‘My father is a very hardworking man’

We often hear about the next generation of established families from music and film fraternity getting into the same field. Here’s one of them — Raahul Jatin, son of music composer Jatin Pandit of the Jatin-Lalit fame. Raahul launched his single — Aankhon Ke Ishaare, which he has composed and sung. The groovy yet melodious track has been penned by Kumaar. 

Says Raahul, “I had worked on several tracks and Aankhon Ke Ishaare was one of them. I met the head of Zee Music, he liked the song and we shot it.”

So does he take feedback from his father while working on a song? “Not really. This is pretty much my own thing. I took inspiration from Charlie Puth’s song titled Attention. The hook line of Ankhon...is little inspired from that song,” says the upcoming artist.

Raahul says making the video was truly a learning experience. “We shot it in one day. It was tiring but genuinely exciting. I have done back flips, and cartwheel in the song. Digital music is not just listening to a song, it’s seeing it as well. You have to be more than just a singer for the audience to connect with you. The song is also very different from the trending ones,” says Raahul.

The legacy 
Jatin-Lalit were a hit pair in the ’90s and early 2000. They  composed music for films like Khiladi, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Khamoshi: The Musical, Yes Boss,  Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum and several others. They have worked on 473 songs in 72 films. Though the duo parted ways, their music is still loved by masses. 

Carrying forward the family legacy is always a difficult task. But Raahul isn’t worried about it. “I don’t even think about it. My dad has done great work. I am just doing my best and having great fun. Let’s see what happens,” he says. 

Since he has stepped into the music industry, people are going to compare his work to that of his father. “Yes but I am just going to do my best and then let the listeners decide. Till the time I and my family are satisfied with my work, I am ok. No one can assure that the song they have created will be a huge hit. We just have to give our best,” explains Raahul.

Dad’s way
Music was a major part of Raahul’s childhood. He has been training in classical music under his father from the age of 5. No wonder he has the highest regard for his illustrious father. “Dad is a very hardworking man. There is so much to learn from him. I have learnt to be focused and dedicated like him,” he adds. 

When it comes to naming his favourite album composed by Jatin-Lalit, Raahul says there are so many of them. “There is Khiladi, then Fanaa, Hum Tum, Yes Boss. That’s the coolest thing about my dad, it’s not just one single album, pretty much every song he has composed is so good.”

And is the dad critical of his work? Raahul replies, “He is. If he doesn’t like something, he will honestly share his views. He will be like, ‘Thik hai. Aisa kuchh khaas nahi hai’.”

Raahul delves into different genres of music — from light classical to Western and from Bollywood to pop. He also plays the piano and guitar. “Creating something, putting together stuff, making people listen to it is a cool feeling. I am glad I have it in my life,” says the young singer who aims to compose Bollywood music just like his father.

Other interests
Raahul has also taken formal training in Bollywood freestyle dance from Shiamak Davar and acting from Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles. But he says he always sang well. “If someone gives me something else to do, it will take a lot of effort but that’s not the case with singing. If you ask me to sing, I will not only have fun but sing it well too,” he says, adding, “So I thought if I am good at my work and enjoying, then I should take it up as a career.”

As far as composition is concerned, if he liked a particular song, he would compose it in his own style. “Dad never pushed me towards composition. It happened because I had an inclination towards it,” Raahul says before signing off.