by Bhasker Gupta
Following the popular practice in Bollywood music where individuals with varied musical backgrounds collaborate together, Shankar Ehsaan Loy are the first Bollywood trio of music composers. Exploiting the unique strength of its members -- the Indian classical music of Shankar Mahadevan, the rock and acoustic pop of Ehsaan Noorani, and the electronica-fusion of Loy Mendonsa -- the trio has created successful music that is both traditional and progressive. Displaying a formidable presence even before the release of their first album, Shankar Ehsaan Loy debuted with Dus, the soundtrack to a film that was never released, although the recording was still highly appreciated in music circles. After composing for the films Shool and Dillagi, Shankar Ehsaan Loy provided the music for Dil Chahta Hai, which brought the trio into the national limelight. Just like the movie itself, the soundtrack appealed to a young crowd for its vitality and contemporary style. Their biggest success came with the music for Kal Ho Na Ho, which won them a National Film Award for Best Music Direction.