A column exploring diverse aspects of the performing arts. This month, musician and composer Tajdar Junaid shares his thoughts on the enigmatic intangibles of being an artiste—creativity, inspiration and spontaneity
Let us talk about creativity—what it does to us, and how we can access it.
The first rule is simple: allow yourself to play. Play with the tools you already have. Play with the colours on your palette. Play with the experiences you’ve gathered through the years, and turn them into a story if you are fond of writing. Play with the songs and melodies stored in your memory if you are fond of music. Play with the spices and ingredients your kitchen offers if cooking excites you. Play with light, shape and form if photography draws you in.
Whatever the medium, play. And let this act of play bring a lightness of being into your life. Play without fearing the outcome.
Now let us ask ourselves—why do we need play in our lives? We need to play to stay connected with who we once were. Carefree, and able to create without a reason. Dancing in the rain just because it feels right. Cooking up a mess in the kitchen simply out of curiosity. Singing without worrying whether the note is right or wrong. Drawing shapes without any meaning attached.
Play takes away judgment. It softens the way we judge our own selves and the universe around us. Play is simply being. And when we are in that state of being, we feel calm, relaxed, joyful and open. In that openness, something beautiful happens. We begin to tap into the collective wisdom of life—the knowledge of our ancestors, the memory of our fellow beings and the larger energy of the universe.
Suddenly, we discover a source we thought didn’t exist. That is why writers often say the words just flowed. Why painters exclaim, it just happened. Why maestros in Indian classical music, while improvising, look both ecstatic and serene. They throw themselves into the unknown. After years of practice and preparation, in the moment of performance, they let it all go—and simply play. In that surrender, they become channels for something larger.
The music, the art, the words—they pass through them, and those who witness it feel uplifted. But to experience this, one must be open. You cannot keep questioning the flow, or the magic will slip away.
This brings me to discuss the importance of faith. Play needs faith. Play allows us to be in touch with our innermost childlike nature while faith helps us take the leap into the unknown. And it is very safe to say that it is our right to receive in abundance.
The universe works in synchronicity with our energy and manifests our thoughts—and our ability to turn play into a skill. It rewards those who carry a lightness of being, are here to play in this life and are able to wisely turn their play and passion into a skill.
Play also awakens passion. When you are fully in the moment of creating without self-judgment, the universe gathers like-minded people, events and energies around you. It opens doors your rational mind never thought could exist.
And this is why, at times, when opportunity suddenly appears and the world reveals its goodness, we feel overwhelmed. We question whether we even belong there, and sometimes sabotage and deny what our own true nature has attracted. In those doubtful moments—keep your heart and mind open. Let faith play its role. Somewhere in your journey, you manifested this. And now you are ready to receive it.
Because play is life. And life is meant to be lived. With faith.
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Tajdar Junaid is a film composer and music producer based out of Mumbai with roots in Kolkata. His collaborations include work across mediums—composing for Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Coke Studio Bharat, Spanish animated feature Sultana’s Dream, Emma Thompson’s Sold, the Oscar-nominated documentary Writing With Fire, and Achal Mishra’s Dhuin. His passion resides with world cinema, long walks in nature and teaching young minds.
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This article was originally published in the November 2025 issue of ON Stage.
