Boston-based jazz violinist Christian Howes will compose few tunes for a movie that is being made on the life of the greatest showman of Marathi cinema, the legendary Bal Gandharva. The movie titled Bal Gandharva will be the first Marathi movie where a western artist will be playing for the orchestra. The movie is closely connected to Pune, as Bal Gandharva breathed his last in this city.

Noted art director Nitin Desai is producing this biopic and feels that Howes’ music in this film will infuse a new ray of light in the world of Marathi cinema. Howes, a classically-trained player, is a famous name in the world of jazz and has shared the stage with the likes of Randy Brecker, Dafnis Prieto, Steve Turre, D D Jackson, Greg Osby, Les Paul, among others. “Bal Gandharva himself had a very avant-garde and unusual approach towards music. He strongly believed that music has no boundaries, and following his thoughts, we decided to bring in Howes and get as creative as possible while planning and composing the music for the film,” informed Desai.

For Howes too, this will be his first experience working in a Marathi film. He plans to bring some subtle changes in his style of composing in order to cater to the taste of Marathi film audience. “I have been hearing a lot of Marathi music these days and have found the style to be incredibly moving and deep. I am making an effort to follow the style of the vocalists in the songs that I have heard,” said Howes.

Bal Gandharva’s audio album has around 21 songs, and Howes has composed the string-section for the song Nahi Mee Bolat Naath, which is a part of one of the sequences in the film, Sangeet Manapamaan. “I shot a mail to Howes at around 12.30 pm saying that I want him to compose authentic orchestral tune for this particular number in the film. I received a reply at around 5. 30 am in the morning. This is how I and Howes got it touch,” said Kaushal Inamdar, the music director of the film.

Four national awardees form the core team of the film, namely, producer Nitin Desai, director Ravi Jadhav, costume designer Neeta Lulla and screenplay writer Swanand Kirkire. “The film is very close to the people of Pune. The lead actor of the movie, Subodh Bhave and the lead singer Anand Bhate, who has lent his soulful voice for the songs sung by the character of Bal Gandharva, were born in this city,” said Inamdar.

“It is heartening to see that Marathi cinema is spreading its wings and bringing in some credible talents from all across the globe. I am hopeful that the movie will create a new dimension in Marathi cinema and will encourage artists to be more innovative and imaginative,” said Rathi Dhupdhare, a resident of Karve Nagar.

- Siddhartha Laik