Exclusive! "I am generally reserved and introverted but working with Ajaneesh Loknath brings out my fun side," says Vikrant Rona director Anup Bhandari

It wouldn't be unfair to assess that Vikrant Rona is filmmaker Anup Bhandari's biggest dream project to date. As someone who conceives unique and highly idiosyncratic story worlds, ones that are grand and detailed in equal measure, Anup has put-in his all into the making of Vikrant Rona and the fact that he has written the lyrics of all the songs on the soundtrack, aside from being the writer-director, enunciates just that.

For the music of the film, he reunites with his old pal and music composer Ajaneesh B. Loknath for the third straight time and this seven-year journey, which began in 2015 with RangiTaranga, has only evolved over time to produce work on true international standards.

"I am incredibly comfortable in his presence," says Anup about his composer friend, adding that the personal bond has only gotten stronger through the years. 

"I have spent many nights on his couch, working on music day in and out. The couch he had previously was a small one and so was the studio setup but gladly, he has managed to expand the space as he grew in stature himself (laughs)! We keep things super casual even though it's "work", so to speak, and I suppose that's the secret to the equation. Ajaneesh has always been open to both suggestions and criticism and it doesn't take much deliberation to convince him about things - if I say 'Ajaneesh, I don't like this or that,' he is not one to argue about the change and is completely open to working in it again. I admire that quality in him," shares Anup Bhandari.

"I am generally reserved and introverted as a person and those who know me well would attest to that. But with certain people such as Ajaneesh, I am able to get out of that shell quite easily - one could even find me dancing away to the music he is playing and that's rare!" - Anup Bhandari.

But given that Anup himself aspired to be a music composer at one point (he has, in fact, composed the Lullaby Song: Rajkumari song from Vikrant Rona), is it easier for him to relate to Ajaneesh Loknath? He adds:

"Yes, I would believe so. Music is something that connects both of us and since I have my own ideas and opinions in this regard, our collaboration is incredibly smooth: there are many occasions when I make a technical suggestion and Ajaneesh acknowledges that perspective and even employs it. Ra Ra Rakkamma (featuring Kiccha Sudeep and Jacqueline Fernandez) is a really good example of this dynamic - the song began as something else but took a whole new shape because of our consistent discussions".

With the music composer in him still alive and thriving, would Anup Bhandari be willing to turn composer for one of his upcoming ventures? 

"Well, the last time I did compose an entire soundtrack was for Nirup's Aadi Lakshmi Purana (also starring Radhika Pandit) but I haven't taken up that task again ever since. But I would love to be just the composer on some film but certainly not any of my own upcoming directorial projects. Ajaneesh Loknath has already been assigned that role because one requires a seasoned artist like him to take the responsibility for big projects and I don't suppose I can carry that extra burden. Having said that, in the future if I were to come across an exciting script and feel that I can do justice to it, then why not! I am open to that," adds the Vikrant Rona director.