Composer Sandesh Shandilya reveals how The Shakti Collective aims to train aspiring musicians

(L-R) Rohit Sobti and Sandesh Shandilya. Pics/Instagram, AFP

Suraj Hua Maddham and Bhaage Re Mann hitmaker Sandesh Shandilya's 25-year career has been shaped by his melodies. And by a quiet dream. For years, the composer hoped to provide formal education to aspiring musicians. Today, the dream has come to fruition with The Shakti Collective that he co-founded with Rohit Sobti, who has a long experience of leadership in companies like Yash Raj Films and Sony Music India. In a chat with mid-day, Shandilya talks about how the academy aims to bring the new wave of musicians.

Excerpts from the interview.

What was the trigger for you to open an academy?
A lot of kids can't afford music education. I've seen a lot of talent who couldn't go ahead in life, their music became secondary. When I wanted to learn music, I had to struggle a lot. Even if you have money to learn music, you may not find the right guru. I joined as an assistant music director. Even after that, I continued my studies and got some good tutors. Maybe because of what happened to me, the pain was alive inside me.

AR Rahman

I don't want others to suffer like I did.
In India, there are only two to four music institutions. I am thankful to AR Rahmanhttps://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/ar-rahman-says-ai-cannot-give-human-experience-23622075 for starting his music school. But we need more.

Can you elaborate on the work the collective has done so far?
We catch [aspiring] artistes at the grassroot level. As new artistes, they doubt whether their compositions will be liked. We have a community that mentors them. From composers to lyricists, we mentor everyone. The academy also provides theoretical knowledge, like training of Indian classical music or western classical music, and composition. We find the best teachers and bring them to the platform. These are all virtual courses, where the teachers join students twice a month online.

You mentioned affordability for aspiring artistes. What is the academy's fee structure?
Recently, some of my masterclasses had more than 200 students. Our fee for the masterclass is Rs 100-200. That class lasts for four days. We have also made 20-hour video courses. If a student can't pay the fees, we admit him free of cost, but it should be a genuine case. Those who can pay, will do so. If they pay, we can teach four more students free of cost.

You work in films and have your own network of musicians. Going forward, will you recommend your students to your colleagues?
Rohit always says, ‘Don't knock at the door. Make your work so appealing that people call you.' We will launch these artistes. When their art spreads, people will call them. That's our aim.

Rs 100-Rs 200
Cost of a masterclass in the academy

There's more

Besides training young artistes, the music academy creates albums and its own Intellectual Properties (IPs)