Retired jeweller Atul Merchant ‘Jataayu’ has vowed to spend the rest of his life in pursuit of Music and Vedanta philosophy. Playing Harmonium, Melodica (Hohner) and Mandolin During childhood, on achieving adulthood Atul’s most preferred instrument has been Sarodand has been exceptionally fortunate to be a disciple of Annapurna Devi.

Atul’s tryst with Bollywood precedes a couple of generations as his ancestors used to finance films of Bombay Talkies, Filmistan and R.K. Studio and built Shirin Talkies, the first Cinema Theatre of Bombay. Atul was lucky to get lessons in film-music from Jayesh Gujarati (a musician mainly in Shankar Jaikishan’s and Ravi’s recordings and a composer himself), from Kalyanjibhai, learnt basics of Western Music (chords and staff notations) and did Mumbai University Sound Recording & Reproduction course under Prof. Kunte. Atul passionately indulges in directing and composing music. He is also a published author with ‘Jataayu’ as his pen-name. Currently he is finalising his e-novella ‘Cinemaghar’, the centre theme being the Golden Era of Bollywood Music.