I Was Surprised When Pawan Kalyan Garu Called Me: Ajay Arasada

Pawan Kalyan Garu Called Me Personally After Seeing My Work – Ajay Arasada

Music director Ajay Arasada has created a strong impression with projects like Aay, Save the Tigers, Vikatakavi and Gurthukostunnayi. From working in the IT sector to becoming a music director, his journey has been an interesting one. In a recent interaction, Ajay spoke about his career, working with directors, AI in music and his meeting with Pawan Kalyan.

 How did your journey begin?

I am from Vizag, and music has always been part of my family. Before entering films, I worked at TCS for seven years. During that period, I got an opportunity to work on two films.

Devi Sri Prasad has always been a big inspiration for me. My mother and wife gave me tremendous support when I decided to enter the film industry. My friend Sricharan introduced me as a keyboard programmer for Goodachari, which was an important step in my journey.

What was your experience with smaller films?

I never considered smaller films a problem. I worked with some very good production houses, so I did not face any major issues with payments or work. Every project gave me something to learn.

What kind of music do you want to create?

I don't want to be known for only one type of music. I want to work on different genres and give every story the sound it needs.

If the film demands mass music, I will do mass music. If the story needs something fresh or different, I will explore that too. I want my music to come from my own understanding rather than following any particular industry trend.

Does the budget decide the quality of music?

Not for me. I concentrate on getting the right sound for the song.

Even when it comes to singers, I choose someone based on what the song needs. My goal is to create music that people can remember for years.

 What happens to music when a film moves from theatres to OTT?

We usually compose and mix music keeping the big-screen experience in mind. Theatre sound can give the music a much bigger impact.

For instance, I feel Vikatakavi would have sounded very different in theatres. Some of the original impact can be lost when the film is eventually watched on OTT.

Will AI change the music industry?

AI is definitely a useful technology, but I don't think it can replace a music director.

We sometimes receive AI-generated tracks from producers who ask us to create something similar. Since AI often produces similar-sounding results, we sometimes joke about it.

AI can help technicians, but simply knowing how to use AI doesn't make someone a composer.

 You recently met Pawan Kalyan garu. How did that happen?

I have been creating music for Jana Sena programmes. Recently, when Pawan Kalyan garu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I created the score for the occasion.

After seeing my work, Pawan Kalyan garu personally called me. He told me that we could work together in the future, either for Jana Sena-related activities or for projects under the PK Creatives banner.

How did you get the opportunity to work with Jana Sena?

My friend Venkat Chikkala, who works there as an editor, helped me get the opportunity. I also received a lot of support from Bunny Vasu garu.

That association eventually became one of the reasons I got the opportunity to work on Aay.

What was your first thought when you heard Pawan Kalyan garu wanted to meet you?

Initially, I was surprised. I wondered why he wanted to meet me personally.

I thought the meeting would last only five or ten minutes. But when I went there, he was alone and we spoke for almost half an hour. We discussed several things, including possible projects we could work on together.

 What happened with your Bose speaker?

I have a Bose speaker that looks like a coffee mug. Pawan Kalyan garu noticed it and asked me about it.

He picked it up and joked that it looked like a coffee cup. He even asked me whether I had brought coffee.

I was pleasantly surprised. I remember thinking, “He is actually joking with me!” I was very happy about that moment.

How different are today's young directors?

The approach has changed quite a bit.

Earlier, directors would clearly explain the emotion, situation and requirement before asking for a tune. Today, some directors explain the scenes but may not clearly communicate the core idea.

For a composer and lyricist, understanding the story and emotion is very important. Once the concept is clear, creating the right music becomes much easier.

Have you ever had problems with credits?

Yes. I faced an issue during Aay. Ram Miriyala garu worked on two songs, while I handled the rest of the music. But in some places, my name was not mentioned correctly.

Bunny Vasu garu supported me and made sure my contribution was mentioned at various events. He also tried to correct the information in the media.

A similar issue happened during Save the Tigers. I believe everyone who contributes to a project should receive proper credit. I follow the same principle with everyone working in my team.

After ten years, how do you look at your career?

It has been a ten-year journey, although COVID took away a significant amount of that time.

The biggest thing I have gained is confidence. Today, I believe I can work on any type of film and create music according to its requirements.

I am also confident that I can handle a big commercial film and deliver good music. I have reached this confidence through all these years of experience.

Now, I am waiting for the right opportunity to show what I can do.