Himesh Reshammiya on decline of music in films: ‘There is so much confusion’

Music composer Himesh Reshammiya recently expressed his concerns about the dwindling number of songs in films during a song launch event for his upcoming drama, Yeh Prem Mol Liya. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Sharvari, Anupam Kher, Seema Pahwa, and Supriya Pathak Kapur. At the event, Himesh and producer Sooraj Barjatya discussed the reduction in the number of songs in films and the challenges faced by musicians and filmmakers in the current landscape.

Himesh noted that in the past, films like Maine Pyaar Kiya had 14 songs, while Prem Ratan Dhan Payo had 10 songs. However, Yeh Prem Mol Liya, currently in the works, features only six songs. He attributed this decline to the increased complexity of the business side of filmmaking. With more than 300 songs released in various languages every day, it takes longer for a song to become a hit, and the competition is intense.

Himesh also pointed out that today, producers and directors calculate the feasibility of shooting a song based on how much revenue it might generate, rather than solely on artistic merit.

Moreover, Himesh highlighted the issue of singers' versatility. While acknowledging that artists like Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sonu Nigam can perform in a range of styles, he argued that many other singers struggle to adapt to different vocal ranges. This lack of flexibility, coupled with the pressure to conform to specific musical trends, contributes to the confusion and inconsistency in the music industry.

Himesh stressed that the current focus on reel popularity over organic audience appeal further complicates the process of creating universally appealing songs.