2024-03-04 03:48:40
There will be songs and lyrics that will help you recover from some losses. Was there a line like “I fell like rain on the way you came…”? Singing like that to his daughter or his wife? Even if you don’t know it, the lines are deep. Ajeesh Dasan, the writer of those lyrics, speaks on Manorama’s online interview series ‘Variora’.
Shall I write the song?
I have worked in a book store in Ernakulam. Music director Girish Kuttan used to come to the book shop that day. He comes to the shop every day with a guitar. He would constantly sing the songs he had composed. Then I wrote four lines out of curiosity. He hummed it. At that time there was a group called ‘Kadaw’. Painters, young people, filmmakers, poets, theater workers, all come together. So there was only song. The book trade stopped. The song was becoming intoxicating. So we thought we should ask for a chance. He also wanted to make films at that time. We went to many people and asked them for a chance. But got nothing.
The song in the flower tree
Abrid Shine dude is god. Rajesh Verma is like my brother. Without both of them, I have no film, no song. When Poomaram’s audition was going on, Rajeshetan told Shine Chetan to go and see him. There were many other people who had come to audition in his flat. Shinechetan sang the songs prepared by me and Girish Kuttan. Shine Chet liked it. He said, “You fix it.” That was the time when he was wandering around Idukki to write songs for Rajesh Verma. “Come quickly. Karthik has come for recording.” The first time I heard my lyrics as a song in the studio, I mightn’t stand it. There was a cry. I have walked many places carrying books. I have suffered a lot. Then I felt that I was going to escape.
From ‘Poomuthole’ song scene, Ajeesh Dasan (Manorama)
There are many people in that studio. I’m turning around and crying. Shine Chetan is walking around listening to the song. The song ‘I have planted a tree to make a flower bloom for another time’ has been recorded. Shine Chetan suddenly looked at me and asked, “Why are you crying?” I said “I don’t know”. He told me, “Don’t worry. You will have a good time. There will be a time when everyone will take over your song. It was a great relief to me. Karthik, who sang the song, was very sad to hear this. Karthik asked “why are you crying sir” and hugged her. Karthik sang three songs. Shreya Ghosal sang a lot. People still love movies and songs.
Can you get away with writing songs?
You can get away with writing movie songs. Didn’t everyone with us escape? I don’t know if I can make a lot of money. Can I get even the money that Lightboy gets from writing a song? I do not know.
When I was only a poet, no one had a special ‘anp’ for me. I was not essential. But now many are calling and asking. Then I also felt that I am an important person. Apart from that, he did not buy a big house or buy a car. Still living like a normal person. Trying to write good songs.
Price of writers
Writers are not valued today as they were in Vayalar’s time. Songwriters were important in their time. They were the ones who decided who should be the music director and who should sing. They were just as important. That is not the case now. It can be said that it is not worth at all. Lyricists have become an unnecessary category in cinema. Maybe because they are innocent. Even the music director is not alone. There are many people around them. But the songwriter is alone. Alone while writing. No organizational strength. That’s why it sometimes feels stuck.
Not a writing organization
Not a writing organization. is a community. But all sorrows and joys are shared in it.
The song became a hit when the daughter sang it
The daughter will listen to the tune first. She herself will be humming some tunes. When she walks around humming that song, I know people are going to love this song. She has just reached third class. Even when he is writing day and night, his wife is with Katanchaya. It’s all luck.
‘Phool Ki Pyari Beti’
I took a room in Ernakulam for four days to change that word in the song ‘Poomuthole’. Didn’t get it. Wrote several options. Finally, just before the recording in the studio, Ranjin Raj said, “Hey, Vijay Chetan (Vijay Yesudas) is standing to sing a song. It’s the last moment. If you are changing the word, you need to do it now.” I said, “Oh nothing. “It’s over.”
But everyone liked the word and the song. That song had an award. Then a Bollywood singer named Shaan asked us, “What is the meaning of Poomuthole?” I was very surprised. How can I tell you? Finally Girikuttan said “Phool Ki Pyari Beti”. What else can you say? Everyone likes that word so much.
