Ramachandra Hadapa debuts as composer with Hottegagi Genu Battegagi

As a composer, Ramachandra Hadapad has a large body of work in theatre, where he has worked for over a decade. A trained Hindustani classical musician, Ramachandra has even turned singer for a few Kannada films. But his heart has been in composing, the break for which came when he got to assist Ismail Darbar for the music of Santheyalli Nintha Kabira. “Director Narendra Babu, who made Kabira, is also from a theatre background and knows of my work.So, when he was ready with his next project, Hottegagi Genu Battegagi (HGB), he asked me if I could step in as composer. This was just the opportunity that I was waiting for,” says Ramachandra, who has come up with four tunes for the film.
And even though he is still a novice in cinema, Ramachandra was given complete freedom in terms of the score required for HGB. “Narendra sir explained all four situations and gave me a free hand. There was no back and forth between us and he was, in fact, happy with each of the first versions that I came up with,” he says. Two of the songs on the album —Ajnanadinda and Nee Enagee Iniyanalla — are Hindustani classical raga based and, hence, special to the composer. “I am partial to Ajnanadinda, though, because I had sung the initial track and everyone on the team insisted that we retain that version. But I thought it could be even better and got Armaan Malik to sing it and the result is for all to see,” says Ramachandra, adding, “Composing for Kannada cinema is what I want to do. Hindustani classical music is my strength, but I am not rigid about composing tunes only in that base. I am flexible to work on any kind of cinema. However, I don’t want audiences to forget my tunes as soon as they walk out of the theatre. My aim is to compose songs that tug at your heartstrings and I hope to have done that with Hottegagi Genu Battegagi.”