Composer and music producer Ricky Kej who has earned a Grammy Award nomination at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for his album “Winds of Samsara,” a collaboration with South African flutist Wouter Kellerman, in Bengaluru, Jan. 2. (Press Trust of India)

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Indian origin musician Ricky Kej, whose album Winds of Samsara has been nominated at the Grammy awards this year, says he is in negotiations for two Hollywood films but would not like to compose for Bollywood.

“I would be definitely working in Hollywood movie this year. I have two big banner Hollywood film offers. I think I should be able to finalize one of them,” Kej told PTI in an interview at his residence in Bengaluru.

The 33-year-old U.S.-born and Bengaluru-based music composer said he would love to compose music for Hollywood because there are no songs in them.

“The thing with background music is that you get a lot of freedom to make music as per your wishes. Background music is a craft because you work with an orchestra; you work with 160 musicians at a time,” Kej, who composed the music for 2011 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony, said.

Asked if any offers had been made by Bollywood filmmakers, Kej said there have been lot many coming his way after the Grammy nominations were announced, but expressed reservation in accepting them.

“There are offers coming in. After Grammy nominations, there’s lot more, but I have always had the fear that I cannot deliver from my heart,” he said.

Kej, who created the official remix of the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire song “Jai Ho,” said Bollywood would never be an option for him because they impose somebody else’s feelings, ideologies and beliefs on music composers.

“Music has to be an extension of yourself of your beliefs ideologies and your feelings. Bollywood always tells you to make music according to the wishes of the filmmakers.

I do not want to make songs like that. I like to make songs which spring from emotions, hence Bollywood would never be an option for me,” he added.

Kej said earlier he has composed music for Kannada films but stopped it now because he lost his freedom to compose music.

“My all-time favorite has been the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He is one person I have always admired. I got into music just because of him. His music touches soul. It is difficult to control tears in your eyes because his music is so powerful,” he said.

“Working with Ustad Sultan Khan was an amazing experience. He was a brilliant musician and made sarangi popular all around the world. I was very fortunate that Ustadji’s last recording was my composition. It was an honor working with such a caliber. They are complete masters of their craft. They are very humble too,” he said.

– By B.D. Narayankar