{"id":363345,"date":"2025-11-24T10:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T05:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/?p=363345"},"modified":"2025-11-24T10:50:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T05:50:46","slug":"two-worlds-one-rhythm-vishal-bhardwaj-b-ajaneesh-loknath-honour-lata-mangeshkars-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/two-worlds-one-rhythm-vishal-bhardwaj-b-ajaneesh-loknath-honour-lata-mangeshkars-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Worlds, One Rhythm: Vishal Bhardwaj & B. Ajaneesh Loknath Honour Lata Mangeshkar\u2019s Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Two Worlds, One Rhythm: Vishal Bhardwaj & B. Ajaneesh Loknath Honour Lata Mangeshkar\u2019s Legacy <\/h2>\n


Vishal Bhardwaj\u2019s Musical Anecdotes and Heartfelt Lataji Memories Charms Audience<\/p>\n

Ajaneesh Captivates with his Experiements in Folk Music<\/p>\n

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#IFFIWood, 23 November 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Annual Lata Mangeshkar Memorial Talk at IFFI, titled \u201cThe Rhythms of India: From the Himalayas to the Deccan,\u201d unfolded like a vibrant musical journey, weaving together memory, melody and the magic of creation. With music composers Vishal Bhardwaj and B. Ajaneesh Loknath in conversation and critic Sudhir Srinivas steering the dialogue, the session offered the audience a rare chance to witness two distinctive musical minds open their creative worlds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The evening began on a warm note as filmmaker Ravi Kottarakkara felicitated the speakers, calling music a force that lifts us up and binds us together. His words gently ushered in a conversation that was equal parts reflective, humorous and deeply musical.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Admiration, Influence and Iconic Themes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sudhir set the tone immediately, reminding the audience that Ajaneesh is \u201cmuch more than the \u2018Kantara\u2019 composer,\u201d and that between him and Vishal, the room held \u201cthe past, present and future of Indian music.\u201d From there, the discussion blossomed into a heartfelt exchange between two artists who have long admired each other\u2019s work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vishal spoke first, calling the \u2018Kantara\u2019 theme \u201cone of the finest film themes ever composed,\u201d and admitting it compelled him to seek out the composer behind it. Ajaneesh responded with a smile and a memory: \u2018Maachis,\u2019 Chappa Chappa, and the unmistakable rhythmic \u201cswing\u201d of Vishal\u2019s music that had shaped him since childhood. He even hummed a bit of the rhythm to a delighted audience.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When the conversation moved to \u2018Pani Pani Re,\u2019 the room leaned closer. Vishal described how the sound of water and the silence of a riverbank defined the song\u2019s soul. He recalled Lata Mangeshkar\u2019s instinctive perfection, how she remembered every note, sang in a single take, and even suggested adjustments in the tune to mirror the flow of water. \u201cShe wasn\u2019t just a singer,\u201d he said. \u201cShe was a composer in her own right.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Inside the Composer\u2019s Mind<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ajaneesh then offered a glimpse into his own quirky process. He talked about how expressive syllables like \u2018ayyayyo\u2019 and \u2018abbabba\u2019 often creep into his tunes to convey emotion before lyrics arrive. Directors, he laughed, almost always insist on keeping them. His anecdote about the pressure-filled final days of composing \u2018Varaharoopam\u2019 20 days before release drew amused reactions from the audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

The talk took a philosophical turn when Sudhir asked why musicians often speak of a spiritual force in creativity. Vishal answered with characteristic clarity: \u201cThe closest we come to silence is music.\u201d He spoke of the mysterious, almost sacred arrival of a tune, something he believes comes \u201cfrom somewhere else.\u201d Ajaneesh agreed, saying he has never fully understood how he enters the creative state, and that he has never credited himself for \u2018Kantara.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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Language, Folk Traditions and India\u2019s Sonic Landscapes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The session then explored the intricate interplay between language and music. Ajaneesh spoke of how the \u2018Karma\u2019 song connected universally, while other songs rooted in cultural nuance do not always travel the same way. Vishal recalled his experiences composing in Malayalam, working with MT Vasudevan Nair and ONV Kurup, and the fascinating challenges of composing in a language he did not fully know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Folk music took centre stage next. Ajaneesh described folk as \u201cborn from innocence,\u201d explaining how \u2018Kantara\u2019 relied entirely on tribal instruments until its climactic fusion. He illustrated India\u2019s rhythmic diversity with the example of Koraga communities that communicate via distinct dhol patterns. Vishal added that India contains \u201cmany cultures,\u201d each with its own dialects, textures, folk traditions and musical signatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Future of Music: AI, Lyrics and Storytelling<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the session opened for questions, discussions flowed from lyrics and storytelling to AI and the future of music. Ajaneesh said AI may help in certain contexts, while Vishal reminded the audience that technology must not be feared: \u201cWe will learn what to use and what to leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, the Memorial Talk did more than honour the Nightingale of India. It traced the sweeping landscape of Indian music, from classical to folk, from personal memories to spiritual reflections, and allowed the audience to witness creativity in its most candid form. It was a tribute not just in name, but in spirit: a celebration of rhythm, culture, memory and the endless melodies that shape the Indian imagination.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About IFFI <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia\u2019s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse\u2014where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix\u2014international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa\u2019s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20\u201328, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices\u2014an immersive celebration of India\u2019s creative brilliance on the world stage.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For more information, click on: <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

IFFI Website: <\/strong>https:\/\/www.iffigoa.org\/<\/a> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PIB\u2019s IFFI Microsite:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/iffi\/56\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel: <\/strong>https:\/\/whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

X Handles:<\/strong> @IFFIGoa, @PIB_India, @PIB_Panaji<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW |<\/strong> Ritu Shukla\/Nikita Joshi\/Sreeshma K\/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 – 053<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Release ID:<\/strong> 2193288<\/span>   |   Visitor Counter:<\/strong> 331<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two Worlds, One Rhythm: Vishal Bhardwaj & B. Ajaneesh Loknath Honour Lata Mangeshkar\u2019s Legacy Vishal Bhardwaj\u2019s Musical Anecdotes and Heartfelt Lataji Memories Charms Audience Ajaneesh Captivates with his Experiements in Folk Music #IFFIWood, 23 November 2025 The Annual Lata Mangeshkar Memorial Talk at IFFI, titled \u201cThe Rhythms of India: From the Himalayas to the Deccan,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-363345","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-others"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363345"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":363358,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363345\/revisions\/363358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}