Music director Asad Nizam is one of the most sought-after names in the Odia film industry. In the last couple of years, he has given quite a few hits like Bhijei dei ja, Mahire Mahire, Sakhi and Faguna in films like Sapanara Pathe Pathe, Love in Capital, Tapori and Mu Paradeshi Chadhei. Orissa POST speaks to the composer about his musical journey.
Born to lyricist-screenwriter late Mohammad Nizam and Gulshan Ara Haque in Cuttack, Asad was inclined towards music from childhood. “Given that my father was a prominent lyricist, I was exposed to music at a young age. I loved listening to instrumental versions, particularly on guitar. I also learnt the basics of guitar from my first guru, Md Mubarak,” says Asad.
A graduate of Christ College, Cuttack, Asad got a break in the music industry as a guitarist. “After my graduation, I joined an orchestra as the lead guitarist. There I learnt a lot about music and instruments,” he says. Later, he started working with popular music composers as a music arranger. “Although I was the lead guitarist of an orchestra, arranging music was a different ballgame. I learnt to compose music while arranging music in different studios. My experience as a music arranger helped a lot in honing my skills as a music composer,” he adds.
Why did he take up music composition instead of following in his father’s footsteps? “My father always asked me to listen to my heart. I wanted to create an identity of my own. My father has been my greatest idol and inspiration behind my journey as a music composer,” he says.
Asad got his first break as a music director in the television show Rahasya, a thriller that was aired on DD Odia. “Following that, I composed the background score for a few Odia films. Later I worked as a solo music director for the first time in the Odia film Sapanara Pathe Pathe,” he says. The film’s songs went on to become a hit and then there was no looking back.
Offers started pouring in and Asad started working with the biggest names in the Odia music industry. Besides composing, he also carved a niche as a music recordist and programmer. Although he has focused on music composing, Asad is also a lyricist. “I have written a few songs. Jaanaa jaana was a big hit but I am no match to my father,” says the young composer, an ardent admirer of AR Rahman.
As a music director, Asad has his hands full. “I have quite a few projects on hand but I can’t talk much about them now. The rate at which songs are being created, uploaded and viewed on YouTube, I have to work almost throughout the week. I am trying my best to live up to the expectations of my fans,” he says.
SOYONG, OP