Some love it and many hate it; either way, Dev D’s music has drawn the spotlight to itself and the man behind it—Amit Trivedi. The 29-year-old music director is enjoying the attention he feels was due.

“I’ve been in the industry for 12 years and have worked my way up. I’ve done practically all you can think of,” he says, explaining how he did everything from playing keyboard for Navratri bands to managing the music for Bollywood shows and composing jingles for ads and serials. “I was even a part of Om—the fusion band, for three years and brought out an album with them.”

Back then, naturally, Trivedi’s father wasn’t happy with his decision but his mother’s support and his passion for music saw him through. “At 17, all I knew was whatever I do, had to be in the music industry. In fact, I never had plans to be a music director one day,” he adds.

The musician’s long journey paid off. “Yes, my music for Dev D derives from my experiences—my work in the past has been a great reference point,” he admits but gives the director, Anurag Kashyap, the credit. “He briefed us with situations and many a time, came up with the eclectic ideas.” Delving into the making of the most talked about track from the film, Emosional Atyachaar, he laughs, “Anurag called me up and gave me the phrase Emosional Atyachaar and asked me to compose something around it.

All he told me is that it should be a street-band kind of composition. Honestly, I freaked out and had no idea what to do so I called over the lyricist and he composed the lyrics while I composed the music,” he smiles.

Trivedi’s music however, does not bear a signature. While the chartbuster from his first film, Aamir — O Rahi Re — had Sufi influences, Dev D is a mixed bag with two Punjabi, an Awadhi, a rock and a folk track.

“I just follow the brief given to me and try to fit it into the situation in the film. Somehow, it just works out,” he says. Or maybe it results from the fact that he listens to all kind of music, Trivedi muses. “I grew up listening to A R Rahman, R D Burman, Madan Mohan and typical Bollywood music. At the same time, I love Coldplay, Sting and John Mayers.”

The young musician is, however, realistic and acknowledges that his music may not go down very well with everyone. “I know it bears a kitschy quality to it.”