Saawariya's music composer Monty Sharma opens up about composing Chowpatty’s ongoing Ramleela

(L-R) Yogesh Pagare with Monty Sharma. Pic/By Special Arrangement

This year, composer Monty Sharma is trading the big screen for another stage - Chowpatty. The artiste, who composed for Black (2005), Saawariya (2007), and Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023), has created the music for Chowpatty's Ramleela that kicked off on October 11. The theatrical production, running over 10 days, will feature nearly 20 hours of performance.

Sharma dedicated two months to creating the project's sonic world. He shared, "This project is about self-satisfaction and peace. My approach has been to create beautiful, simple melodies filled with prayer and faith, straight from the heart. We have new singers on board, and I believe people will cherish their voices and these songs."

The retelling of the Ramayana has been helmed by Yogesh V Pagare. Sharma and Pagare go way back; the two would perform together in their college days, with Pagare taking to acting and Sharma handling the music. "Yogi and I have known each other since college. So, working together on something of this scale is special. I attended the rehearsals and, at times, had tears in my eyes," said the musician.

Did you know?

Monty Sharma is the nephew of celebrated composer Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, of Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo