Treading the hard path to success

Music composer Ismail Darbar tells about his struggles and much more to Madhur Tankha...

There are no shortcuts to taste success. And no one knows it better than music composer Ismail Darbar, who is revered for his thought-provoking and sensitive compositions. Having struggled hard for over a decade in the big, bad world of Bollywood before one of the finest Hindi film directors took note of his inborn artistic talent to infuse life into meaningless songs, he knows what success really means.

In the Capital on Saturday to judge a musical competition "Hero Honda Surtarang National Singing Talent Hunt", Ismail said he was elated to have arrived in New Delhi. "Dilli genuinely belongs to big-hearted people. It was here that the prestigious National Award was conferred on me for my debut film `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. The city has been lucky for me as it is difficult and unimaginable for an upcoming composer to bag such an important award and that too for his first film. However, first and foremost I am thankful to the Almighty for showering his blessings on me."

On his little known background, Ismail said he hails from Surat, a city in Gujarat. "Surat has given Bollywood three immensely talented artistes. It has produced one of the best Hindi film actors Sanjeev Kumar and also the legendary Mehboob Khan who directed `Mother India'. Thirdly, it produced me. In Mumbai I learnt Western classical music from Ramprasad Sharma. But Hindustani classical music was in my blood as before me all the three generations of my family were into this wonderful music. My father, Hussain Sahib, played saxophone and clarinet. Western classical instruments were also played by my grandfather and great grandfather," he said.

Asked how he managed to get a break in acclaimed film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", Ismail's eyes lit up and a smile crossed his countenance. "After playing violin for 21 years, I took the decision to become a music composer. It was Kunal Ganjawala who gave my name to Sanjay. In our first meeting at his house, I sang the song `Tadap Tadap'. It took Sanjay six months before he decided to sign me on for the film. He is truly one of our best directors. I say this not because Sanjay is my friend or because he gave me a break but because he has done the whole Hindustan proud through his brilliant cinema." Ismail is gung-ho about his upcoming film "Pyaar Kiya To Nibhana" in which he has got a golden opportunity to make Lata Manageshkar sing. "Though Lataji is 77-years-old yet she works with energy and enthusiasm of a 17-year-old. After I sang the song to make Lataji understand the nuances, she practiced the song till 2 a.m. in the morning and even skipped lunch to dub the song." Expressing happiness that musical programme "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" on Zee TV was giving a platform to a number of budding singers, Ismail said sometimes it disturbs him to see that teenagers were making such painstaking efforts to make a mark in the industry. "It should not be forgotten that the contestants have been away from their homes for the past eight months and have even temporarily discontinued their studies," he said.

About the glamour element introduced in the programme, Ismail said it was necessary to create interest among those who do not give importance to songs. "Even channels have to recover their cost. They provide food, accommodation and all types of comforts to the contestants that too in a place like Mumbai. Naturally, a little glamour element is necessary."

In unreleased "Mehbooba" Ismail has got a chance to work with Sanjay Dutt. Ismail said that despite being son of the late Sunil Dutt and a big star, Sanjay is a down-to-earth person. "He knows the importance of sharing a personal bond with the actors."

Even though his contemporary Himesh Reshammiya is making waves by belting out popular chartbusters like "Aashiq Banaya Aapne", Ismail is content sticking to his own field. Ruling out singing songs, he said: "I only sing when I have to make the film director and singer understand the nuances of the song. The day I feel that a particular song can be best sung by me alone I would certainly do it. A person has to bear out his soul while singing. If he is a sensitive, warm human being then it reflects in his song."