This is from pure experience that background music plays one of the most important roles in the making of cinema. Consider that the difference between a super hit movie and a super flop movie is the quality of background music or BGM.
I have watched more than 10,000 movies in my lifetime. While watching all those movies, I have realized that the better the background music, the deeper the feelings I comprehend within when watching all scenes. Whether the scene is of romance, a fight, or tragedy, it is the background music that enhances the beauty of the movie.
The thing is, background music is as important as the selection of characters, the plot, and the storyline. I even believe that the greatest directors, when making a movie, treat the background music as a story of the movie itself. What I mean is that when you remove the whole plot and only play the background music from start to finish, it should tell the story itself. For example, when you close your eyes and play only the background music for 3 hours straight, you can understand the storytelling in it.
Let’s take the famous movie Inception as an example. If you close your eyes and play the movie from start to finish, you can feel the thrill from the background music alone. Even the movie The Dark Knight has its own storytelling through the background music.
One more thing is that background music plays a very important role in introducing the character. The theme “Deshi Basara” portrays the story of the character Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. If we talk about Bollywood, then the movie KGF became famous only because of the background music. Each character has its own story and BGM. The main villain, “Garuda,” has his own background music, which is one of the greatest in cinema history.
One of the reasons most indie movies fail is that they do not have the opportunity to feature good background music. However, there are very rare movies that become superhits without BGM, like ‘The Man from Earth,’ ‘No Country for Old Men,’ and ’12 Angry Men.’ While a film can be impactful without music, the right soundtrack can elevate it to unforgettable heights. Personal favorites such as ‘Blade Runner,’ ‘Let the Right One In,’ ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ ‘Amélie,’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are beloved not just for their stories but also for their exceptional soundtracks. These films demonstrate how the combination of storytelling and music can create truly transcendent moments on screen.
It is true that music makes a movie-watching scenario incredibly powerful. There are moments when we watch a certain scene, and tears start to flow from our eyes. The fusion of storytelling and visuals acts as a synergy. One of the greatest directors, Martin Scorsese, has mastered the art of using music in his movies.
The best cinemas from all over the world use good music. I remember watching “Oldboy,” a South Korean movie where the use of violin is skillfully crafted. Another beautiful movie called “In the Mood for Love” has music that runs in the forefront. I have posted some of the greatest soundtracks here, which I often find myself going back to and listening to.
