After mulling over the topic of the first post on my blog, I finally decided to dedicate it to somebody who has been truly inspirational for me and is also associated with fields I love the most- music, movies and media!!
I broadly classify writers, poets and artistes in two categories- the first includes people who write/perform keeping in mind the readers/audiences (example: Javed Akhtar, Sonu Nigam, Shahrukh Khan etc); and the second comprises of those who follow the art and their hearts independent of the fact that how will the receivers react (example: Gulzar saab, Kailash Kher, Amir Khan etc). In the former case, art is bounded by uncertainty of feedback and hence cent percent utilization of potential becomes almost impossible.
… And then we have Prasoon Joshi, who is probably the only Indian writer who can be classified under both the above mentioned groups. As a copywriter he writes specifically for the target customers of the product being endorsed, whereas as a lyricist he simply follows his heart!
Let me first throw some light on his advertising career…
He started his career with Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) Delhi, and after working there for over 10 years, he joined McCann-Erickson, in early 2002. By 2006, he was Regional creative director, South and South East Asia, when in December 2006 he was elevated to Executive Chairman for McCann World group India and Regional Creative Director, Asia Pacific.
He has created many remarkable ad campaigns like Thhanda matlab Coca Cola, NDTV India- Sach dikhate hain hum, Happydent- which is considered, by experts, as India's best ad till date. He has coined so many brilliant phrases and a lot of memorable ads. These include commercials for Cadbury, Asian paints, Chlormint, Pond’s, Close-up, ING, Pulse Polio program and many more. He has won more than 200 advertising awards! I think that says it all!
…Now, coming to the crux of the post; although we do have lyricists who pen down a few good songs, they all lack depth and versatility. When I, an aficionado of Gulzar, look around at all the lyrical mockery that’s happening and all the poetical gimmickry, I wonder what will be the fate of lyrics in Hindi cinema, going ahead. It’s not a very happy picture, let me tell you. Barring a handful of new generation lyricists, I don’t see much talent around.
That’s where my search begins for a ‘Gulzar’ of the next generation. A lyricist/poet who can write sensitively, with sublimity, with progressive ideas. Someone who can write on innocent situations as well as controversial stuff; who can make your blood boil as well as cool your senses, who can write about society at large as well as for the individualistic/ common man; who has knowledge of historical events and keeps pace with contemporary issues.
The only person who comes to my mind, who can carry forward the legacy of Gulzar, or who can write Gulzarian lyrics, seems to be Prasoon Joshi. Let me pick some of Prasoon’s works which seem to be the silver-lining around the dark clouds of movie songs’ lyrics.
Rehna Tu from Delhi-6
When I first heard the song, I mistook it to be a romantic song and I imagined Abhishek singing this for Sonam Kapoor. But I was pleasantly surprised that this song is dedicated to Delhi. That was a stroke of genius, an innovative concept where even a city is made to sound like a ‘dilruba’ and ‘jaaneman’ and is not supposed to change for anything. The character of Delhi is brought out very well and the spirit of romance is all over the song, sample these lines:
Rehna tu hai jaise tu,
Thoda sa dard tu, thoda sukoon
Tujhe badalna na chahoon ratti bhar bhi sanam,
Bina sajaawat milaawat, na zyaada na hi kam.
Mujhe teri baarish mein bheegna hai ghul jaana hai,
Mujhe teri lapat mein jalna, raakh ho jaana hai…
Maa from Taare Zameen Par
I don’t get moved that easily, but this song creates the magic which can melt a stone. A song that won so many awards. A beautiful piece of poetry, a dedication to every mother that echoes the sentiment of every child who has been showered by mother’s love.
Main kabhi batlaata nahi,
Par andhere se darta hoon main maa…
Yun to main dikhlata nahi,
Teri parwaah karta hoon main maa,
Tujhe sab hai pata, hai na maa…
It reminds me of what Mother Teresa once said: “God created mothers so that He could be everywhere”. His delving into child psychology and coming up with such gems shows us a glimpse of his sensitivity and emotions. The ease with which he brings out those feelings is simply awesome!
