C Girinandh perhaps speaks for every cricket fan when he is asked to describe what drew him to the project, The Greatest Rivalry: India Vs Pakistan. “These matches hold a special place for us, and there are some key moments that continue to hold a place in our minds. I have been a fan-boy and have followed cricket. A project like this one is mixed with aggression [that is representative of] the sentiments of the country,” says Girinandh, who crafted the music for Netflix’s three-part series that explores India’s love for the games.

The fact that the two countries have a lot in common when it comes to their musical evolution served the composer. “We relate to the instruments that we are exposed to. We have common [instruments] like the dhol, rabab, and [other] string-based instruments. Punjabi [music] is another [common factor]. So, we knew that there was an opportunity to craft world music that did include Indian elements but also stayed true to the ethnicity of Pakistan,” he says, adding that working on a documentary of this kind enables a viewer to enjoy a dramatic representation of real-life incidents. “It’s a good space to blend both worlds.”