Samir Sharma, not many are familiar with his work. But silently, he is adding music in our lives through many interesting projects. Recently one of the short animated films, “That Ugly Green Planet” by Anant V. Keni , for which he had composed music won the Best International Animated Short Film Award at CAMPINAS Film Festival 2025 (Brazil)
We sat down for a short interview with him…
- Name: Samir Sharma
- School(s): St Roberts\ Ghoom Boys \ Krishnamaya memorial
- College(s): Govt College Darjeeling
TheDC: What are you doing these days
Samir: I am currently in Salbari, running a Sound Track Recording Studio. Music arrangement, composition, recording, and mixing are what I mainly do. This is both my addiction and my profession, and I stay deeply immersed in it. Other than this, I write lyrics, and compose music, both for myself and for my clients.
TheDC: When did you decide you wanted to get into music, what got you into this field.
Samir: My love for music and literature began in childhood through casual singing and writing poems, even though I didn’t fully understand why I was drawn to it then. I started formal music training only after college, learning vocal music and piano under several respected teachers in Darjeeling.
I learned vocal music for a few months from Pradeep Chhetri sir in Darjeeling. I then began learning piano from Surajmani Bermey sir, who taught me many important things. Later, I studied piano up to Grade 4 under veteran musician Jeevan Rai sir. I then had the opportunity to learn from Daju Ajnish Rai, a veteran singer, composer, and music arranger from Darjeeling. He had returned from Mumbai after receiving professional training in Hindustani classical and experience there. Getting his guidance felt like nectar to me.
Over time, I gained a deeper understanding of music, developed my skills in arrangement and song writing, and decided to pursue music as my full-time profession, leaving behind a stable job as a computer teacher at the prestigious St. Joseph’s School, Darjeeling.
TheDC: Where did you go?
Samir: Driven by passion, I moved to Mumbai and spent nearly ten years working and learning in studios and production houses. During this period, I recorded legendary singers like Udit Narayan, Shaan, Kailash Kher, and Zubeen Garg and many more celebrity artists. I learned sound engineering, worked extensively on TV serials, and built strong professional connections. Eventually, I returned to composing and arranging music, creating around 90 devotional songs for Shemaroo Entertainment.
Alongside this journey, I collaborated on meaningful documentary and non-commercial film projects with director and close friend Anant V. Keni. Though I am now based in Darjeeling and he is in Mumbai, we continue to work together, thanks to the internet. Many experiences from this journey remain untold, and I hope to share them in time.
TheDC: Not many from our region get into creating music for documentaries or nature based shows, how do you train, what keeps you motivated?
Samir: I grew up in villages and small settlements, always surrounded by streams, and nature. As a child, I spent a lot of time in the जंगल, playing, wandering, and doing all kinds of things. Those scenes have stayed alive inside me and feel timeless.
The very nature of Darjeeling is such that it touches and influences any artist. The social and political environment of the place where I grew up also shaped me deeply.
I have always felt that my work should be useful to society, and should serve people, humanity, and their well-being. That is why I am naturally drawn toward such themes in my creative work.
TheDC: Tell us about your interest in Nepali Children’s songs
Samir: I always felt strongly is that we must work for our children. From the Indian side or India, there have been very little meaningful work in Nepali children’s songs. Majority of children’s music produced in Nepali language in India are mostly for advertising.
With my own effort, I have prepared and uploaded around 65 new and old Nepali children’s songs with animation on the Nivriti Soundtrack YouTube channel.
My friend Santosh lad from Mumbai helped in animation. Nepali children and parents from both India and abroad have benefited from this. These songs are also being taught in various schools in Nepal, which gives me immense happiness.
TheDC: What brought you back to Darjeeling?
Samir: It was this same love for my place and my community that eventually brought me back to Darjeeling from Mumbai.
TheDC: Tell us about the Ugly Green Planet
Samir: That Ugly Green Planet by Anant V. Keni has won the Best International Animation Film Award at CAMPINAS Film Festival 2025 (Brazil). With this, the film has now received 2 international awards and 17 official selections so far.
I feel truly thankful for the love and recognition.
TheDC: What are you busy with these days?
Samir: Currently, I am involved in various projects as a professional at Studio Soundtrack, Salbari, including recent works related to senior songwriter-composer Late Gopal Singh Bhandari, Doordarshan musical projects, and other regular studio assignments.
From all these works, what I have learned is this: I should never treat them as just “work.” They deserve greater awareness, care, and responsibility. These experiences have guided me in that direction, and that is the path my future journey will follow.
TheDC: How do you balance music and your life with family?
Samir: Managing a music career alongside family life is challenging, and for me, family support has been the key factor. Without it, continuing in this field would have been very difficult. My musical and technical skills helped me survive in the industry, even after leaving my teaching job, and working with various production houses.
Now, I run my own recording studio in Salbari, which allows me to give time to my family and children, though the ups and downs never really go away. My family has mostly been supportive of my unconventional career choice, even if they sometimes have mixed feelings, which is only natural.
TheDC: Where do you see yourself, 5-years from today
Samir: The journey will continue, and creation will keep flowing. Where it will lead and where it will end, I have left that to time. Along with music, I have a deep interest in literature. I write Nepali songs and ghazals, I still continue to receive guidance in Hindustani classical music from Barnali Basu ma’am in Siliguri. I am on a journey.
TheDC: Any word of advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps
Samir: This path is exciting, but full of ups and downs. Talent alone is not enough here; one also has to work a lot on behaviour and professionalism, which not everyone can manage. If talent and behaviour are kept in balance, the journey becomes much smoother.
One more thing I would like to add: music, literature, and all creative fields are going through a major shift because of AI. In some ways, it is helpful, it makes processes faster and more accessible. But personally, I feel that at least the core creative fields should remain free from interference, so that human skill, emotion, and creative sense can continue to grow naturally.
You can reach out to Samir Sharma on FB
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