MUMBAI: Composer Monty Sharma who won accolades for his film Saawariya is all ready to get the ball rolling this year. The composer has 17 movies on his platter to be released in 2009- 2010.

Sharma has composed the music for Vinay Shukla's â€?Mirch'. Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has penned the songs for the film. Composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan has lent his vocals for a monsoon number in the film, â€?Kaare Kaare Badra'. I felt that only Shankar's voice would do wonders for this song. So I asked him. He is an old friend and immediately said yes,... quips Monty   

The movie will have seven to eight songs covering all genres from a classical number, an item number and also the current music flavour -rock. It will see a starry lineup of singers including Kunal Ganjawala, Bela, Akriti Kakkar, reality show participant Kalpana, newbie Sharmistha and Ila Arun. Monty has also given the background score for the film.The music rights of the film is with Big Music.

Monty has also composed music for an international project, Khuda Hafeez. The music will release in a couple of months. I cannot divulge the details as of now but it will have some international artistes in it as well,... adds Monty enthusiastically 

The composer has his hands full with a number of non-film projects as well. He has composed the music for Falguni Pathak's album which will be released during the festival of Navratri in September. The album has nine songs which are penned by Sameer. He also has an album with Abhas, a finalist Voice of India fame which will be released in next two months. I have composed six songs for the album already. It is in its final stages and will release in a couple of months.... adds Monty.

Monty had also composed music for the recently launched album by Tulsi Kumar. It is her solo album and I had a great time working with her....

The composer is up in arms against musicians resorting to plagiarism. It is a shameful act to copy someone's work and call it 'inspiration'. More disheartening is the fact that these people bag all the awards too. It is as heinous a crime as robbery.

I would want people to get inspired by my work and not lift someone else's work and call it mine. If you are an actual composer your work has to be original. I want to mark my mark as an original composer. There is no other way of working for me,... adds Monty.

Talking about the current breed of reality shows that have flooded the television space Monty says, It is a big platform and the popularity that you get is stupendous. It gives the musicians from small town a platform to showcase their talent who otherwise are just a face in the crowd. The stage is also great for composers like us who can discover new talents and utilize their prowess 

But at times, these singers are also exploited by the channels that tie them in for shows for years and earn money on their behalf. Also, the drama quotient is too much. If that could be reduced, reality shows do help unknown talent to see the light of the day,... explains the composer.

The music director who has also judged Star Voice of India 2 says, I have couple of offers from television. But I am waiting for something more original which has less drama. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa was one such show which concentrated on music. If I get an offer from a similar genuine music show, I will take it up...   

Some of his projects slated to release this year are Meghna Gulzar's Milte Rahe, Deepak Tijori's Fox, Khuda Afeez, Subhash Ghai's Right Yaa Wrong and Nischay Kar Apni Jeet Karo apart from several others.