In a bustling Bollywood industry known for its melodic hits and soulful numbers, the creation of a soundtrack is both an art and a science. Standing at the intersection of these two worlds is the music supervisor—a title often overshadowed by the composer, yet crucial for the auditory fabric of a film. Azeem Dayani, the music supervisor for the recently released film Mr & Mrs Mahi, provides an in-depth look at his role and the unique touches he brings to the table.
Dayani delves into the intricacies of his work, highlighting the fundamental yet often misunderstood differences between a composer and a music supervisor. “A supervisor works with the composer but doesn’t compose. He is like a guide who makes the song better because, at times, a director may be unable to comprehend how to exact the required sound for a project,” Dayani explains. His approach is methodical, focusing not just on the right sound for a scene but also on creating music with a standalone identity.
Mr & Mrs Mahi, starring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, is a romantic film that explores the dynamics of relationships and the ways two individuals support each other through life’s challenges. According to Dayani, the film provided a rich canvas for musical exploration. “We started work on it in 2022 and made 60 songs. Of them, seven made it to the album. From then to now, our musical sensibilities also changed. That needed to be reflected in the soundtrack,” he elaborates.
The process of curating the perfect songs for the film was not just about filtering tracks but aligning them with the characters’ journeys. “Every track personally addresses a character because we were trying to build our world around these two individuals. I also wrote one number that stemmed from the transition that I went through. So, the album is personal in many ways,” adds Dayani.
Among the songs in Mr & Mrs Mahi, one stands out with particular significance for Dayani—Tu hai toh. Describing it as a love song with a different format, he shares that it has been rendered by two singers, and its unique structure is designed to mirror the vibe of live concert performances.
. “It’s reminiscent of how individuals perform in live concerts. Although it deviates from the template, it was a risk that we were willing to take this year because it sounded appealing to us,” Dayani notes.
The quest for new talent is another layer of Dayani’s job. Despite the influx of talent from singing reality shows, Dayani believes in the continual need for fresh voices to keep the industry vibrant and evolving. He speaks passionately about launching 17-year-old Mohammad Faiz for this film. “For any industry to grow, new people need to enter it. In this film too, we worked with Mohammad Faiz. We took the risk of launching him,” he says, emphasizing the daring choices that sometimes need to be made to discover the next big star.
Indeed, music in Bollywood isn’t merely about fitting songs into scenes; it’s about crafting pieces that resonate with listeners long after the film leaves the theaters. Dayani understands this and strives to create such enduring pieces. “You want the song to live beyond the film. So, you need to identify how to strike the right balance when creating such a piece. That is where my skills come into play,” he explains.
The director of Mr & Mrs Mahi, Sharan Sharma, previously worked with Janhvi Kapoor in the 2020 film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. This established rapport may have influenced the collaborative spirit on the set, yet the music’s impact goes beyond just teamwork, stressing the importance of having a musical visionary like Dayani on board.
Sharan Sharma’s confidence in Dayani’s vision signifies a growing understanding in Bollywood of the crucial bridge a music supervisor provides between the director’s visual storytelling and the composer’s melodic interpretation. This bridge becomes a conduit that ensures the music not only complements the narrative but also enriches the emotional tapestry of the film.
In a world where the unsung heroes of film production are often overlooked, Azeem Dayani’s work on Mr & Mrs Mahi brings to light the vital role of a music supervisor. His dedication to authenticity, talent discovery, and a profound personal connection to his work encapsulates why his contributions are indispensable for creating a memorable cinematic experience.
