You’d imagine a lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll. But Amit Trivedi, the creator of Dev D’s trippy sound track is far from the hedonist his music conjures up. He doesn’t drink or party and in general, shows no hint of decadence or vice. For God’s sake, the man didn’t even watch movies till two years ago, preferring rock concerts instead.

The 30-something composer admits misconceptions about him abound thanks to his wild music. “People think I must be a druggie to produce music like Dev D. They’re disappointed to find I’m actually a very simple guy. I work, go back home and spend time with my wife. I want to send out the message that clean guys can also make psychedelic music. They don’t have to do drugs. It’s all in the mind.”

Quite a mind it is, too, whipping up dizzyingly experimental tracks ranging from the folksy Chakkar Ghumyo to the raw Nayan Tarse and existential Saali Khushi to the almost Broadway-ish Yehi Meri Zindagi. The Coldplay-loving composer describes his music as radical and a bit quirky. “I’ve heard a lot of different kinds of music. Perhaps that influences the way I compose.”

Amit has been there done that in his 10-year creative journey, making music for theatre and ads and being part of a five-piece fusion band called Om. Lavish praise has come his way after his first big commercial hit. But the compliment he cherishes most came from Anurag himself. “He called me the Bachchan of Dev D. It was a great boost for me to feel I was carrying the film on my shoulders. A guy like me who’s just two films old.”

The two-films old status won’t remain long. Post Dev D, it’s raining offers for the man whose Patna ke Presleys made brass bands hot. Amit is busy making up his mind between the 16 odd scripts – three of them from Anurag himself – that have come his way since. Indie or mainstream, he’s keeping his options open. “If the script doesn't trigger something in me, I don’t do it,” declares the Mumbai-born who is composing the background score for a Dharma production and the anthem for an IPL team. His ultimate: making music for a Tarantino film.
We’re tuned in to his emosanal atyachar. If that makes us masochists, we really don’t care.

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