I keep the younger audience in mind, as they are the one who buy and listen to our music
He stepped into the Hindi film industry as renowned lyricist Anjaan's son. After two decades and 6000 songs later Sameer no longer needs to stay in his famous father's shadow.
The only lyricist in Bollywood to sign a multi film deal, this ace lyrcist has worked with three generations of music directors and has closely observed the industry's changing trends.
Sameer, in conversation with Radioandmusic.com's Chirag Sutar - talking about his five film deal, future projects and much more.
You became the first lyricist to sign a five-film deal. It is certainly going to set a new trend.
I've worked on 120 films at a time, and signing a five-film deal is not really a big achievement, but it's certainly a breakthrough. Director Nikhil Advani is very close to me and I know him from the time we were working on the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, he was the assistant director then. During that time, he had promised me that whenever he would start his own production house, he would work with me. That's how Nikhil Advani signed me for his forthcoming five films.
How beneficial are these deals? Is it beneficial for both producer and the lyricist?
Many corporate houses like Reliance, Sony and Eros are investing money into films. I feel this way the industry will work in a more organized manner and everybody who is part of their production can give their 100 per cent. As you know, the corporates function in a professional manner, they manage everything. As a lyricist, I just have to concentrate on my work. So, in the long run, not only actors but also the technicians who are involved with the project will profit.
You have been in the industry for around 27 years, but trends are changing rapidly. What changes have you incorporated as a lyricist?
I have worked with three generations of music directors, from Anand Bakshi to the current sensation Himesh Reshammiya. In my two decade long career, I have seen the changes that Bollywood has witnessed and I constantly upgrade myself and move with the times, tha's the best way to survive. I also keep the younger audience in mind, as they are the one who buy and listen to our music.
But, why do you follow trends when you can set new trends, new paradigms?
Right, but for that we need someone who is passionate about their films and who is willing to work on new subjects. It needs a director of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's stature to make a "Saawariya"
Are you experimenting with scripts that you get so that you can work on a theme or a story line that you haven't worked on before?
I am always keen on working on subjects that are good and different. Jaane Kahan Se Aai Hai is one such film. Besides, there's an untitled children's film with Akshay Kumar. One of my international projects is Nagin starring Mallika Sherawat. I will be working with Anu Malek for this film.
For a lyricist, it's important to share chemistry with the music director. Do you choose whom to work with? You have five films with Himesh Reshammiya lined up.
There's a saying that a lyricist and a music director should be like husband and wife (laughs). And if you look at Bollywood's history, both lyricists and music directors choose to stick to one another once they get tuned up. Chemistry is absolutely important, otherwise one cannot work. I had worked with Himesh Reshammiya for his debut film Tere Naam and now, my upcoming film with him is Karzz, we are aware of the obvious comparisons between the old and new films, but we try our best to present it in our own individual styles.
You refused Chandni Chowk to China. Why?
The movie had a lot of remixes and they asked me to do just one song for them. I refused because it didn't give me much scope as a lyricist.
What is your opinion on this growing trend of remixes?
Well, today almost all the songs are remixes. At the very initial stage, they are arranged in a way which makes it very peppy, like a remixed song. However, it's just a trend and with time, it will go.
He stepped into the Hindi film industry as renowned lyricist Anjaan's son. After two decades and 6000 songs later Sameer no longer needs to stay in his famous father's shadow.
The only lyricist in Bollywood to sign a multi film deal, this ace lyrcist has worked with three generations of music directors and has closely observed the industry's changing trends.
Sameer, in conversation with Radioandmusic.com's Chirag Sutar - talking about his five film deal, future projects and much more.
You became the first lyricist to sign a five-film deal. It is certainly going to set a new trend.
I've worked on 120 films at a time, and signing a five-film deal is not really a big achievement, but it's certainly a breakthrough. Director Nikhil Advani is very close to me and I know him from the time we were working on the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, he was the assistant director then. During that time, he had promised me that whenever he would start his own production house, he would work with me. That's how Nikhil Advani signed me for his forthcoming five films.
How beneficial are these deals? Is it beneficial for both producer and the lyricist?
Many corporate houses like Reliance, Sony and Eros are investing money into films. I feel this way the industry will work in a more organized manner and everybody who is part of their production can give their 100 per cent. As you know, the corporates function in a professional manner, they manage everything. As a lyricist, I just have to concentrate on my work. So, in the long run, not only actors but also the technicians who are involved with the project will profit.
You have been in the industry for around 27 years, but trends are changing rapidly. What changes have you incorporated as a lyricist?
I have worked with three generations of music directors, from Anand Bakshi to the current sensation Himesh Reshammiya. In my two decade long career, I have seen the changes that Bollywood has witnessed and I constantly upgrade myself and move with the times, tha's the best way to survive. I also keep the younger audience in mind, as they are the one who buy and listen to our music.
But, why do you follow trends when you can set new trends, new paradigms?
Right, but for that we need someone who is
passionate about their films and who is willing to work on new subjects. It needs a director of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's stature to make a "Saawariya"
Are you experimenting with scripts that you get so that you can work on a theme or a story line that you haven't worked on before?
I am always keen on working on subjects that are good and different. Jaane Kahan Se Aai Hai is one such film. Besides, there's an untitled children's film with Akshay Kumar. One of my international projects is Nagin starring Mallika Sherawat. I will be working with Anu Malek for this film.
For a lyricist, it's important to share chemistry with the music director. Do you choose whom to work with? You have five films with Himesh Reshammiya lined up.
There's a saying that a lyricist and a music director should be like husband and wife (laughs). And if you look at Bollywood's history, both lyricists and music directors choose to stick to one another once they get tuned up. Chemistry is absolutely important, otherwise one cannot work. I had worked with Himesh Reshammiya for his debut film Tere Naam and now, my upcoming film with him is Karzz, we are aware of the obvious comparisons between the old and new films, but we try our best to present it in our own individual styles.
You refused Chandni Chowk to China. Why?
The movie had a lot of remixes and they asked me to do just one song for them. I refused because it didn't give me much scope as a lyricist.
What is your opinion on this growing trend of remixes?
Well, today almost all the songs are remixes. At the very initial stage, they are arranged in a way which makes it very peppy, like a remixed song. However, it's just a trend and with time, it will go.
