Arijit is an educated musician: Shankar Mahadevan

Singer Shankar Mahadevan, also a part of Bollywood's renowned composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, feels that Arijit Singh, who has been in demand since "Tum hi ho", is going to stay in the music industry for a long time as he is an "educated musician".

"Arijit Singh is going to stay for a long time because he is an educated musician. He knows his music. He understands his 'sargams'. He has got depth. I knew him even before he became Arijit Singh," said Shankar.

Asked why do singers have phases in Bollywood, he said: "If you are a musician of a very high caliber, if your aesthetics of music is very high and you are an educated musician, then you are going to stay for a long time.

"We have been composing music for the last 19 years and this year we picked the Filmfare Best Music Director award (for '2 States'). It's difficult to sustain, but if you have got quality, then you will sustain. There needs to be depth in your music."

Shankar along with Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa are best known for composing songs for films like "Dil Chahta Hai", "Kal Ho Naa Ho", "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", "Wake up Sid" and "Dil Dhadakne Do".

He feels that Bollywood music keeps on "evolving" time after time.

"Music keeps changing. It keeps evolving. It keeps trending with the changes that happen in the story. It's like fashion. But with changes, you have to maintain the sanctity of music and its esthetics, which are 'sur' and 'tal'. Within that you can do whatever you want," Shankar said.

He also believes that India is "so rich in music".

"There are so many classical and other types of music. First of all, we should learn to respect our own music. We don't respect our classical music and our folk music. If you go to Europe or an Arabic country, they often listen to our classical music," he added.