Seema Mattoo, Tanvi Trivedi and Purvaja Sawant (BOMBAY TIMES; March 18, 2016)
AANAND L RAI, FILMMAKER
Aanand L Rai, nominated in the Best Director award category for The Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) 2016, for Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR) talks about his convictions while helming a film.
How do you balance story telling and direction?
My state of mind guides me towards storytelling. While keeping my commercial and creative beliefs separate, I maintain an internal balance since I am answerable only to my audience
How do you deal with the expectations?
I am selfish while making films to the extent that I remain faithful to my stories and characters. I want them to have that connect with the audience without any pressures. I don't ever get pressurised. If at all, it is only creative and thus I have no particular expectations from any of my films.
TWMR has won many accolades... how does it feel?
Coming from a middle-class background, being accepted in this industry is a big thing for me. Making films in itself is a pleasure but of course, being part of the award-winning group is a prestigious feeling.
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IRSHAD KAMIL, LYRICIST
Nominated in the Best Lyricist category at TOIFA 2016 for Agar Tum Saath Ho (Tamasha), Irshad Kamil on music in Hindi cinema.
How was the song conceived?
I feel appreciated when my hard work gets a nomination. It reaffirms our faith in poetry. Since the film's director Imtiaz Ali is a friend, I was aware of the situation that I had to write. A R Rahman and I had composed three songs for the situation, but we agreed that this was ideal.
Do you feel that the kind of music people listen to has changed over the years?
We are composing better music now. People argue that the songs have a short recall value, but today's generation is exposed to all kinds of music. People recall only the songs from 60s and 70s so they feel that old tracks was better. Even today, despite consumerism, good lyrics survive.
A lot depends on the quality of tracks when the movie is being marketed. How do you work on your songs?
Marketing is not connected with quality. Many times masses like a song that isn't marketed well. Songs and music are a film's soul so we have to work on conveying the film's essence through them.
VARUN GROVER, LYRICIST
Screenplay writer and stand-up comedian Varun Grover, who has been nominated in the Best Lyricist category at TOIFA 2016 for Moh moh ke dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha) talks about his hatke lyrics.
Did you think the song would be so well-received?
This is a moment of realisation, as the song has become way bigger than I could ever imagine. Also, it's great to be nominated alongside one of our greatest writers, Gulzar saab... it's a dream come true.
Your lyrics are often hatke... do you feel the need to write songs that have mass appeal?
Not at all. For me, song writing is very instinctive. I don't want the world to enter my creative space. In fact, whenever I write, I shut the doors, windows and lock myself in a room! I don't think of any thing and anybody.
Does it irk you to see songs with frivolous lines becoming popular?
I think Bollywood needs all kinds of songs. Writers are creating stuff which is suit able to a particular situation in the film. For example, you can't have a Moh moh ke dhaage in Mastizaade or a Chittiyaan kalaiyaan in Dum Laga Ke Haisha!
Does your shuddh Hindi give you an edge over other lyricists?
When it comes to writing songs about India's heartlands, I have an advantage, because I come from Lucknow. So, the words come naturally to me.
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Aanand L Rai, nominated in the Best Director award category for The Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) 2016, for Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR) talks about his convictions while helming a film.
How do you balance story telling and direction?
My state of mind guides me towards storytelling. While keeping my commercial and creative beliefs separate, I maintain an internal balance since I am answerable only to my audience
How do you deal with the expectations?
I am selfish while making films to the extent that I remain faithful to my stories and characters. I want them to have that connect with the audience without any pressures. I don't ever get pressurised. If at all, it is only creative and thus I have no particular expectations from any of my films.
TWMR has won many accolades... how does it feel?
Coming from a middle-class background, being accepted in this industry is a big thing for me. Making films in itself is a pleasure but of course, being part of the award-winning group is a prestigious feeling.
IRSHAD KAMIL, LYRICIST
Nominated in the Best Lyricist category at TOIFA 2016 for Agar Tum Saath Ho (Tamasha), Irshad Kamil on music in Hindi cinema.
How was the song conceived?
I feel appreciated when my hard work gets a nomination. It reaffirms our faith in poetry. Since the film's director Imtiaz Ali is a friend, I was aware of the situation that I had to write. A R Rahman and I had composed three songs for the situation, but we agreed that this was ideal.
Do you feel that the kind of music people listen to has changed over the years?
We are composing better music now. People argue that the songs have a short recall value, but today's generation is exposed to all kinds of music. People recall only the songs from 60s and 70s so they feel that old tracks was better. Even today, despite consumerism, good lyrics survive.
A lot depends on the quality of tracks when the movie is being marketed. How do you work on your songs?
Marketing is not connected with quality. Many times masses like a song that isn't marketed well. Songs and music are a film's soul so we have to work on conveying the film's essence through them.
VARUN GROVER, LYRICIST
Screenplay writer and stand-up comedian Varun Grover, who has been nominated in the Best Lyricist category at TOIFA 2016 for Moh moh ke dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha) talks about his hatke lyrics.
Did you think the song would be so well-received?
This is a moment of realisation, as the song has become way bigger than I could ever imagine. Also, it's great to be nominated alongside one of our greatest writers, Gulzar saab... it's a dream come true.
Your lyrics are often hatke... do you feel the need to write songs that have mass appeal?
Not at all. For me, song writing is very instinctive. I don't want the world to enter my creative space. In fact, whenever I write, I shut the doors, windows and lock myself in a room! I don't think of any thing and anybody.
Does it irk you to see songs with frivolous lines becoming popular?
I think Bollywood needs all kinds of songs. Writers are creating stuff which is suit able to a particular situation in the film. For example, you can't have a Moh moh ke dhaage in Mastizaade or a Chittiyaan kalaiyaan in Dum Laga Ke Haisha!
Does your shuddh Hindi give you an edge over other lyricists?
When it comes to writing songs about India's heartlands, I have an advantage, because I come from Lucknow. So, the words come naturally to me.
