MUMBAI: The complexion of film music has been undergoing a sea change. The once solitary job of scoring music is now a collaborative effort. Though this trend was noticed quite some time ago, it continues even now. A multi star cast film just does not mean an impressive line-up of stars but also multiple composers and lyricists.

The late eighties and nineties saw the emergence of this trend. It continues even today. With the release of Welcome, the Anees Bazmee film audiences will once again be treated to music by multi-composers. Himesh Reshamiya, Sajid-Wajid and Anand Raj Anand will share the credits.

In the late nineties when the trend was catching on, the much-in-demand Bappi Lahiri decided to take a sabbatical. He went on record to say that he was confused with the goings-on and hence would be going on a break. Though of course some time later Bappi did concede to compose a few songs in films which had other composers.

Even composers Anand–Milind were disturbed with this trend and felt that they lost out to a lot of work on account of this.

With the soundtrack of multi-starrer Welcome officially out in the market, the fact that there as many as three heavyweight music composers credited has not gone unnoticed.

According to the director of Welcome, Aneez Bazmee, Himesh Reshammiya was the original choice especially after he delivered a hit score for the producer Firoz Nadiadwala's earlier film, Phir Hera Pheri.

But as Himesh could not give the film sufficient attention because of his acting committments, the producer and director mutually decided to rope in Anand Raj Anand (Shootout At Lokhandwala) and Sajid-Wajid (Partner) to score the remaining tracks.

Himesh confirms, "All's well. Firoz bhai, Aneez bhai and the other composers are friends and we're all perfectly fine with the arrangement."

Welcome, starring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Feroz Khan & Mallika Sherawat, releases on 21 December.