As Band of Maharajas reaches Oscars Contention in two categories — Best Original Song and Best Original Score — director Girish Malik and music composer Bickram Ghosh tell us what makes their musical Oscar-worthy

The story based on a sanjha Punjab, of shared roots and common life, took shape in young Girish Malik’s mind, who then lived in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar – the border areas of Punjab. That story got a screen outing in the form of a musical, titled Band of Maharajas.

Directed by Girish, Band of Maharajas has been declared eligible for the Oscars in two prestigious categories. The film’s soul-stirring song Ishq Walla Daku and the captivating original score, composed by the renowned maestro Bickram Ghosh, are in the race for the Oscars contention for nomination in the Best Original Song and Best Original Score categories. The duo is joyous. It’s their second Oscar run after Jal (2013) that was short-listed for Best Original Score. “Ishq Walla Daku is one among 80 songs that are in consideration this year,” says Girish.

He opens up on how his young mind was impacted when the elders in his family talked about the shared legacy between India and Pakistan. “I carried that seed since my childhood, and when around 2008, Pakistani artistes faced resistance as music was labelled as a ‘sin’ their country, I started writing the story.” Band of Maharajas is based on three artistes who cross border to pursue their musicals dreams and get into trouble. Interestingly, there is no trailer or song available online. Girish calls it part of his strategy. “In today’s time we need to make sure that the film goes to the best of the platforms worldwide. It’s such a crowded market, so we wanted to take a very serious approach.”

Meeting Bickram was a chance, hastened by Sonu Nigam and Girish’s team. They collaborated on Jal, followed by Torbaaz. Band of Maharajas is their third outing. Both of them are well travelled and share an affinity for world music. “Bickram, a percussionist, is okay with jazz, and equally at ease with folk. And that’s why we click,” says Girish. The film is based on true incidents, and it also features Bickram. In fact, Girish is an actor and dancer too. The film stars Navraj Hans, Arjun Bajwa and Kuwaarjeet Chopraa. “It was interesting to work with the cast that comprised real musicians and actors who were very motivated to be part of the musical film.”

Bickram too is all excited about Ishq Walla Daku. “The song has myriad structures, and an exotic world music sound. We have American drummer Greg Ellis, who has played in Hollywood films like Iron Man, playing nagaras. Then we have used exotic instruments from the Middle-East, the guitar and Punjabi dhol. The sound has a global ring to it, but emotionally it’s Indian.”

The duo is on the same plane when it comes to music but there are disagreements too. “We take each other very seriously and there is a lot of back and forth if we have any disagreement,” says Girish. “We do not impose our thoughts on each other but rather convince each other, and that’s very, very important,” says Bickram.

Everybody dreams of an Oscar, Girish admits. “But for that I am not going to make a slow-burner, showing just poverty and darkness. That sort of a film will run in festival circuit and probably win an Oscar. But for us Indians everything is loud, be it celebrations or death. We are loud and we are allowed to be so. We have to be a little more pleasant to the world audience, but at the same time, it cannot become a film for a handful of people and not the rest of the world. Cinema is for larger audience, and we will keep on doing our karma.”

The duo is happy that Jal, made 10 years back, is now being appreciated by the young audience. “In fact, there is a talk of re-releasing it. People are loving its music and rediscovering it,” says Girish. But, right now the entire focus is on Band of Maharajas and passionate filmmaker Girish is leaving no stone unturned to put in on the Oscar map.