There is a word in Poomaram, ‘Virahajanala’ in the song ‘Inioru Kaalathi’. Girish likes such poetic words. When working with such musicians, you can come up with words like Muthu Muthu.
There are only a few words
Some words come and go without knowing. Sometimes we don’t have anything and we have to create something new. When Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was called to speak on the stage, he would say, “I will not come.” I know a few words. It’s not for you to tell. I have to write.” Yes, I have to say. The rest must be created from what is little.
‘Kayale Kayale…’
Thotappan is the story of Francis Norona. Script by PS Rafiq. I admire both of them. The script was given to me to read. Shanavas Bavukutty and we lived together in Ernakulam. Sitara won the state award that year for her song Kayale Kayale Nee Tanichalle.
‘Don’t hesitate to give money’
No matter how noticed, manufacturers sometimes screw up. Producers always say they don’t have money. Their understanding is that we are all asking for crores. Songwriters don’t have a lot of money. Do not hesitate to give it.
‘There is a boat on the dock
Without the river…’
After that song was released, someone called from Koodallur. Pulli was the driver driving the sand cart. He was very sad when he heard the lyrics.He was happy when he heard it. It was possible to influence someone’s thinking.
They forgot me
Lyricists have no role in the film. They will send the tune and the situation. The songwriter will sit somewhere and listen. Will sit somewhere and write. It will be sent. Once sent, we are no longer needed. If you give money, then it’s over. We will not be involved in anything. They forgot to call me for the audio launch of the next big movie. Called later though late. But I felt sad. Writers are not treated like that.
There is only song
He resigned from his job during Poomaram. You can’t take both together. Then I went following my dearest ambition. His wife Meenu didn’t say anything even then. She won’t say anything, poor thing. Sometimes our decision may be wrong. But it was right for me at the time. Time will have to wait to prove that.
“Are you a thief?” he asked
The time before writing the song Poomuthole. It was a very difficult time at home. No work. No movie. I got a movie that year following Poomaram. At that time, I went to sell a few things in the house at Akrikada. Then the shopkeeper asked, “Are you a thief?” How can you believe?” Then I went back home. Mol was only three years old at the time. She was made to sit in front of the bicycle. When he went with his wife, he got money by selling sackcloth. Now that might sound funny. Now my wife will make fun of me.
But Jyoti Chetan calls that night. That night ‘Poomuthole wrote’. Got a lot of money. The song won the state award. Got a lot of fame. Although those days were wet with tears, God gave a great gift. Without those moments, the song would not have been born. When I was writing that song, it was tears not the lyrics that came to me. Tears were welling up, thinking regarding the future. Scared.
Urumal Ambili
Urumal Ambili is a movie song written for Lalbagh. This is the first film I am working with Rahul Raj. The song is written for Mamta Mohandas. This is a song that I wrote all night long until the wee hours of the morning. At the same time, Rahulraj was awake in his Ernakulam studio. Mamta came to the American studio to sing while we were talking back and forth and writing and editing. ‘Urumal Ambili’ is a song written and made in three places in one night. The song was written in the morning. He sent it to me immediately. I fall asleep listening to that song at 4:30 am. Then sleep came. Urumal Ambili is my favorite song.
Hall Hall…
Shafizar has called me to write a song. I was shocked. It was to be written near the producer in Ernakulam. I was very tense. Sir said, “If the song is good, the film is half good.” He met Harinarayan for the first time in that room. After we finished talking, Harichetan comes. ‘Step by step writing’. My eyes drifted away. This man takes each piece of paper, changes it, and writes it down. Amazement Terrible. I felt then that I might not write. I left here. “Shall I write and come tomorrow?” asked Sir. “Dry, just send it,” said Sir. Shafizar must have felt that there was no way I might write it. But I didn’t take a photo with sir. I was terribly disappointed. Then I thought if I write this song I can meet once more, take a selfie. I sat down at night and wrote that song. When I said “Hal Hal” to Sir, he said, “Come in the morning.” Sir hugged me and took the selfie. I have kept it.
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