Ranjit Barot

Ranjit Barot is an Indian film score composer, music director and arranger, drummer, and singer based in Mumbai, India.^[2] He is a long-time associate of A. R. Rahman.^[3]

Ranjit Barot
Born	Mumbai, India[1]
Occupation(s)	Music Composer, Music Director
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Maya[1]

John McLaughlin has described him as one of the "Leading Edges" in drumming.^[4]

Early life and background

Barot was born on January 1, 1959, into a family of Indian musicians and dancers. His mother, Sitara Devi, was a Kathak dancer from Varanasi.^[5] His father was from Gujarat state.

Career

Barot's music career began in the 1980s. His drumming style had been influenced by artists from various genres and traditions, including Indian classical percussionists such as Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Palghat Raghu (mridangam), Karaikudi Mani (mridangam), Palnivel (tavil), Hari Shankar (khanjira), and Sridhar Parthasarathy (mridangam, hand percussion). Other influences include jazz and fusion legends like Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Steve Gadd, Omar Hakim, Al Foster, and Peter Erskine. He also draws inspiration from global drumming traditions, such as the African Djembe, Japanese Taiko, Middle Eastern Darbuka, and Latin Conga and Bongo styles, as well as contemporary percussionists and female artists, including Sheila E., Terri Lyne Carrington, and Evelyn Glennie.

He worked as a drummer, arranger, and producer for composers and artists including R. D. Burman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Kalyanji–Anandji, U. Srinivas, L. Subramaniam, Anu Malik and Ismail Darbar.^[6][1] His collaborations with musicians abroad included performances with artists such as John McLaughlin,^[7] Jonas Hellborg, Ayden Esen, and Tim Garland. He was featured as the drummer on McLaughlin's Grammy-nominated album Floating Point. Bruce Swedien influenced Barot's musical style and approach to contemporary work, mixing Barot's songs on Vande Mataram 2 and Senso Unico, an Indo-Italian feature film. He works out of a studio in Mumbai.

At the Jazz Yatra '80, he performed with the Jazz Yatra Sextett and Pandit Ravi Shankar's ensemble, Jazzmine, featuring John Handy, George Adams, and Mike Richmond of the Mingus Dynasty.

During the Jazz Sextett's first European tour, Barot met and befriended Don Cherry, which led to a joint performance at the 1982 Jazz Yatra in Bombay.

In November 2010, Barot released his debut album, Bada Boom, a collection of his Jazz Fusion and World compositions featuring performances by Ustad Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, U. Srinivas, U. Rajesh, Scott Kinsey, Matt Garrison, Wayne Krantz, Dominique Di Piazza, Harmeet Manseta, Taufique Qureshi, Sanjay Divecha, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock, Ayden Esen and Elie Afif, among others. Barot was the Music Composer and Sound Designer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010. He represented India in his live performance at the "India Inclusive" showcase at WEF, Davos 2011.^[8] He played for the opening of the Hockey World Cup in 2019 and was the music producer for Jammin (Season 2) and MTV Unplugged's (Season 1 & 2). He leads the band AR Rahman Live.^[9]

In 2001, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Background Score for Aks.^[10] In 2011, he won three major Indian music awards for his work in Shaitan.^[11]

Personal life

Barot has a daughter, Mallika, who is a vocalist.^[12]

Filmography

As a background music composer

• Shaitan (June 10, 2011) (Released)^[13]
• Thanks Maa (March 5, 2010) (Released)^[13]
• Yeh Mera India (August 28, 2009) (Released)
• Toss (August 28, 2009) (Released)
• Sankat City (July 10, 2009) (Released)
• Mere Baap Pehle Aap (June 13, 2008) (Released)
• Tashan (April 25, 2008) (Released)
• Bhool Bhulaiyaa (October 12, 2007) (Released)
• Black & White (March 7, 2008) (Released)
• Cash (August 3, 2007) (Released)
• Aryan – Unbreakable (December 15, 2006) (Released)
• Tathastu (May 12, 2006) (Released)
• Dus (July 8, 2005) (Released)
• Main Hoon Na (April 30, 2004) (Released)
• Rishtey (December 6, 2002) (Released)
• Hathyar (October 18, 2002) (Released)
• Aks (July 13, 2001) (Released)
• Fiza (September 8, 2000) (Released)
• Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa (2000) (Released)

As a lyricist

• Brides Wanted (2010)

As music director

• Muskurake Dekh Zara (April 23, 2010) (Released)
• Brides Wanted (2010) (Stuck/On Hold)
• Acid Factory (October 9, 2009) (Released)
• Sankat City (July 10, 2009) (Released)
• Chhodon Naa Yaar (October 5, 2007) (Released)
• Urchagam – Tamil (September 2, 2007) (Released)
• Kanna - Tamil (2007) (Released)
• Holiday (February 10, 2006) (Released)
• Chupke Se (September 12, 2003) (Released)
• Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (August 22, 2003) (Released)
• Qayamat: City Under Threat (July 11, 2003) (Released)
• Hathyar (Background Score) (October 18, 2002) (Released)
• Fiza (September 8, 2000) (Released)
• V.I.P – Tamil (June 13, 1997) (Released)
• Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (August 11, 1995) (Released)
• Raakh (1989) (Released) (external links)
• One Heart: The A. R. Rahman concert film

As sound designer

• Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa (2000) (Released)

As a playback singer

• Muskurake Dekh Zara (April 23, 2010) (Released)
• Brides Wanted (2010) (Stuck/On Hold)
• Acid Factory (October 9, 2009) (Released)
• Sankat City (July 10, 2009) (Released)
• Ru Ba Ru (September 12, 2008) (Released)
• V.I.P (Tamil) (1997) (Released)
• Aryan – Unbreakable (December 15, 2006) (Released)
• Baabul (December 8, 2006) (Released)
• Pyare Mohan (April 21, 2006) (Released)
• Holiday (February 10, 2006) (Released)
• Dus (July 8, 2005) (Released)
• Main Hoon Na (April 30, 2004) (Released)
• Chupke Se (September 12, 2003) (Released)
• Shaitan (2011) (Released)
• Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (August 11, 1995) (Released) (external links)

As an actor

• 99 Songs (2019); shot in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil