Aparna: What is your opinion about the influence of narrative / script on the quality of songs/ poems as many times lyricist is inspired by a situation, to write?
Sandeep: It depends on situation / story, sometimes we get intense feeling to write for the given situation or at times we get ideas from the trend that has been set already but many times we have to churn our own mind . There have been movies where it’s tough to write even though we know the situation like I wrote for the “sarkar” movie. For such movies we have to use our own aptitude to write.
Aparna: Do you feel it’s tough for poets in today’s world to keep head above water?
Sandeep: I don’t feel so; books are still sold and read .Even though there is a kind of drop in discussions on books than it used to be in earlier times but books and poetry is still making its place. Stories, poems are still written and read. I try to buy and read 1-2 books every month and there would be many people like me who enjoy reading as well as writing .
Aparna: Do you feel poetry is less rhythmic now?
Sandeep: Even life is less rhythmic now so its effecting the poetry too but as I keep on saying, the day “poets will be bored of writing, society will be ruined ‘’ ( kavi uub jayega toh samaj doob jayega)
Aparna: Poems/ songs seems more realistic in contemporary era, they are very straight now than using metaphors or larger than life comparison in praising beloved etc. What’s your opinion on it?
Sandeep: I agree. I don’t appreciate descriptive writing. Figure of speech makes a write beautiful. Bejewelling a song with such ornaments is enjoyable and gives pleasure too. We are lucky that even today there are few lyricists who are writing wonderful songs .
Aparna: Do you make changes in your poem thinking about the potential audience or you just go with the flow?
Sandeep: I never think about potential audience and just write with my own flow. It’s like keeping balance between mind and body or mind and soul. I don’t think about the consequences. My write should please me first then only it will be able to make an impact on audience. Many times I write for my own pleasure without any constraints.
Aparna: Do you think songs for so called ‘item numbers’ influence audience in any way?
Sandeep: Items songs were written earlier too. It’s nothing new happening in today time. They could never influence people even then and they don’t influence people even now.Movies/ songs are for entertainment and they don’t influence viewers in any way. There was a time when people used to watch serials like Ramayana or Mahabharata but none of them could influence people in any way. In same manner people know that they are just watching a song for entertainment and hence they don’t learn anything negative or positive out of it. It is merely an entertainment.
Aparna: What in your opinion is the responsibility of a poet towards society?
Sandeep: We poets are actually thinkers. We contemplate and put our thoughts on paper in whatever way suits us. Literature doesn’t reform society but it provides enough material to think .Moreover if we actually want to reform we should first discipline ourselves in every sense either we are on road or at home. If each person would keep a check on oneself the society will be reformed automatically.
Aparna: Any advice you would like to give for new generation poets?
Sandeep: My advice to poets is to think and write and to live in present. Nothing is permanent. Books are the only friends that will remain with us till the end. Keep on writing and their writings will improve on its own.
Aparna: What is your opinion about Poets Corner and its efforts in providing a wonderful platform to all the poets?
Sandeep: My best wishes and blessings are with Yaseen Anwer and his Poets Corner team. It’s doing a wonderful job. I support it with all my heart.
Sandeep: It depends on situation / story, sometimes we get intense feeling to write for the given situation or at times we get ideas from the trend that has been set already but many times we have to churn our own mind . There have been movies where it’s tough to write even though we know the situation like I wrote for the “sarkar” movie. For such movies we have to use our own aptitude to write.
Aparna: Do you feel it’s tough for poets in today’s world to keep head above water?
Sandeep: I don’t feel so; books are still sold and read .Even though there is a kind of drop in discussions on books than it used to be in earlier times but books and poetry is still making its place. Stories, poems are still written and read. I try to buy and read 1-2 books every month and there would be many people like me who enjoy reading as well as writing .
Aparna: Do you feel poetry is less rhythmic now?
Sandeep: Even life is less rhythmic now so its effecting the poetry too but as I keep on saying, the day “poets will be bored of writing, society will be ruined ‘’ ( kavi uub jayega toh samaj doob jayega)
Aparna: Poems/ songs seems more realistic in contemporary era, they are very straight now than using metaphors or larger than life comparison in praising beloved etc. What’s your opinion on it?
Sandeep: I agree. I don’t appreciate descriptive writing. Figure of speech makes a write beautiful. Bejewelling a song with such ornaments is enjoyable and gives pleasure too. We are lucky that even today there are few lyricists who are writing wonderful songs .
Aparna: Do you make changes in your poem thinking about the potential audience or you just go with the flow?
Sandeep: I never think about potential audience and just write with my own flow. It’s like keeping balance between mind and body or mind and soul. I don’t think about the consequences. My write should please me first then only it will be able to make an impact on audience. Many times I write for my own pleasure without any constraints.
Aparna: Do you think songs for so called ‘item numbers’ influence audience in any way?
Sandeep: Items songs were written earlier too. It’s nothing new happening in today time. They could never influence people even then and they don’t influence people even now.Movies/ songs are for entertainment and they don’t influence viewers in any way. There was a time when people used to watch serials like Ramayana or Mahabharata but none of them could influence people in any way. In same manner people know that they are just watching a song for entertainment and hence they don’t learn anything negative or positive out of it. It is merely an entertainment.
Aparna: What in your opinion is the responsibility of a poet towards society?
Sandeep: We poets are actually thinkers. We contemplate and put our thoughts on paper in whatever way suits us. Literature doesn’t reform society but it provides enough material to think .Moreover if we actually want to reform we should first discipline ourselves in every sense either we are on road or at home. If each person would keep a check on oneself the society will be reformed automatically.
Aparna: Any advice you would like to give for new generation poets?
Sandeep: My advice to poets is to think and write and to live in present. Nothing is permanent. Books are the only friends that will remain with us till the end. Keep on writing and their writings will improve on its own.
Aparna: What is your opinion about Poets Corner and its efforts in providing a wonderful platform to all the poets?
Sandeep: My best wishes and blessings are with Yaseen Anwer and his Poets Corner team. It’s doing a wonderful job. I support it with all my heart.