Have you had any bitter experiences in the industry?
I will not name the person but when I was new I got a call from a director so I went to meet him. He told me that the next time we meet, I should bring along with me 50 mukhdas and he’ll see what can be done. Obviously, I never went back to that director because 50 mukhdas are not easy to write. I don’t think it’s the right way to approach a song. Another time I was doing a song for a film that didn't get released. He said to me publicly that I was a bad lyricist, and that hurt.
Does your vision for a song ever differ from the director's?
My point of view is always that it's the director's film and hence I will do what he wants me to do. At the end of the day, it's his imagination and he knows more than me about what’s needed. Initially, it was difficult for me to use English words in the lyrics because I couldn't get the rhythm going. But the lingo in the industry has changed. Now lyrics have words that are a part of daily usage. This seems to have worked for Ugly Aur Pagli’s 'Main Talli Ho Gayi'.
I don't know a word of Punjabi but the producer asked me to seek help from a Punjabi friend. I sat with my actor friend Tarun Khanna and the word talli came up and I wrote the lyrics. As long as it is not offensive or vulgar, I stick to the brief.
This use of colloquial language in lyrics, why do you think that has come about?
I look at it from the filmmaker’s point of view. Today, that’s the demand. If you go to big cities, people speak Hinglish, a mixed language. Society has changed. Aamir Khan’s character in Rangeela sells movie tickets in black, and so he would have to use that language. Earlier, movies would never have a lead character in such a profession. The standard of writing has only followed the standard of society.
Do lyricists get the credit they deserve for their work?
Recently, my name was missing from Love Khichdi's CD. What else can I say?
What sort of songs do you like to write? And which ones are most difficult to pen?
I love writing soulful and romantic numbers, and that's the sort of music I listen to as well. In my resume, songs of the ‘Talli’ sort are few, because they are difficult to write.
Is there a director for whom you want to write?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I worked with him as an editor on Khamoshi. He really does justice to a song. I have being a big fan of his songs whether it is Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or Devdas, so I want to work with him.
Which projects do you have in the pipeline?
Manmohan Shetty’s Mehmaanji is coming up for which I have written the screenplay, dialogue and songs. Then there is Run Bhola Run with Pritam's music. White Elephant and another Rajat Kapoor movie are also in the pipeline. I'm also planning a movie of my own, waiting for things to fall into place.