Khoon Chala from RDB:
Every time I listen to this, I get goose-bumps. It makes me sit up and think about how we take things so lightly instead of speaking out against it. A call for revolution, a call for change, a call for new enthusiasm and a call for blood, akin to what Bose once said – “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. Echoing those very sentiments are these wonderful lines:
Kuchh kar guzarne ko khoon chala, khoon chala,
Aankhon ke sheeshe me utarne ko khoon chala…
Badan se tapak kar, zameen se lipatkar,
galiyon se raston se ubharkar, umadkar,
Naye rang bharne ko khoon chala, khoon chala…
Khuli si chot lekar, badi si tees lekar, aahista aahista,
Sawaalo ki ungli, jawaabo ki mutthi sang lekar, khoon chala…
The movie demanded such lyrics, such pain and the subsequent actions that follow. Prasoon has very effectively and efficiently described a revolt with so less words which actually translate to a whole lot of ideas. In fact all the songs from the movie Rang De Basanti (Luka chhupi, Tu bin bataaye, Paathshala, Rubaroo) display the variety similar to that of Gulzar saab in so many movies like Omkara, Kaminey, Satya, Maachis, Saathiya, etc.
Khwaab jo from London Dreams
Jo tujhe jagaaye, neende teri udaaye, khwaab hai sachcha wahi,
neendo me jo aaye, jise to bhul jaaye, khwaab wo sachcha nahi…
Khwaab ko raag de, neend ko aag de…
Angaaron ko jagaaye, koyalo sa jo gaaye, khwaab hai sachcha wohi,
lehare jo uthaaye, paaniyo ko hilaaye, khwaab hai sachcha wohi
khwaab ko raag de, neend ko aag de…
A soft, soothing song which stimulates you to make your dreams a reality. Truly helps you in defining a dream. It’s a kind of motivational song in itself which helps you mollify the unrest of the unstable mind!
And then there’s my favorite..,
Arziyaan from Delhi-6:
Written as a qawaali, it’s a prayer with a lot of heartfelt thoughts. The first two lines convey the pathos of the soul. Face is the mirror of the soul; if the soul is wrinkled, so will the face be. There is nothing more to explain than the expression of disdain written all over the face…
Arziyaan saari main chehre pe likh ke laaya hu,
Tumse kya maangu main, tum khud hi samajh lo..
Daraare daraare hai maathe pe maula,
Marammat muqaddar ki kar do maula…
He goes on to explain how people have got all their wishes fulfilled whenever they approached Him. The thirsty ones who asked for a drop, have received an ocean of blessings… I do not wish to translate it, it loses the charm. Just read it:
Jo bhi tere dar aaya, jhukne jo sar aaya,
Mastiyaa piye sabko, jhoomta nazar aaya..
Pyaas le ke aaya, dariya woh bhar laya,
Noor ki barish me bheegta sa tar aaya..
Sajde me rehne do, ab kahin na jaunga,
Abb jo tumne thhukraya to sawar na paunga..
Sar utha ke maine to kitni khwahishe ki thi,
kitne khwaab dekhe the kitni koshishe ki thi..
Jab tu rubaru aaya, nazre na mila paaya,
Sar jhuka ke ek pal me, maine kya nahi paya…
Simply sublime! One of the very few songs that can be felt and not just heard. Very few people know the story behind the making of this song. A. R. Rehman actually composed this tune for himself in 1999. He listened to it everyday after Namaaz and never thought of commercializing it. Rakesh Mehra told him that he needs a qawaali for Delhi-6, Prasoon wrote the lyrics. These were the magical words that forced Rehman to utilize this 10 year-old intensely personal composition!!
To top it all…
Well there are many more marvellous and meaningful songs by Prasoon from various movies like Hum Tum, Ghajini, Kurbaan, Fanaa, Black, Aankhe, etc…
If you wish to listen to the best song ever written to express a child’s imagination, his innocence, thoughts, perception.., I strongly recommend “Mera Jahaan” from Taare Zameeen Par, sung by Adnan Sami.
I hope you remember the stupendous songs Dooba dooba by Silk Route, Shubha Mudgal’s Dhholna, Ab ke saawan; let me tell you that all these were from Prasoon’s pen!
The talent that he has displayed through his miscellany of work is really impressive. In fact, quite a few times his lyrics sound like they’re from Gulzar saab’s school of thought. Prasoon Joshi is indeed a ‘Gulzar’ in the making!
In the end, I’ll share this pacifying song from Phir Milenge, which has a lot of optimism and gives a spirit to live, to tackle the problems of life...
Khulke muskuraale tu, dard ko sharmaane de,
Boondo ko dharti par saaz ek bajaane de…
Hawaaye keh rahi hai aaja jhoole zara,
Gagan ke gaal ko chal jaake chhoole zara…
