Why did lyricist Rahul Sharma stay away from Bollywood for 20 years?

- I have never had such a race in my life. Second, during that time I wanted to prove myself as a performing musician worldwide.

There is a great saying in Gujarati that peacock eggs should not be painted. This proverb literally applies to Rahul Sharma, the son of world-renowned pianist Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, the Bollywood musician duo Shivhari Fame. Rahul Sharma himself is an excellent lyricist. And in his 30-year career as a musician, he has given concerts all over the world. He has sung over 30 music albums and most of them are bestselling albums. He has gained the same fame as his father by teaming up with international musicians. He has harmonized the melodious Indian santur with foreign instruments.

The Shiv-Hari duo has given music in Ganiganthi Hindi films, with Yash Chopra at the forefront of the classic film 'Chandni'. Even today, Chandni's songs sound just as fresh and melodious. Even Rahul Sharma is not excluded from the influence of Bollywood. Very few people know that he played melodious music in Hrithik Roshan starrer 'Mujhse Dosti Karonge' in 2009. But then they parted ways with Bollywood. Most recently, he has given music in Kunal Kohli's film 'Ramayug'. Hanuman Chalisa sung by Rahul Sharma to Amitabh Bachchan has become very popular for this film.

The question is why did Sharmaji take a two-decade long break from Hindi films? For what reason did Hindi films not attract enough attention for him? "I got a few more offers from the same filmmakers," says Rahulji, who says with a faint smile like a tune of a santur. But for one reason or another, the projects got stuck. I'm originally a concert performer so I had a long way to go.

Shortly between the two concerts, it was a challenge for me to return to Mumbai to meet the producers-directors at their convenience. I have never had such a rush in my life. Second, during that time I wanted to prove myself as a performing musician worldwide. I had to choose between performing in international concerts with an international artist at the time and composing music in Hindi films. And I chose to be a performing artist because it was a lot of fun, ”explains Sharmaji.

So why did you accept Kohli's film 'Ramayug'? Is there a special reason for this? When asked, the lyricist says, 'A lot of people are connected with a film. And it sometimes takes years to complete. Some films were dropped for the same reason. But Corona took a break from traveling to epidemic concerts and I had a lot of spare time. Giving music for the film was the perfect time so I accepted 'Ramayug'.

Now, one last question to Rahul Sharma: Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia gave memorable music in films in the 70's and 80's. But why didn't you have any attraction towards Bollywood? Listening to the question, Sharmaji can't stop laughing, 'Who told you that I don't like movies. I have worked with Dad for a long time as an assistant.

So the desire to create new melodies of songs was in my mind. To be honest, R.D. I became a fan of Bollywood music with Burman. But on the other hand, I also had the responsibility to carry on the family tradition of singing. The passion I had in my mind to compose songs I focused on playing the santur, I kept traveling and left behind the film songs. In other words, in the last 20 years, I have made 40 albums. All my tunes are part of a music album. All of them have a face and gaps and Bollywood songs can be made from all of them.