The composer duo Sachin-Jigar have opened up about why the Hindi music industry frequently turns to the same popular singers for major projects. In a recent interview, they explained that voice casting is not always a purely creative decision, as producers often consider a singer's fan base due to the significant financial stakes involved in a film.
Sachin-Jigar on Singer Choices in Hindi Music
Speaking to Variety India, Jigar Saraiya emphasized that their process remains democratic. "Each to their own," he said. "But see, even an artist is hungry. So, you have to offer them. Our process is very democratic. So if we have three songs we think a particular singer can sing, we will pitch those three songs to the singer, then ask them if they feel anything."
He added, "'Do you want to sing any of the three?' That is our question. We will never say, 'You have to sing this one or that!' Select the one you connect with. All three if you connect with all of them."
Jigar clarified that they do not chase names for their own sake. "For Sachin and me, it's never been that we want so-and-so on a song," he said. "Some would go for the numbers, some would go for the face. But we'll actually only go for the feeling."
Sachin Sanghvi noted that external factors also influence the final decision. "There is a lot of say externally as well. We can suggest names, but we are not the final calls for the voices," he said. He added that producers often think, "ke mujhe iski fandom mil jaaye" (that I get their fandom). He joked, "That's why perhaps the industry tends to overuse star voices because they feel like, 'Kisi tarah mere 400 crore recover ho jaaye'" (somehow, my 400 crore should be recovered).
'Chand Mera Dil' Soundtrack Mixes New and Known Voices
Discussing their recent work on the soundtrack of 'Chand Mera Dil', Sachin revealed that some scratch voices were retained because they suited the songs. "For example, 'Khasiyat' was always in Raghav Chaitanya's voice, and we decided to value his merit and retain his voice," he said.
He also praised Faheem Abdullah, who sang the title track and 'Aitbaar'. Jigar said, "Faheem Abdullah also looks for that honest moment. So, it was such a 'pair made in heaven' sort of a marriage." He added that the team still felt KK’s absence on one song. "But we really miss KK for this song. I think this song, if KK was there, man…"
Sachin also praised Jonita Gandhi, Suvarna Tiwari, and Junaid Ahmed, stating that fresh voices help songs feel new. He noted that experienced singers like Neeti Mohan and Shreya Ghoshal balance the album. The album features Shreya Ghoshal, Jonita Gandhi, and Neeti Mohan, along with newer voices such as Tushar Joshi, Raghav Chaitanya, Suvarna Tiwari, Junaid Ahmed, and Faheem Abdullah.
OTT and Theater Freedom
The duo also spoke about the differences between OTT and theater. Sachin said OTT "gives you absolute freedom of speech" and allows more experimentation. He mentioned that their musical 'Rajadhiraaj' will return to NMACC in August, and added, "I will always be a theater boy."
