A: It’s still too early to divulge. We have some film projects lined up, but I can’t disclose more right now. And yes, we are working together on many songs.

You’re a writer, composer, and singer. You also write scripts and dialogues. Which is your favourite role?
A: I don’t really know. I go for whatever excites me at a given point of time. But yes, songs are always my number one favorite. And who said I am a singer, I request you to stand outside my bathroom once, and the truth will bleed from your ears. I am just kidding. I am a fabulous singer, but I want to keep it a secret. 

Tell us, honestly, how easy (or, difficult) is it really to break into the Hindi Film Industry? It takes years of struggle, of course. So how is a youngster supposed to persevere and keep himself/herself going till he gets noticed?
A: Honestly, it’s not too easy, but nothing is impossible here. There are so many films being produced creating so much demand, but there’s no dearth of talent too. But in the end, good work never goes unnoticed. 

First of all, you have to bring something new to the table, and second, never stop believing in yourself. Act crazy, be whimsical, be a sociopath, hate everyone, but never stop loving your craft. 
And, whoever tells you that you can’t do it, punch them right in the face. You will end up in jail, and you’ll have all the time in the world to introspect and write poetry. Okay, no. Just kidding.

Believe in what you do and do it with all your heart. You are ordinary when you think you are. So, never stop believing, never stop trying.

But yeah, do good work also. Challenge yourself. Set high standards for your art.  Eat well, sleep well, worry less. You will be noticed when the time is right. (Pray you live till then.)

You’re a funny guy; I can vouch for that. What was the funniest thing you heard after <g data-gr-id="109" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Banno</g> got famous?
A: Banno <g data-gr-id="115" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">tera</g> “SWEATER” <g data-gr-id="116" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">laage</g> sexy! I couldn’t stop wondering what people were imagining when they heard that Banno knits sexy sweaters.

Finally, are you single? All your lady fans will be dying to know!
A: Hahahahaha. Where are these lady fans I am dying to meet them too.
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