5 Reasons Why We Are Looking Forward to ‘Times of Music’

Set to premiere next weekend on Saturday, June 20th, the MX Original Series Times of Music is a unique offering that aims at celebrating Indian sound through the ages. Hosted by the versatile musician  Vishal Dadlani, the 11-episode series melds the concepts of a chat show and music reality series, unveiling the creativity that informs some of our country’s most celebrated musicians as they belt renditions of each others’ tunes. 

Apart from the promise of innovation and nostalgia, here’s why we’re looking forward to MX Player’s Times of Music:

1. 20 celebrated composers will reinvent each others’ iconic tunes

Composer duo Vishal-Shekhar in ‘Times of Music.’ Photo: MX Player

Each episode of Times of Music will feature two composers of different eras interpreting each other’s tunes in their own distinctive fashion. After dialogue and interpretation, each composer will present their rendition. The duos set to adapt each others’ music are Salim-Sulaiman and Pyarelal; Sachin-Jigar and Euphoria; Vishal & Shekhar and Bappi Lahiri; Shantanu Moitra and Amaal Mallik; Amit Trivedi and Agnee; Viju Shah and Mithoon; Rajesh Roshan and Himesh Reshammiya; Anand-Milind & Sajid-Wajid; Ajay-Atul and Kalyanji-Anandji, and Indian Ocean and Sneha Khanwalkar. With these pairings, one can only expect powerhouse performances. 

2. Watching Vishal debut as a host and hearing the fun, emotional and unheard chapters from the lives of the musicians

Series host Vishal Dadlani has been a veteran of the music industry since the Nineties, boasting one of the most diverse musical oeuvres. It’s only fitting that Dadlani unravels the stories behind the music listeners hold dear. Viewers can expect storytelling, tributes and musical genius when all the composers gather at the table to tell their tales—these are chapters you do not want to miss!

3. A unique crossover of a reality and chat show

If inquiring minds want to know, iconic Bollywood composer Bappi Lahiri does open up about his affinity for gold. Photo: MX Player

How often do you get to hear both the story and the song? In a heady and entertaining concoction of beautiful performances and vulnerable conversations, Times of Music is transcending every music lover’s dream. Bringing Indie greats and mainstream giants together, the series is showcasing not only the rise of the parallel industries but also a sizeable spectrum of India’s sound, presenting a partial history that bridges two co-existing worlds in the music industry.

4. The weekend blues? Never heard of them

Songs are evergreen, no matter when they’re produced. And what better way to head to a gig during lockdown than to tune in to a show that brings the greats to your screen every weekend? Whether you’re craving nostalgia, innovation or earworms, Times of Music is bound to be a spellbinding songbook of raw musical power with rarely a dull moment. Tuning in seems to be the easiest way to relive the glory days of the once weekend. 

5. All the surprises and learnings in store

Musical duo Sachin-Jigar will be adapting fusion band Euphoria’s iconic song ‘Maeri’ on ‘Times of Music.’ Photo: MX Player

To see some of the best musicians over the eras reinvent each others’ music is bound to lead to a lot of on-screen innovation that everyone can both learn from and be inspired by. It’s rare that listeners are given access to these musicians’ creative process. With the fun format, rampant hijinks and musical inquiry as well as creative genius at play—as witnessed in the trailer—MX Player’s Times of Music is bound to be an audio-visual experience like no other.