India’s biggest song writers are competitors, but they are also the best of friends
It’s a lazy morning at Taj Mahal Tea House where I am to meet five of Bollywood’s top lyricists: Kausar Munir, Anvita Dutt, Swanand Kirkire, Varun Grover and Amitabh Bhattacharya. They claim to be great friends but then fiction is their forte, and the film industry is anyway famous for peddling hallmark-card versions of every relationship, of course replete with lachrymose background music. Competitors can’t really be friends, I think. They can be acquaintances. Drinking buddies perhaps. But friends? Can’t be.
Photos shot exclusively for HT Brunch at Taj Mahal Tea House, Mumbai; Make-up and hair: Rashmi Shastri; From left: On Varun: T-shirt, Puma; trousers, FabIndia; footwear, Keen; On Anvita: Sari, Raw Mango; neckpiece, Amrapali; bangles, Laad Bazaar bangle market (Hyderabad); On Amitabh: Kurta, Marks & Spencer; jeans, USPA; slippers, Arrow; On Swanand:Shirt, Cotton World; denims and shoes, Zara; On Kausar: Kurta and sharara set, Good Earth; necklace, Amrapali; earrings, Aquamarine; ring, Tanishq(Shivangi Kulkarni)
Five of Bollywood’s top lyricists are also fast friends. They prefer call themselves contemporaries rather than competitors (Shivangi Kulkarni )The lyricist of Gangs of Wasseypur, Udta Punjab and Masaan (a film he also wrote), Varun Grover bagged a National Award for Moh Moh Ke Dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha). He is also a political satirist. (Shivangi Kulkarni)Multiple National Award- winning lyricist, Swanand Kirkire made his debut with Bavra Mann (Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi). The songs he has written in 3 Idiots, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Barfi!, amongst others, are considered anthems (Shivangi Kulkarni )Kausar Munir is the writer of songs Pareshan (Ishaqzaade), Suno Na Sangemarmar (Youngistaan), Main Nachdi Phiraan (Secret Superstar), she has won multiple awards and is also an accomplished screen writer. (Shivangi Kulkarni )Dialogue-writer, and song writer for films like Queen and Dostana, amongst others, Anvita Dutt recently won an award for her songs from Student of the Year 2. Next step: direction! (Shivangi Kulkarni)The playback singer-cum-lyricist, Amitabh Bhattacharya, tasted instant success with the songs of Dev D. Today, his repertoire includes the cult classic Bhaag DK Bose (Delhi Belly) as well as Qaafirana (Kedarnath). He picked the National Award for Agar Zindagi (I am). (Shivangi Kulkarni)