Composers Kaushik-Guddu on creating Dil from Ek Villain Returns

Creating art with close family or friends can be both easy and difficult. Your creative partner might lean towards your artistic inclination and able to understand what you express, but voicing differences can become a bit tricky. But that is not the case for Kaushik Das and Subhadeep Das, better known as Kaushik-Guddu within music circles. The young composers, who are first cousins, have collaborated on songs like Mere Yaara from Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi and Sajan Bade Senti from Badhai Ho.

“We do expect each other to be on the same page but sometimes there are creative differences. Sometimes we have not spoken to each other for two-three days because of an argument,” says Kaushik.

Kaushik, however, has a way to get out of a deadlock. “We let the tune structure be for two days if we don’t agree on it. We revisit it after with a fresh mind and make changes if necessary.”

Not many tweaks were required after they gave the first tune sample of what will later become Dil from Mohit Suri’s upcoming thriller Ek Villain Returns. The film is a sequel to the 2014 film Ek Villain, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor, whose songs became chartbusters of that year. “Frankly, when we were approached for the song we didn’t know it was for Ek Villain Returns,” says Kaushik. “The song’s title Dil carries a lot of weight for us. Mohit sir just gave us a mood and asked for a song that people can feel and hum along. When we started working, it was a tough trail. I told Guddu that we might have to give the makers two to three tune samples to select. Luckily, we gave the first one and it was locked the next day.” The song, a love track featuring the lead actors John Abraham, Disha Patani, Arjun Kapoor and Tara Sutaria, is voiced by Raghav Chaitanya with lyrics by Kunaal Vermaa.

Kaushik and Guddu’s musical journey started from Kolkata’s Barrackpore. “I am a trained Indian classical singer and Guddu is trained in Western classical music,” says Kaushik. “I didn’t know anything about music composition but during college, a friend introduced me to music programming and I was hooked. One day, Guddu and I decided to compose a song. We made one and it was really bad (laughs),” he adds.

But the seed was sown. “We realised we still want to continue with it. What can be better than trying to make your passion your profession?”