As Amazon Prime’s Citadel: Honey Bunny gears up for release, The Pioneer engages in an exclusive conversation with its talented music composer, Aman Pant. From his early days in advertising to crafting unforgettable sonic experiences, Pant bares all about his creative odyssey
Tejal Sinha
With an impressive repertoire that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, Aman Pant is set to elevate the espionage thriller genre with his work on the highly anticipated Amazon Prime series, Citadel: Honey Bunny. Starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Prabhu, this installment of the global Citadel franchise – created by the acclaimed Russo brothers – promises to be an edge-of-your-seat ride.
Aman’s distinctive sound, which masterfully merges electronic elements with the richness of Indian instruments like the electric sitar, is poised to captivate audiences worldwide. His accomplished career boasts notable milestones, including the theme music for Netflix’s The Great Indian Kapil Show and the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki, directed by the illustrious Rajkumar Hirani.
As we sit down with Aman Pant, we delve into the creative process behind his innovative scoring, his inspirations, and what drives his passion for crafting unforgettable sonic experiences. In this exclusive conversation, Aman shares the story behind his craft, his vision for Citadel: Honey Bunny, and the art of elevating storytelling through music.
Starting his career in 2008 in Delhi and moving to Mumbai in 2013, Pant has since built an impressive portfolio of over 4,000 ad films, collaborating with nearly all the leading directors in the industry.
Aman Pant, a rising force in Indian music and cinema, reflects on his remarkable journey, which began at the tender age of 19. “My journey has been an interesting one because I started early,” he says. “I started as an advertising composer during my engineering days. For me, the clarity that I wanted to become a composer came at the right time.” Pant’s passion for music was evident even earlier, as he composed his first song in 9th or 10th standard.
After securing his first salary in Delhi in 2008, Pant continued to build his advertising portfolio, eventually shifting to Mumbai in 2013. “Fortunately, I did not face any much struggle sort of a thing because everything was an experience,” he notes. Despite occasional setbacks, Pant’s work largely gained traction through word-of-mouth, leading to collaborations with prominent brands and directors. To date, he has worked on over 3,000 to 4,000 ads.
Pant’s cinematic breakthrough came with R. Balki’s acclaimed film Chup in 2022, showcasing his ability to craft emotionally resonant scores. This opportunity arose from his existing relationship with Balki and his wife, with whom he had worked on numerous ads. “I used to work with R Balki sir and his wife in many ads. And later Chup happened. I didn’t really have the wish to work in films. I was doing really good in ads. Things were going good.”
Chup marked the beginning of Pant’s successful foray into films, followed by notable projects such as Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Chup, Bhumi Pednekar’s Thank You For Coming, Good Luck Jerry starring Jahnavi Kapoor, and Raj & DK’s Guns and Gulaab. His work on Janhit Mein Jaari, featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha, further demonstrated his ability to create socially impactful scores.
As Aman Pant reflects on his journey in the music industry, he reveals that working in films was always a subconscious aspiration. “Technically, back of the mind, everybody wants to do films,” he admits. However, his experience in advertising has been invaluable. “Ads for me is a lot of fun because it teaches you a lot. It was a learning experience which was financially good as well.”
Pant’s breakthrough in films came when R. Balki approached him for Chup. “A person like Balki sir asked me to do it, so I was like Chalo…try karte hai.” This opportunity snowballed into collaborations with other prominent filmmakers. Within four months, Pant worked on Janhit Mein Jaari, Good Luck Jerry, TVF’s Tripling season 3, and Guns and Gulaab.
He considers himself fortunate to work with acclaimed filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani and Raj & DK. “Then Raj & DK asked me to do Citadel. It feels so amazing working with them once again.” Pant praises Raj & DK’s unique storytelling style and the creative freedom they afford him.
Despite his success in films, Pant remains fond of advertising. “Ads will forever be my first love. I’ve still been working on ads; I never left it.” He appreciates the experimentation and learning that advertising provides.
Citadel presented a fresh challenge for Pant, requiring an electronic, high-energy style. He rose to the occasion by incorporating the electric sitar into the main theme. “Usually, we avoid using Indian instruments in global shows, but I felt it fitting to integrate the electric sitar for this India-based Citadel series.” Pant’s innovative approach blends electronic music with traditional Indian elements.
When asked about challenges, Pant responds with a laugh, “Challenge? There’s nothing. Trust me, this was not a challenge because I got to experiment and do something that I never did.” He attributes his success to creativity and honesty. “If your work has honesty, the universe will help you out.”
Pant’s philosophy is to continually move forward, seeking improvement and learning from each project. “When you move forward, it’s then that you’ll be able to learn something new.” With Citadel: Honey Bunny and future projects on the horizon, Aman Pant’s unique soundscape is poised to leave an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
Aman Pant’s remarkable journey, from advertising to films, showcases his versatility and passion for crafting unforgettable sonic experiences. With Citadel: Honey Bunny, he pushes the boundaries of music composition, seamlessly merging tradition with modernity. As he continues to collaborate with visionary filmmakers, Pant’s distinctive sound is set to resonate with audiences worldwide, cementing his status as a leading music composer in Indian cinema.
