After a long break from Bollywood, Pritam Chakraborty returns to composing and to stage shows. He discusses his depression, subsequent extended vacation, his return and the way ahead
Bryan Durham (DNA; April 11, 2015)


Why? If you remember, Pritam used to be in a band and performed live for years before making it huge in Bollywood. And since Bollywood, it’s been success after incessant success for this much-loved composer. The pressures of delivering hit after hit for over a decade finally took its toll, and he never really got around to performing live with his band. Until October 2013.

That’s when he decided enough was enough. “I started getting depressed at around that time. And when that happened, I decided it was time to dial it back a little,” he shares. And so he took an extended break from Bollywood all the way till October 2014.

What did he do with all that free time? Ask him and he says emphatically, “I did nothing with a capital N. I just roamed around, went on a month-and-a-half long holiday. I didn’t compose anything new. I didn’t get back to music at all in that time. And it’s a decision I made after much thought. So I visited old friends, travelled with the family, spent time at home, renovated my office and took up a lot of live gigs as well.”

He says it was an amazing experience hitting the stage again after that long. And it’s something he doesn’t want to give up on. And so, he has made a conscientious effort to do more gigs from now on in India and abroad.

So, we’ve heard a lot about his recent gigs. And the world knows he’s worked with a multitude of singers over the years. So how does he pick them for live shows? He says, “With shows, it’s all about who has the dates. When I’m doing a show, I just see who’s free and get them to come along. For example, my last gig had eight singers travelling with me. It sort of becomes a party. A full-on celebration.”

And the most demanded track is? “Kabira (from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)”, he shoots back sans hesitation.