Pritam Chakraborty (Bengali: প্রীতম চক্রবর্তী), generally known simply as Pritam (Bengali: প্রীতম), is a Bollywood music director and composr.

Biography

Born to a Bengali family in Kolkata, Pritam is the son of Prabodh Chakraborty, who runs a music school for children. Pritam gained his early training in music from his father, and learned to play the guitar while still in school.

Education

After completing his schooling from St. James' School and college education from Presidency College, Pritam joined Bangla rock band, Chandrabindu. He left the band in 1997 to undertake a course in sound engineering at the Film and Television Institute in Pune. During this time, he was offered a chance to compose background music for a film by Hungarian filmmaker Isteran Gaal. He also learnt African music from musicologist Kedar Avati.

Career as Composer

With Jeet

Having completed his education, Pritam moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood. During his stay in Mumbai, he began composing ad jingles, and became friendly with a number of other young men struggling to make it big, like Shantanu Moitra, Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Gadhvi and Chandrajeet Ganguly, also known as Jeet, who played the guitar with Anup Jalota.

Pritam got his first break when Gadhvi was signed on to direct Tere Liye and he, in turn, signed on his friends Jeet and Pritam as music composers. Though the music was well received, the film sank at the box office. However, in 2002 Yashraj signed Gadhvi up to direct Mere Yaar ki Shaadi Hai  for which the Jeet-Pritam duo once again composed the music. All the songs from that movie were chartbusters, and the duo had hit the big time.

Solo Career

Jeet and Pritam worked together for only one more film which was Mudda-The Issue, before amicably parting. After the separation, Pritam's career as a solo musician stalled as he signed a series of flops like Fun2shh - Dudes In The 10th Century and Agnipankh. The films sank at the box office and with them, Pritam’s music too. However, in 2004, Pritam composed the music for Sanjay Gadhvi's second film, Dhoom, which was a runaway success. The film did well and the music topped the charts. The song Dhoom Machale, sung in Hindi by Sunidhi Chauhan and in English by Tata Young, was a huge hit, and won him the MTV Award for Best Composer.

Pritam followed up the success of Dhoom with a string of chartbusting numbers after a year for Chocolate, Garam Masala and Gangster. Most recently he composed the music for Dhoom 2, the sequel to Dhoom.

Pritam's music is catchy and is very popular with younger listeners. However, he has often been criticised for plagiarism. Pritam counters that he is simply "inspired" by various musical sources and cites his sources whenever appropriate.

A partial list is provided below:

Filmography

I don’t know if I’m the hottest but  I’m surely one of the most popular.  Now that Garam Masala is a hit, I’m being called a bankable music director.

But after Dhoom, weren’t you under severe pressure to come up with similar soundtracks?

Even two years after Dhoom I meet producers who expect me to repeat the Dhoom sound. That’s frustrating and  flattering. The title song was a hit because of the film’s packaging. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a big hit if it was in a non-descript film.

Even after giving them a huge hit, you’re still not part of the Yashraj camp?

In Yashraj, directors work with their own teams. If they’re making Dhoom 2  they call me. If some day, they make a sequel to Hum Tum, I’m sure Jatin-Lalit will do that project. Yashraj works like a factory, everyone’s role is defined. I’ve no complaints.

Critics often remark that you’ve a major Viju Shah hangover?

I’ve heard that too but that’s not true. The perception must have found credence because I use a fusion of bhangra, Arabic and western groove like Viju does. But there’s no inspiration if any sort.

You were ignored at all the major award functions.

..And I’m still very upset about that. I thought I’d done enough to deserve at least one big award. Though I’m happy for my friend, Kunal Ganjawala, who won the most promising musician award at a major award function. That was one award I desperately wanted to win. I thought I was worthy enough.

You are also charged with having plagiarised two songs from the Pakistani band Jal in the Chocolate soundtrack?
I would like to make it very clear that I have not composed the songs. Panahon mein and Zahreeli raatein were already recorded when I stepped in to compose the other songs of Chocolate. I got to know of them when I was mixing and mastering my songs. This question should be answered by the producer.

Earlier, you were a part of the Jeet-Pritam team. Why did you split?

Jeet wanted to work on his own, it was his decision to split. After Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, he felt he had it in him to carry a film on his shoulder. Contrary to rumours, it was a mutual decision, there was no ugly quarrel. It’s much easier working as a team.

Can you co-exist with other composers in the politics driven world of film music?

(Laughs) In spite of all the politics in the music business you can co-exist if you know your job. I know of a senior ‘copy cat’ music director who badmouths me continuously during his music sessions.

But when we meet socially, he’s cordial. And I laugh to myself. If hypocrisy is inevitable you might as well lie back and enjoy it.

How do you feel when music directors copy your style?
It’s flattering no doubt. Everyone felt Salim-Sulaiman’s compositions for Kaal had a huge Dhoom hangover. That made me feel good.

Tell us a little about your background?
I come from a middle class Kolkata family. I completed my MSc from Presidency College, then joined FTII, Pune to do sound engineering. I used to lie to my parents that I was doing engineering and it was only in the third year that they discovered the truth.

Though my parents were initially apprehensive, they’re now very happy with my success.

Lastly, are you trapped into repeating your grooves?
Yes I am. I’m trapped into doing  similar ‘disco’ kind of compositions. I’m fed up with that. I would like to compose soothing romantic numbers.
 
I want to have a soundtrack like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in my kitty. Actually, soft numbers are my forte.

Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Q. Your natural act as a middle class Bengali character Partho in 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd' has come for much appreciation. Was there a reference point somewhere that made the character appear so believable?

A. Not really. Even for this role I went ahead in my normal mode. It wasn't as if I had gone out to some research. For me the script is what guides me while the director's inputs are most important. From hereon I come up with my own interpretation but that too within the parameters of what the script and director have to offer.

Q. So in HTPL was it the script that drove you most?

A. Exactly. Once you follow the script and have an exciting role cut out of you, you end up doing something unique. Also, since no two people are same, something similar holds good for the characters as well who are bound to be different.

Q. Something like that holds good for you too since one saw you in different light first in 'Black Friday' and now in HTPL.

A. And for that I must repeat that I am absolutely proud of my audience, especially when I look at the response 'Black Friday' has generated. Audience has palled up the film with open arms and an open heart. This has gone on to prove that both Indian audience as well as Indian cinema has come of age while the level of film making too has changed.

Q. You sound really happy...

A. Yes, I am. See, 'Black Friday' released two years late and anything could have happened due to a delayed release. For someone like me who is an actor, the delay may not hamper much but the same cannot be said about the writer/director Anurag Kashyap since he was waiting for his film to hit the marquee. I felt bad that the film was stuck but thankfully everything is good now. It is good to see that the film has been received well with the audience maturing up too.

Q. Doesn't this make you believe in the corner of your heart that 'Paanch' too may eventually see the light of the day?

A. [Laughs] Of course I would want to see the film releasing at theatres before I die. We all would before we all die! Every film is made for an audience to watch it; that's the natural cycle for any film. Once this cycle is complete it is up to the audience to either accept or reject it, but the least is that the film should be seen. Having said that the producer unfortunately doesn't have the guts or the mettle to bring the film up for release. The film is ready and has been cleared by Censors for ages. Still it's a pity not to see the film being released.

Q. That sounds quite disappointing..

A. Yes, we all are disappointed since everyone from the cast and crew worked so hard on the film. It is the only genuine noir genre film and even though many other films claim to be so, they actually do not belong to the genre in entirety. But anyways, let's leave it. None of us are pining any hopes on the film anymore. If it releases, then it will be great for us and the audience but that's about it!

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