MUMBAI: Lyricist, singer and a director in the making; Swanand Kirkire is a man of many parts.
Having started his career with movies like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Parineeta, Lago raho Munnabhai, Eklavya and the recently released Paa and 3 idiots, Kirkire is a lyricist to reckon with. He has even lent his rustic voice for several of his projects apart from dabbling as a dialogue writer and associate director as well. The wordsmith, who won a National Award for his song ‘Bande mein tha dum’ in Lage Raho Munnabhai is now basking in the glory of his projects like 3 Idiots and Paa which has won him laurels from masses and critics equally.
Having explored both ends of the spectrum with serious cinema like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and commercial pot-boiler like 3 idiots, Swanand talks about his journey into the world of music. “I became a singer and lyricist by chance. I was born into a family of musicians and was exposed to music since an early age but was more keen on making films. I graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi with a specialisation in design and direction. Later I came to Mumbai and started assisting director Sudhir Misra before working for a few soap operas for television. While working with him, Sudhirji liked one of my songs, â€?Bawra Mann’, and he used it in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. The Composer of the film Shantanu Moitra made me sing the song as well and my journey into the world of music started. Post Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, plum projects like Parineeta, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Eklavya, Laga Chunari Mein Daag, Khoya Khoya Chand followed giving way to my recent projects like 3 Idiots and Paa.”
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Posed with the question as to how open are producers or music directors to new ideas from a lyricist Kirkire adds, ” A song stays beyond the film. There are so many films that would have been long forgotten had it not been its music. The lyricists in tinsel town today are getting experimental day by day with the words a new trend . Major chunk of the music directors and producers are more than willing to get a suggestion or two from the lyricist. Infact at times they ask for ideas for improving the song
It is often said that the contribution of a lyricist gets overshadowed by music and music director. Lamenting on the issue Kirkire adds, “It is the case with many a lyricists as their contribution has not fully recognised. The song and the music director I have been lucky enough to work with people and projects which have given me enough scope to grow myself and make my name in the industry.”
In the current Bollywood music scenario Often lyrics are written to fit tunes which according to many kills creativity. Taking a different stance on it Kirkire says, “There is no formulated method for penning down thoughts. A song is a work of creativity and cannot be composed or written in a devised particular way. There are times when you write lyrics and then spin the tune around it and other times you fit in the words to the rhythm of the composed tune. One has to follow the meter and let the words flow.”
Questioning about the pay structure of the music industry and the underpaid breed of lyricists in Bollywood Kirkire rues,”Who apart from the music companies is earning?” Neither the music director nor the lyricist even the singers do not earn in ratio to what the music companies earn. In Bollywood no one apart from the big stars get their due.”
Talking about the diminishing usage of Urdu in today’s lyrics and whether it is essential for a lyricist to have a flair in the language Kirkire says,”Knowing Urdu is not such a basic criterion. What is important is to know the feelings rather than the nuisances of the language. I do not use too much Urdu in my work. Similarly even Prasoon Joshi makes less usage of Urdu words. Though in our industry it always adds on if you know Urdu but it is not quintessential. Language does not matter it is sensitivity and the flow of thoughts that is required. Mere ornamentation of words will not strike a cord with the audience. Also we need to talk in a language that the audience can connect to.”
The lyricist is optimistic about the changing trends in lyrics. Explaining the usage of english words in songs he quips, “It is a very healthy trend. For today’s generation everything needs to come straight from the heart. They shun anything that is done for the heck of it. Change in language is inevitable. There is no harm in the changing trend as long as it happens aesthetically. One has to write suiting the needs of the film. Like 3 idiots was a youth oriented film so I had to keep that in mind while penning down the lyrics. Similarily Paa was a different story which had to be tackled in a mature manner. Right now, Hindi lyrics’ future seems hopeful. In times when youngsters are not interested in Hindi or Urdu, interspersing english words does seems to be a good idea.”
The lyricist who started his career with an offbeat director like Sudhir Mishra is now working for banners as mainstream as Yashraj and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Having adapted to te changing genre Kirkire adds, “It is essential to be be versatile since every director and composer throws a different challenge. I am comfortable with most of the directors I have worked with who in turn have given me varied subjects to work on and to entertain the audience.”
While continuing his romance with words the lyricist plans to direct a movie in near future. “Direction is my first love and I would definitely make a movie soon,” he concludes.
