Music director duo Mayukh-Mainak, who love cooking, believe that a sense of proportion is necessary for making music as well as in creating a dish. The Telegraph Online spoke to the brothers — who have composed the music for Varun Grover’s directorial debut All India Rank — and lead singer Aditi Paul, the voice for Noodle Sa Dil.
The All India Rank soundtrack, especially the song Noodle Sa Dil, has become popular. What kind of response are you receiving?
Mayukh: The most precious reaction came from Vishal Bhardwaj (filmmaker and musician) sir. He has lent his voice to one of the songs (Theher Zara) in All India Rank. He watched the film at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023) and liked the songs. The audience has loved the film as well as the songs, so we are happy and relieved. The opening song, Noodle Sa Dil, sets the pitch of the film and it makes us nostalgic about the Bappi Lahiri era.
Aditi Paul: All India Rank is a sweet and heartwarming film. The response has been tremendous. I am getting DMs (direct messages on Instagram), especially from youngsters. Through this song, I have been able to connect with Gen Z. I grew up in the 1990s. I could connect with the theme and the canvas of the song. I have also sent the song to a few music directors, so let’s see how it goes.
Noodle Sa Dil is a homage to Alisha Chinai’s track Made in India. What was the process of creating the indie-pop soundtrack?
Mayukh: Using Alisha Chinai’s Made In India track was Varun’s idea, but we couldn’t get the copyright. Noodle Sa Dil came to us. In this song, we tried to recall the pop style and pop era. Aditi (Paul) is a versatile singer. After finishing the song, her name popped up in our minds. Varun also told me that he has been her fan.
Aditi Paul: The song is a homage to Alisha Chinai. While doing my research, I tried to use her singing style, pronunciation and tonality but I wanted to stick to my style with a little bit of modulation. I am glad people liked it.
All India Rank is Varun Grover’s directorial debut. He’s known for creating socially relevant content. How did this collaboration happen?
Mayukh: This is our first Hindi film as music directors as well. Everyone in the cast and crew are new, so we are very excited. We first met Varun while working in another film where he was the lyricist and he had told us that he would want to work with us on a short film. Kiss was also a very good film. He sent us the script, we did the songs and the background music.
Aditi Paul: I sang something like Noodle Sa Dil for the first time. I listened to some of Alisha Chinai and Nazia Hassan’s songs. I tried to modulate accordingly. It was so much fun. We paid tribute to the indie pop disco era and the Biddu music genre. I loved the fact that in the film when the lead actor (Bodhisattva Sharma) listens to the song, my name is on the cassette. It’s humbling.
Aditi, you have worked with Mayukh-Mainak before, so the collaboration seems seamless for this project...
Aditi Paul: I love how organically the duo make music, the harmony they create and their arrangement. I was supremely excited when they called me and told me that it was Varun Grover’s debut film because I am a huge fan of his writing, whether it is his films, songs, or stand-up comedy. Hence, when they called me, it was a yes from my side at one go. We were on the same page from the very beginning.
What’s keeping you busy?
Mayukh: Besides ad commercials, we are working on the music for another film, Little Thomas, starring Rasika Dugal and Gulshan Devaiah.
Aditi Paul: I am working on some of my singles. Two of them are ready. One of them is a ghazal. It will open a new avenue for me, so I am supremely excited. A few collaborations are lined up.
Mayukh, we saw you dividing time between the kitchen and the studio on Instagram. Does this passion for cooking help in creating music as well?
Mayukh: We love cooking, from dal-bhaat to chorchori to mughlai paratha. We would rather cook at home than order. Any art form is about setting the correct proportion, so having a certain sense of proportion has a definite connection with music. (Smiles)
