Merchant with Ali on set

Within a matter of a few minutes, Salim Merchant paints for us a picture of Amrtisar’s Darbar Sahib, its residential properties, the Attari border situated kilometres way, and its people’s love for food. “Whenever you meet anyone, the first thing they ask is, ‘Kya khaoge?’” says the composer, having evidently romanced the world that his latest song is set in.

Merchant developed a fondness for Amrtisar when he first visited the Northern city to “soak in the vibe” ahead of his work on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. “The late Yash Chopra ji had asked me to visit the place before we began working on the film. It is devotional, and simplistic. The people’s love for food is unmatched. We shot a love song called Rab di sau in Attari for Valentine’s Day,” says the composer of the song that has been penned by Kumaar, and rendered by Indian Idol singer Salman Ali.

The conspicuous terraces of the city’s smaller towns flashed through his mind as he composed the track and weaved the narrative. “I needed [to locate] the buildings with those terraces where we could showcase the boy and girl looking at each other. This is how small town love stories actually begin. I wanted to showcase the open fields, and include simple elements like bicycles to recreate the old-world charm. The song showcases a boy who is [returning home], thinking about his lover, and looking at her pictures on his phone. Creating the story while composing the song helps me arrange it better, and select the right instrumentation.”

The assorted array of tracks coming out of the Merchant Brothers’ stable is rather noteworthy. Apart from their annual passion project, Bhoomi, the third edition of which is underway, the musicians have collaborated with the who’s who of the industry for their two-year old music label. “Our next is a Maha Shivratri song with Indian Idol singer Pawandeep Rajan. We follow it up with a playful Holi track, and near Diwali, we bring out Bhoomi again. So, we do follow the calendar and cater [to the important days]. There is an indie single, a beautiful song with a new singer named Muheet Bharti, a dance track with Raj Pandit, and a few Punjabi tracks to cater to current tastes.”

In a bid to back female singers in need of a worthy platform, the brothers are also finalising a few names to associate with. “It is so nice to be part of the musical journeys of all these artistes who we are involved with.”

A simple parameter helps Merchant sieve a song that should make it to the Bhoomi album from one that should not. “Bhoomi is a specific project — a reflection of India’s culture, our folk roots, and traditional [practices]. It is a reflection of our country.”