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This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman and composer Siddhartha Khosla go way back

By Reed Gaudens

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 14: Creator Dan Fogelman speaks onstage at FYC Panel Event for 20th Century Fox and NBC's 'This Is Us' at Paramount Studios on August 14, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 14: Creator Dan Fogelman speaks onstage at FYC Panel Event for 20th Century Fox and NBC's 'This Is Us' at Paramount Studios on August 14, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) /
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It’s a true family affair on This Is Us as composer Siddhartha Khosla reveals the college connection he and creator Dan Fogelman share.

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After watching the incredible first season of This Is Us and getting to know the cast as they became as close as family, it’s no secret that this series has created a unit more functional than most real families. But behind the scenes, it goes deeper than getting on like a house on fire. Composer Siddhartha Khosla reveals he and creator Dan Fogelman go way back.

During his Q&A with our sister site Culturess, Siddhartha Khosla spoke about altering the sound of Season 2 and not being immune to the raw emotion of This Is Us. However, the musical genius also revealed details about his friendship with creator Dan Fogelman, and we’re equal parts shocked and “Oh, that makes sense!” Khosla and Fogelman have a “tight relationship” because they both attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Not only that, the talented friends were roommates! How could one university, much less one dorm room, contain so much talent under the same roof?

Suddenly, the Pennsylvania setting of This Is Us makes more sense than ever, as does the well-oiled machine that is the Emmy-nominated smash-hit drama series. The composer also revealed that his bond with Dan Fogelman informs how he consumes the series and interprets its meaning, as Khosla tells Culturess:

"“When I’m working on the show, and I was actually telling him this the other day, his soul is all over this show. This is his artistic expression of himself on some level.”"

Furthermore, the years-long friendship between creator and composer works in unison to create the fully formed vision and artistic experience that makes us cry every Tuesday. Knowing how each other operates creatively and having an imperative shorthand with each other allows for the music to be as personal and evocative as the stories and dialogue.

"“Because I know him so well, and I know that some of his life experiences have inspired some of this show, I understand that side of it, too. So, I bring my kind of personal relationship with him and understanding him into the way I write music for the show.”"

It’s incredible that we never knew Siddhartha Khosla and Dan Fogelman were college roommates, but now that we know, it adds one more layer of “special” to the toppling tower of This Is Us greatness. Watch the composer in action, performing one of his original songs feature in the series in the video below!

Next: This Is Us composer Siddhartha Khosla gets choked up over the series, too

Were you surprised to learn about the college connection behind the scenes at This Is Us? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to keep the conversation going over on Twitter at @thisisuscrying. Also, check out Siddhartha Khosla’s full Q&A on Culturess!

This Is Us returns for Season 2 on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9/8c on NBC.

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