The Big B Gallery

A big chunk of space in Aadesh Shrivastava’s studio in Juhu is devoted to his favourite star

Music director Aadesh Shrivastava’s studio can easily be converted into an indoor stage that can hold a concert by a band of as many as 20 people, their musical gear included. Yes, the studio is that large and has several sections—a well-populated administrative office, a place just for musical equipment and the actual dubbing room.
It is also a gallery of sorts that’s devoted to Amitabh Bachchan. (Incidentally, the studio is just two lanes off Big B’s home, Prateeksha). Some walls of the studio are done up with large frames of Big B, with and without Shrivastava in them. A “good

luck” note dated February 18, 2008 and signed by Bachchan sits neatly on the wall by the composer’s seat in a room that’s equipped with modern mixing and dubbing gear. “All of Amitji’s recent songs, including those composed by other music directors such as in Nishabd, have been dubbed here,” says Shrivastava, who did the music in Bachchan films Baghban and Baabul.

Designed by architect R Balram, the interiors of the studio are modelled on the lines of British record producer Hugh Padgham’s studio in London. “The choice of earthen colours, the lights and the layout of instruments are inspired by Padham’s studio,” says Shrivastava, as he gets set to compose a number that would feature Ravana. The song, penned by Javed Akhtar, is for his first animation project Mahayoddha Ram.

Part of the reason for the studio’s flashy look is that it is relatively new. Shrivastava shifted here four years ago, after his previous workplace in Andheri got swamped in the July 2005 deluge. And unlike most other Mumbai musicians who work from home, Shrivastava’s studio is located in upmarket Juhu, away from the hustle-bustle of his residence in Lokhandwala.

“This place is so much calmer than the busy Lokhandwala area and emanates spiritual vibes. At 6pm, you can hear the azaan and then at 7pm, you are soothed by the aarti at the Shiv Mandir built by Gulshan Kumar”, he says.
The studio though is hardly at peace. It’s buzzing with a lot of people and the schedules are hectic. “I am here at 11 am but the pack-up time is never fixed. We work for 12 to 16 hours on an average, and at times, stay overnight too,” says Shrivastava, as he strums the harmonium.
“The gizmos are great, but doing riyaz on this traditional instrument is closer to heart,” he says. No wonder, it enjoys pride of place. It sits right at the centre of the entrance and is surrounded by the many awards Shrivastava has won.