Selective for me is making an informed choice: Prasoon Joshi

In a candid interview with HT, lyricist-screenwriter Prasoon Joshi talks about his upcoming projects, his future projects, his work and his idea of romance. Aditi Caroli reports.

Lyricist-screenwriter Prasoon Joshi talks about his upcoming projects and his idea of romance.

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How was it working on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s (BMB) script?

It was a great learning experience. My take on Milkha Singh’s life is more humane than about sports. It’s a great story as he’s a great man. I learnt a lot from his endeavours. What he faced in his life teaches you a lot. He also has a fun side which people don’t know of. It’s a fun, dramatic story.

You have written songs for Prakash Jha’s upcoming film Satyagraha. You will also be using one of your poems, Mashaal.

I have written five songs for his film. My poem will also be made into a song. I have worked with him earlier in Aarakshan. He’s a great person to work with. He makes films only on the subject that he has knowledge about. That’s the best thing about him.

How do you choose your projects?

I do projects that can enrich me. Like while doing Rang De Basanti, I learnt more about the youth of our country. Taare Zameen Par (TZP) taught me how kids think. Again in case of BMB, I had never done a sports film, so I wanted to explore that element. Every project enriches you.

Yes, but selective for me is making an informed choice. There has to be a reason. You are not a machine that you can keep writing. You have to have a bit of yourself. Like when I wrote Ma (from TZP), the thought was there’s a child who is left behind which Aamir explained to me beautifully.

Then I explored how I would express that situation. Another composition of mine, Rehna Tu Hai Jaisa Tu (Delhi 6), is my attitude towards love and people related to it which was great.

What kind of romance do you believe in?

It’s a kind of romance which doesn’t exist today. People at the drop of heart are saying I love you. I have always been fascinated by the part of romance where nothing has been said but still everything has been said.

So I wrote Seekho Na Nainon Ki Bhasha Piya… Keh Rahi Tumse Ye Khamoshiyan… (from Ab Ke Sawan). I like that unsaid part of romance. I’m a romantic person by nature.