Nandlal Nayak: Going places

Ranchi, July 24: He is set to conquer the world, not with instruments of hate but with strains of love.

Jharkhand boy Nandlal Nayak, who composed the score for the critically-acclaimed Amu, is going places, wife Wendy Jehlen by his side.

The 34-year-old musician, originally from Ranchi and currently based in Boston, has enthralled audiences across the United States, Taiwan and France with his folk troupe Kunjban.

In Boston, he runs a performing group, Akhra: the Dancing Grounds, with Wendy, a choreographer who has worked wonders on the stage with her contemporary steps.

The son of folk singer Mukund Nayak, Nandlal has mastered the art of playing traditional drums such as the nagara, dholak, and mandar. Besides, he has also received training in singing and traditional dance forms. Nandlal grew up in an atmosphere conducive to cultural activities and was groomed by Nayak senior, to whom he owes his skills and success.

Acknowledging his achievements, the government had invited Nandlal to perform in the 2002 anniversary celebrations.

Sharing his Amu experience with The Telegraph from Boston, Nandlal said: ?Director Shonali Bose, who is based in Los Angeles, asked me to compose the music for the film. She had sent me the script two years before shooting commenced.?

The film was recently adjudged the Best English Feature Film at the National Awards.

Nandlal used musicians from all over the world when he composed the score.

“I used different kinds of percussion instruments, several vocalists, including myself, and electronic music. When I work I like to fuse as many sounds as possible, giving the music an international feel. In the past I used Japanese koto and jushichigen, Carnatic violinists and vocalists, Rajasthani folk musicians, Sicilian bass players and jazz percussionists from USA for Safar, a musical tour in India. So, the essence of my music is fusion, which I have used even in the film,” he says.

Composing the score for the Konkona Sen Sharma-starrer, Nandlal’s first cinematic venture, was not a cakewalk but he stuck to his task.

“I had to make the music twice because the hard disk that contained the stuff crashed and I had to start from scratch. But as they say, all’s well that ends well. I received incredible support in Delhi and in the US while making the music. I also brought a Japanese musician to Delhi who worked on the recording. I was fortunate to work with people who were generous with their creativity and the end product was directly from the heart of the musicians involved,” says the multi-faceted Nandlal.

Among his other noteworthy works is the “Hands: rhythm project”, which he created for the Japan-US Friendship Commission in collaboration with Japanese musicians.

He recently finished composing the score for a documentary film. Directed by Abhijit Banerjee, The Name of the Disease is about the state of healthcare in villages of Rajasthan.

The project that Nandlal is really looking forward is one close to his heart — a film on Jharkhand to be shot in the state later this year.

“I’m not only the music director but also the director and producer of the film. I do not want to disclose the subject and the title of the film but the subject will definitely be related to the state and its burning social problems. I have assembled an incredibly talented team for the film and am looking forward to working on it in the coming months,” says Nandlal, always willing to expand his horizon.

The artiste feels that budding musicians should be exposed to a variety of art forms and inspirations.

“The aspiring musicians should be strong in at least one art form. Young musicians in Jharkhand often face resource crunch and are not able to learn the art thoroughly. Music needs creativity, an open mind and a great deal of practice and study. I am comfortable collaborating with musicians from other traditions because of my roots in the rich music of Jharkhand,” shares Nandlal.