How many end up winning a National Award when they are barely a film old? But not many are as abundantly talented and gifted as music director Amit Trivedi is. His music in 'Dev D' consisted of independent music elements known among the upper-crust of the society, but also found relevance amongst the common folk as well.Wrongly hailed in the media as the poor man's Rahman, discerning music enthusiasts have conveniently categorized him as a mainstream slave without the slightest idea that he started out as a part of an independent college band with little formal training in music.To broaden his horizons, he used to socialize and research by himself. Born in a typical Gujarati family, he grew up listening to Gujarati folk and devotional music. He had only obtained formal training in piano and Indian classical music for a brief period.'I used to learn piano from my teacher Xavier Fernandes. He used to teach the instrument across genres such as jazz, pop and others. But that was for a very brief period. It was hardly six months. Because he had to fly out to Australia for a year where his daughter used to stay. So I was stranded then.' recalls Amit.Ask him on how old was he then, 'I was in my early twenties. Till then I was trying to explore things on my own. Trying to learn music on my own. After Mr. Fernandes left for Australia, I was left looking for avenues. Then I started learning Indian classical music. But that too lasted for just three months. Something unexpected had happened and I had to quit. So it was for a very limited period. I am still hungry and thirsty to learn. I want to learn but somehow my stars are not quite favorable when it comes to learning,' laughs the composer.Who would believe that a National Award winning music director had started out late to learn music and could barely gather a year's formal training?'But I just couldn't do it due to outside reasons. Not any that were my own. My first teacher flew to Australia, the second fell sick, and then I went to another teacher, only to realise that I know better than he does. So, there were instances where I tried to learn but it was not happening. I had to take it on my own then. I started learning by myself and exploring day in and day out, while on the job,' he asserts.Speaking about while learning on the job, Trivedi acquired his skillset while composing advertising jingles in the studio.'I was a part of this band in college called 'Om'. There was a composer by the name Amartya Raut. He used to compose, while I was the programmer on the keyboards. So together, we ventured into advertising,' he adds.He also composed a few songs for singer Abhijeet Sawant, following the latter39s victory after the first season of the music-based reality show Indian Idol. Doe he believe that studio experience can enhance innovation and creativity?'Absolutely.' Trivedi asserts. 'It was like schooling for me. I learnt a lot from being in advertising. I'm still doing it and I love doing advertising. That is something I wish to keep at till I can. That's where all the training starts. Because you only get thirty seconds to make a mark and create an impact. That's where the challenge lies in bringing out your best.'It was through these advertising jingles that he met singer Shilpa Rao, who then introduced him to Anurag Kashyap, the director of 'Dev D'. Trivedi composed the entire soundtrack of 'Dev D' and was then recommended by Kashyap to Rajkumar Gupta, the director of 'Aamir'. Though 'Aamir' saw theatrical release first, it was a fairly decent teaser of what was coming our way before 'Dev D' happened.Ask him on why he is wrongly hailed as the Poor Man's Rahman and the composer sportingly chips in, 'When I did 'Dev D', I was just instinctively reacting to the situation and the brief, and very naturally doing the music that I do. I had no idea as to what kind of an impact will it leave upon the audience. It was just me doing my music in my small little room, without an idea of what would it bring or not bring. After it released and came out, then these names started floating as 'The Next Rahman', 'The Poor Man's Rahman', 'The Next Big Thing' and what not. All those tags were unique and different. I would be asked as to how I come out with such a unique brand of music. I would say that I have no idea. All these adjectives have been given by the media and the people. I was only innocently doing my thing. And that is the only way I know how to make music. So when I used to come across these terms, I would say, 'Okay, so be it. Whatever makes people happy',' He says with a laugh.As a composer he believes that once you reach there, ensure that the sensibilities of others do not hinder with your thought-process. He insists on listening to a script before beginning work on the score.'Yes, the script is very important. I would not know how to or in which direction do I float in, unless and until I know the world of the film."One can totally relate to where his point is coming from, considering that the films that he has composed for, boast of vastly contrasting subjects, whether it's a 'Dear Zindagi' or 'Udta Punjab'. It does become important to know what are you working on before you start the process.Amit asserts, 'I am most importantly the director's composer. It's not like I'm not making music for the people or the producers. But my priority is the director and his vision. I focus on that first because I personally believe that we are in the business of making films. I've seen generally that producers nowadays, focus on instant hit songs, item songs, chartbusters and they expect composers to give them that. So I get confused. I think are we in the business of making films and music is a small part of the film's narrative or are we in the business of making music albums? So it gets confusing that way. I am primarily a director's composer. I like to work with very closely with the directors. I love to pick their brain. When I was told that the story of 'Udta Punjab' is based in rural Punjab and is about substance abuse, I gauged the direction as to where I should go with my music. While with 'Dear Zindagi', director Gauri Shinde was making a very women-centric, breezy, slice-of-life kind of a film that was light-hearted. So with that film too I knew where I had to head. These directions were very clear.'So in instances where the stories are based in the hinterlands of the country, does it take a conscious effort to use local talent hailing from the regions where the stories are set at, as they are in a better position to add to the local flavour in the compositions?'Absolutely. I have always done that,' maintains Trivedi. 'That is definitely my conscious effort to choose singers basis on where the films are based at. I would try to bring that flavour. For instance, while doing 'Shubh Aarambh' in 'Kai Po Che' which is based in Gujarat, I had actually called Praful Dave who is a very renowned folk singer and Shruti Pathak who is also from Gujarat. And Praful has a very earthy voice, mitti ki awaaz hai usmein. But the producers and directors were not convinced fearing that the song could get too folksy. So I took the middle way and got in Divya Kumar. That way, I didn't lose the folk touch and it was in lieu with the Bollywood flavor.'Ask him on how should one take aspiring musicians forward and he believes that one should initiate a cause to help others make the cut in their own right. Personally, he wants to bring the physically disabled musicians to the fore.'There are many talented guys out there. Whether they are physically-disabled, or blind or whatever their shortcomings may be. Their work is much better than ours. So I wish to tap their talent. They might not get the opportunity to be what they are. So I would like to reach out to them with my institute or some initiative and they can also become stars. They can showcase their talent, if given the opportunity and travel the world. Maybe not now because it is the initial stage for me, but definitely, I would love to do something for them in the future," Amit concludes.The above editorial was compiled as an initiative for the Radio City Freedom Awards 4.0.