As Made in India: A Titan Story continues to win praise for its storytelling and performances, composer Abhishek Nailwal is equally delighted that audiences are connecting with its background score. For him, the music was never about amplifying drama, it was about becoming an emotional extension of the characters and their journey.
A significant source of inspiration came from the performances of Jim Sarbh and Naseeruddin Shah, who portray Xerxes Desai and JRD Tata, respectively. Nailwal believes their nuanced performances laid the perfect emotional foundation for the score.
“Jim’s portrayal of Xerxes wasn’t just of a businessman, it was of a dreamer, a visionary, someone who could inspire people while still remaining deeply human. That clarity gave me a very stable emotional ground to build the score on,” he says.
Rather than creating a larger-than-life soundtrack, Nailwal chose an orchestral approach that reflected both the ambition and vulnerability of the characters.
“We wanted the music to reflect the scale of his vision, but also the vulnerability behind it. The score had to feel aspirational without ever losing its heart,” he explains.
The project also marked Nailwal’s first collaboration with director Robbie Grewal, an experience he describes as creatively seamless.
“I really connected with the vision Robbie shared during our first meeting, and from there everything flowed organically. Thankfully, we were on the same page most of the time,” he says with a laugh.
While creative discussions are an integral part of filmmaking, Nailwal says he was given the freedom to experiment and discover the musical identity of the series. “At the end of the day, the performances and the script guide you more than anything else. If you listen carefully enough, they almost tell you what the music wants to become.”
Among the many memorable moments in the series, one sequence particularly influenced his approach to the score, the climax of the first episode, where JRD Tata encourages Xerxes Desai to build the watch.
“It’s such a powerful moment because, in many ways, it’s a declaration of intent, a challenge to take on the established European watchmakers. You can feel the excitement in Xerxes and Aakash, but there’s also responsibility and belief,” he says.
The music was designed to mirror that emotional progression.
“The cue begins on an emotional note, slowly transforms into what almost feels like a mission statement, and finally blossoms into a euphoric version of the main theme when they high-five. The performances had already conveyed the emotion beautifully. The music simply carried that feeling a little further and gave it wings.”
Nailwal also believes the perception of background scores has changed significantly over the past few years. With audiences consuming more long-form storytelling on OTT platforms, he feels music is finally receiving the appreciation it deserves.
“I genuinely feel audiences don’t just notice background scores anymore, they actively listen to them and even revisit them outside the show. OTT has opened the doors to so many different kinds of stories, and every story brings its own musical language. We’re only beginning to see background music receive the recognition it has always deserved,” he says.
Despite composing across genres, Nailwal insists his creative process always begins with the story.
“Whether it’s a business drama, a thriller, a romance or an action film, your job is to build a musical world that belongs to those characters. The emotions may change, but the intention remains the same, to help the story express itself a little more deeply.”
Asked what defines his signature as a composer, Nailwal prefers to leave that judgment to listeners.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe that’s a question for the audience,” he smiles. “If there’s one thing I naturally gravitate towards, it’s melody and emotion. I always hope people don’t just remember a piece of music, they remember how it made them feel.”
Looking ahead, the composer is currently working on a folk EP inspired by the music of his hometown in Kumaon, along with the score for a fantasy comedy feature film.
“I just want to keep telling stories through music and continue learning with every project,” he says, while expressing gratitude for the response to Made in India: A Titan Story. “The love we’ve received means the world to me and my entire team.”
