Shankar Mahadevan says he’ll change his name if people don’t feel like watching Karthik Calling Karthik after watching its promos

As part of Shankar Ehsaan Loy, you have two major releases coming up — My Name Is Khan and Karthik Calling Karthik. How are they different from each other?

My Name Is Khan is very traditional, Sufi, Indian sounding whereas Karthik Calling Karthik is more of today’s beats and sounds.

Farhan Akhtar and Riteish Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment has worked with you consistently from Dil Chahta Hai (2001) to Karthik Calling Karthik (2010)...

It always feels great to be working with them. They have a new production a partner and a new director, but they never change the music directors (laughs). Karthik Calling Karthik is a very special film for us because with this film our relationship with Excel completes 10 years. Also, the vision which director Vijay Lalwani had for the music was very exciting.

What did you like about working on KCK?

Excel always challenges us with the kind of scripts they make and they trust us. If anyone doesn’t feel like seeing Karthik Calling Karthik after looking at the promo, I will change my name.

Considering KCK is a thriller, was it difficult to compose music for it?

Be it a romantic film or a thriller, it is always difficult to do good work. We have tried to do some good work. The background score that will give you the true feeling of a thriller. KCK’s songssuch as Uff teri ada and Hey ya are already on people’s lips. In a very short time, others songs will also catch up.

As the film’s producer cum actor, how involved is Farhan in the music of the film?

Farhan is very involved. At Excel, everything is team work. Be it Farhan or Ritesh or Javed saab, each one is equally interested and hands-on with a film. I would like to say that some of my best work has been with Farhan. When you work, the kind of energy you get from your collaborators gets translated into your work.

You have made your partner Loy’s daughter Alyssa sing in the film.

Loy had no clue about it. I had always loved Alyssa’s voice. She was singing a rough track in the studio one day and I thought she was perfect for this particular track. So I talked her into singing as if she was singing the final take; and, without her knowledge, recorded the song. Later, I presented the song to Ehsaan and Loy. Loy was zapped when he heard Alyssa’s voice.

On what basis do you choose a new singer?

Many singers come to meet us, through reality shows, through recommendations from friends. But we choose them only if they sing well, because there are many recommendations and many singers but there are only a few who can sing beautifully.

So when you launching your son, Siddharth?

He is very talented but he is still learning. Alyssa, Siddharth and my nephew have composed the opening piece for the Lakme Fashion Week this time. They are working towards their goal. We will consider him for other projects.