Sound Engineer Eric Pillai's Work On Saiyaara Gains International Chart Recognition

In the realm of Indian music, Eric Pillai is recognized for his contributions as a sound engineer and mix-mastering specialist. Pillai has contributed to the audio quality of contemporary Bollywood music. His recent work on Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara—which has earned over ₹200 crore at the global box office, reflects the continued relevance of his technical expertise.

Among the film’s most popular tracks—Saiyaara (title and Shreya version), Barbaad, and Dhun—Pillai’s involvement in mixing and mastering is notable. The soundtrack recently ranked at number 5 on the global music charts, marking a notable moment for Hindi cinema music.

Pillai has stated, “I am on cloud nine that four of the songs I’ve mixed have become a rage. I am grateful that audiences are loving the songs and showering so much appreciation. It feels surreal to see the outcome of everyone’s hard work.”

Beyond his individual work, Pillai is the founder of Future Sound of Bombay, a post-production audio studio in India. He has built a team and facility that emphasize both creative and technical standards, serving a broad spectrum of filmmakers and music producers domestically and internationally.

With over two decades of professional experience, Pillai has collaborated with numerous leading composers, including Pritam and Vishal-Shekhar, contributing to many successful Hindi film soundtracks. He is also involved in mentoring aspiring sound engineers, supporting skill development within the Indian audio industry.

Eric Pillai is an Indian sound engineer, mixing and mastering engineer, and music producer who has worked in Bollywood music for nearly three decades. His interest in music began at age 12, inspired by seeing a Solid-State Logic mixing console in The Police’s music video for "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Motivated by this early exposure, Pillai pursued formal training in London, completing graded guitar studies with Rock School Ltd. and obtaining a diploma in sound engineering from the City of Westminster College between 1993 and 1996.

After returning to Mumbai, Pillai started his professional career at Galactica Studios, later moving to Spectral Harmony. There, he progressed from third assistant to technical director and chief engineer by 2003. His first independent project of note involved recording and mixing the album "Phir Dhoom" by Euphoria. A pivotal moment in his career occurred when a fire destroyed his workplace, after which he spent time in the United States. Upon his return, he established his own studio, Future Sound of Bombay, in 2005. Beginning as a home-based studio, it shifted to a dedicated location in 2006. Future Sound of Bombay has since developed into an audio post-production facility, catering to Indian and international filmmakers and music producers.

Pillai has worked with a range of artists and composers including Pritam, Sajid-Wajid, Vishal-Shekhar, Anirudh, Adnan Sami, and Euphoria, among others. His work includes mixing and mastering for numerous notable film soundtracks such as "Aashiqui 2," "Shershaah," "Barfi!," "Ek Villain," and "Dunki." Over his career, He has earned credits on hundreds of film and album tracks.

He has received several awards, such as the GiMA Award for Best Recording Engineer for "Aashiqui 2" and "Dabangg," and various International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) and Mirchi Music Awards for work on albums like "Barfi!," "Ek Villain," and "Shershaah." Pillai is recognized for his ongoing dedication to music mixing and mastering.

In addition to his technical contributions, Pillai has worked to elevate industry practices by mentoring and training emerging sound engineers, supporting the advancement and international standing of Indian music production. His focus on quality and professional standards has contributed to his recognition within the Indian audio post-production industry.