After spending a decade in Mumbai as music composer and singer-songwriter, working for indie films like Nirmal Anand Ki Puppy, Kunal Kundu, the founding member and drummer of Calcutta-based Bengali rock fusion band Bolepur Bluez has ventured into the Telugu film industry as a playback singer. Vande Mataram from the Telugu film Operation Valentine, directed by Shakti Pratap Singh Hada, starring Manushi Chillar and Varun Tej, dropped this month and it shows how Kunal likes to explore and push his limits. The rock rendition of the song in both Telugu and Hindi has catchy beats. Here’s what he told t2.

How do you feel about the new opportunity?

Needless to say, it is a moment of pride, joy and honour that my voice is being heard throughout the nation and that too for a patriotic anthem. It is always overwhelming to sing for your country. I sang the anthem for Chandrayaan-3 launch last year and today I got the opportunity to sing Vande Mataram for our motherland, it indeed is overwhelming.

How did you get the opportunity to sing for the film?

The music director of the film, Mickey J. Meyer, approached me to sing for the background score of the film, which I have for both the Telugu and Hindi versions. I had also done the same for him a couple of years ago... called Shyam Singha Roy (a 2021 Telugu thriller) but that was largely based on a Bengali story. So he wanted me to do the same for this film. And while I was dubbing and sending him my parts, he liked my voice and suggested I sing a scratch for him for the main song of the film, which is Vande Mataram. I sang the scratch and he presented it to the director of the film and the main approvals were pending because big names of the industry were being considered.

How did you prepare for it?

I didn’t prepare much because I’m a music composer in Mumbai and my work is to compose music for my clients and I hardly get to sing. I only sing for those special occasions or songs where I can do my bit for my country or for something special. Though I haven’t watched the film yet, I had to visualise it and align with the creative heads of the film and that’s how spontaneously I had to prepare in the studio.

What were the challenges?

There were lots of challenges, the biggest was to get myself confirmed as a singer. Although the music director of the film, Mickey J. Meyer approached me and made the offer and liked my voice, you need multiple approvals and considering a production company like Sony International Productions, the director, plus the creative heads, you need everyone’s approval. Being a small fish in the industry, where everybody is selecting and talking about A-listers, to break into that and grab a spot, and belt out the main anthem of the film, was a huge moment. To sing this track wasn’t very easy. Although people think that if a song has classical nuances it is relatively tougher. No! Singing a rock anthem is equally tough because it involves a lot of voice modulation and that too the song was in a language that I don’t speak.

What are your takeaways from the project?

I want to explore more singing opportunities in the Telugu industry, in Mumbai as well as Calcutta. The experience and high of debuting in the Telugu film industry is an addition to the list.

How has your journey been?

This year, I completed 10 years of living in Mumbai and working here as a music director and composer, and now a singer. The journey has been bittersweet. There have been some bumpy rides, and yes there were moments when I faced life but also tasted the sweetness of what my life had to offer.

What do you miss about Calcutta?

Definitely the perks of living at my dad’s hotel and eating at my mom’s restaurant, where everything is “on the house” (laughs). Jokes apart, I miss Calcutta winter, food, my family and childhood friends.

What are some of your upcoming projects?

There are quite a few. I’m currently working on some of my compositions and have lots of deadlines to meet with my clients. There are a couple of projects, where I’m going to join in as playback singer.