Midival Punditz Talk New Album, 10 Years of ‘Hello Hello'

Producer duo Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj recently worked on ‘Train Song’ for Bollywood film ‘Gully Boy’

- Anurag Tagat

A decade is perhaps a long time for someone like Midival Punditz, considering it’s been an important one. Since the release of their seminal album Hello Hello in 2009, producers Gaurav Raina aka GRAIN and Tapan Raj solidified their place as seasoned electronic artists with a fluid approach to music. After all, prior to Hello Hello, they had already performed around the globe, began working with New York multi-instrumentalist and tabla/electronic veteran Karsh Kale and provided music for films such as Monsoon Wedding (2001).

Fast forward to 10 years later – counting yet another path-building electronic fusion album (Light) – and the Punditz have kept their sonic spectrum varied. Whether it’s live shows that involve collaborators such as singer-producer Komorebi or taking influence from rock and techno in different measures, the duo’s diversity in new material is a continuation of Light, which released in 2015. In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Midival Punditz talk about working on a song for the recently released desi hip-hop Bollywood film Gully Boy, a decade since the release of Hello Hello and their next album. Excerpts:

Over the years of scoring film work and managing Midival material, how much of it feeds into each other?