Bank on Louiz for an item number

Mumbai: Composer Louiz Banks has always shied away from Bollywood, restricting his contribution to background scores. Now, finally he has succumbed to the lure of the big screen.

Banks has composed an item number for I Am In Love, a film produced by an unheard of banner called Savitri Films.

“It’s their first film. I have composed three songs, one of which is an item song,” he says adding that Asha Bhonsle and Sonia Saigal have lent their voice to the number.

The musician has also composed the title track of the film.

“The title track is a fast-paced, peppy number with Jazz interludes rendered by Sonu Nigam. While the other one is a romantic duet by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam,” says Banks.

One may expect a distinct Louiz Banks mark on the three songs, though, Banks isn’t sure of the way they have been handled in the film. “I haven’t seen the picturisation,” he confesses.

The film deals with the issue of organ donation and has been stuck with the Censor Board over some controversial child abuse scenes. So it may be a while before one actually gets to see the songs.

Meanwhile, Banks is already working on another movie, a crossover film called I Love Begum Akhtar directed by Jayabrato Chatterjee.

“The story is woven around Begum Akhtar’s music and is set in the Calcutta of the ‘70s. They came to me as I was living there at that time, and was familiar with the ethos,” Banks says.

Besides this, the jazz artist also has an animation film lined up, a project he has kept under wraps.

In the past, Banks has composed the background score for films like New Delhi Times, Hum and Duplicate among others.

At an age where his contemporaries are contemplating retirement Banks is still exploring new territories and looking for bigger horizons.

KNOWING LOUIZ BANKS
	On the advice of a numerologist, Louiz Banks changed the name of his spelling from ‘Louis’ to ‘Louiz’. The film’s hoardings though spell it ‘Louis’, a fact he rues.
	He has composed some of the most popular jingles including Cadbury, VIP Luggage and Bajaj.
	Louiz is an avid painter and also exhibited his paintings in Mumbai recently.