Sameer Anjaan: Too many rookies have entered Bollywood
Sameer Anjaan needs no introduction for music lovers and Bollywood buffs. Having entered the Guinness Book of World Records for penning 3,524 songs in 650 films -- they include super-hits like Aashiqui, Dil and Raja Hindustani -- the 57-year-old is on a new high. In an exclusive interview with SpotboyE, the celebrated lyricist talks about achieving milestones, the current trends in Bollywood and much more. Read on:
Sameer Anjaan needs no introduction for music lovers and Bollywood buffs. Having entered the Guinness Book of World Records for penning 3,524 songs in 650 films -- they include super-hits like Aashiqui, Dil and Raja Hindustani -- the 57-year-old is on a new high. In an exclusive interview with SpotboyE, the celebrated lyricist talks about achieving milestones, the current trends in Bollywood and much more. Read on:
You have set a world record. How does it feel?
I am very happy; awards encourage you to achieve more. The best lyricists -- Sahir
(Ludhianvi) sahab, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra and Shakeel Badayuni, to name a few -- are known for their work and not the number of awards they have won. When I started my journey in Bollywood --- never did I think that I will get my name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records; I just kept doing good work.
Do you see this as your biggest achievement?
If I see this as my biggest achievement, I’ll stop getting better. I want to get achieve something bigger.
Image Source: Youtube/T-Series
Current songs have a very short shelf life. Agree?
I think this is a transitional phase. Today, Bollywood is getting globalised and is bent towards Western music. It is good, but the drawback is, everyone is confused about the kind of music that needs to be made. The industry has a set formula for hits -- so, if Baby Doll works, you will end up with 25 songs that sound similar. Even stories are written in a confused state of mind; producers do not know how and where songs have to be placed. They are not working seriously on music (pauses)
Go on...
There is a new trend of multiple composers and writers. What happens is, everyone is clueless about the story. Makers narrate only specific situations to lyricists. During our times, the lyricist would know the whole film and its characters to the core. Today, lyricists look out for hook lines.
Image Source: Youtube/bollywoodclassics
Is Bollywood losing out on good content?
Yes, and the reason is, music has become corporate. People from corporate sector can only do business, they lack creativity. They think merely casting Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will give them a hit. They fail to understand that in the end, it’s good content that sells. Bajirao Mastani did well at the box-office -- despite clashing with SRK-starrer Dilwale -- only because it had a compelling storyline.
Image Source: Facebook/Dilwale/BajiraoMastaani
Will you be part of projects that have other lyricists too?
I didn’t refuse such offers so far, because I wanted to be seen in the market. But henceforth, I won’t be working in a project which has other writers, because, I don’t wish to spoil my name.
Many songs today lack decency…
It’s not just films, the whole society lacks decency. Films merely reflect the society. The current generation is bent towards the West -- they like alcohol, romance and awaragardi. Even Honey Singh has penned these kind of songs, because he has lived that kind of life. Having said that, one has the moral responsibility to stop writing songs with indecent lyrics.
Do you think auto tuners have made it easy for singers?
With auto tuners around, singers know that their faults can be corrected. Earlier, singers like Lataji (Mangeshkar) and Kishoreda (Kumar) would record live after rehearsing the songs. They would put in a lot of effort, but that does not happen now.
Image Source: anandworld
Where do you stand on the royalty issue?
It was a long battle and all thanks to Javed Akhtar sahab, who fought for the writers who are paid less. Singers and composers earn through stage shows, but lyricists depend solely on royalties. But things are changing now; we have composer and singers also supporting us.
Image Source: jaybirdcom
Your favourite lyricist among the current lot?
I think everyone is good. Irshad Kamil is doing really well, but nobody except me in the last three decades have achieved the stature of Majrooh sahab, or Anand Bakshi sahab. Too many rookies have entered the profession, none of them know the craft.
Thumbnail Image Source: Manav Manglani
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