Just across the lane from The Habitat, Dhruv Ghanekar is quietly working in his office, the quirkily-named Wah Wah Studio. An Andaz Apna Apna reference, we wonder. The composer laughs, “I have not seen the film yet. It is actually named after the Wah Pedal of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar.” Between jamming with musicians, and educating a new generation next door at Bay Owl Studios, the composer sits down for a chat.

Early spring

Growing up in Shivaji Park, the cultural influence was kaleidoscopic, to say the least. “My father [Girish Ghanekar] was a filmmaker. As was my uncle, illustrator/artist/writer Nandu Ghanekar,” he reveals.

Dhruv Ghanekar with Ashutosh Phatak

It was an incidental humming session along with his grandfather, a classical music aficionado that led to his discovery. Training followed, including sessions for two-years with the illustrious vocalist Jialal Vasant. Soon, Ghanekar was part of Shyam Benegal’s Trikaal (where he met a young Ishita Arun, now his wife, for the first time), among others, while also singing for composers like Louiz Banks and the late Vanraj Bhatia, among others.

Smells like teen spirit

His teenage voice change though, brought metal music and the guitar into his life.  “I was in the audience for one of the first metal bands to tour India — Europe,” he says. At this time, Ghanekar was also helming the band, Chakraview.

(From left) Anand Subayya, Paresh Kamath, Dhruv Ghanekar, Suraj Jagan, and T2 during their Chakraview years

“We figured out that if you won all the prizes at a college fest, you made more money,” says the guitarist, letting us in on the ‘jugaad’. This popularity soon gave him a front row seat for the rise of an indie film and MTV generation in India in the early ’90s.

A new age

While he has too many projects to boast of, one teenage anthem — Bombay Boys (1998) — stands out. The Mumbai street lingo of Jaaved Jaffery’s rap was a rage at schools, much to every teacher’s chagrin. “Honestly, there is a version of the track that is even more X-rated. There is something to be said for youthful irreverence,” he laughs.

Ghanekar (centre) with Kalpana Patowary during the launch of his album, Voyage, in 2015. File Pics

At the same time, advertising was a fertile training ground. A new generation has now turned some of those jingles, including the Fevicol 60 Years project, into reels. “The lyrics inform the music. You meet some fantastic, creative people in advertising. My evolution in music is thanks to these works,” he recalls. Ghanekar lets us in on a secret. “These works were led by late Piyush Pandey, including a new one that will soon be out,” he promises.

Blue Frog fever

A moment from the last gig at Blue Frog in 2016

But when such creative giants meet, ideas often bounce from one medium to another. It was one such moment that sparked a decision that would shape the city’s music scene.  In 2007, Ghanekar, alongside Ashutosh Pathak, Mahesh Mathai among others founded a Mumbai institution — Blue Frog. “Blue Frog actually began as a place for us, as creative people to meet,” the producer shares.

The Lower Parel venue’s iconic pod-like seating

From Karsh Kale, Indian Ocean, Soulmate, John McLaughlin, the late Ustad Zakir Hussain, the venue was the place to be. “It snowballed into this giant machine. The masterplan was to create a 360-degree company with a venue, a record label, and artist management. I think we were early,” he says, almost wistfully. While he is not part of the plans for its return, Ghanekar admits, “Nine years later, Mumbai still lacks a venue along the same lines.”

A scene from the Fevicol advertisement. Pic Courtesy/YouTube

Voyages ahead

In 2024, when he came out with Voyage II, Ghanekar promised us something special was coming up. As he gives us an exclusive peek at his latest work-in-progress, Shaukeen, the composer says, “This is a return to my singer-songwriter-artist phase. I am going back to the reasons why I started making music.”

With the late Piyush Pandey

Having heard two tracks, the album promises a young pop-rock sound, infused with a touch of nostalgia. With a release planned in the second half of this year, the voyage continues for this OG Bombay boy.