An Interview with S R Ramakrishna
S R Ramakrishna was with the Deccan Herald for eight years and later was a professor at the Asian College of Journalism. He now runs The Music Magazine.com (http://www.themusicmagazine.com/) He has composed music for plays, tele-films and films. He plays the harmonium and has been accompanying Hindustani vocalists. Q.What is the function of music in films? A. Good composer makes music a subtext. It is used to highlight, underline the situation in the narrative adding the aural effect to the existing visual. Music can also create multiple narratives by underlining or juxtaposing the visual narrative. Q. Can music also restrict other narratives from emerging? A. Yes. It is possible that music restricts multiple narratives from emerging. In fact, that is why parallel cinema is weary of music. They consider it an interference. Q. How do Indian films approach music? A. Indian film music is very unique, may be because it came up to be an extension of the theatre. So the dance and music. Whe...