Heeramandi Lyricist AM Turaz Says Actors End up Taking Credit For Songs And Films: ‘Woh Respect, Woh Paisa…’ – Exclusive
Heeramandi lyricist AM Turaz spoke exclusively to india.com about the situation of the music composers and writers in the industry.
Following previous blockbusters like Bajirao Mastani and Gangubai Kathiawadi, lyricist AM Turaz collaborates with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the sixth time with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The period drama is an eight-long episode with about seven and a half hours in total. AM Turaz appeared briefly in the first episode of Heeramandi to narrate his Shayari. His poetry became the backdrop of Alamzeb (played by Sharmin Segal) and Tajdar’s (played by Taha Shah) first meeting. In an exclusive interview with india.com, AM Turaz talked about writing music that suited the story and the situation of lyricists in Bollywood today.
AM Turaz Narrates His Poetry in Heeramandi – WATCH
Heeramandi Lyricist Breaks Down ‘Azadi’ Song
Azadi, Tilasmi Bahein, Chaudhavi Shab, Masoom Dil Hai Mera, Ek Baar Dekh Lijiye, and Saiyaan Hatto Jaao are among the six songs that AM Turaz wrote specifically for Heeramandi. Azadi, which makes an appearance in the series finale, is the one who has connected with viewers the most out of all of these.
AM Turaz intended to discuss the song Azadi on how anybody, regardless of gender or occupation, battled for India’s freedom at that time. He conveyed the anguish and suffering that a mother, a sister, and a wife go through when their husband, son, or brother are killed in the name of freedom. He claimed that the song discusses women’s nationalist struggles, a topic that Bollywood music has long neglected. “Total female ke point of view se karenge, kyuki mujhe aisa lagta hai jitney bhi aazadi ki gathaye gaane ya filmein hai usmein female ka utna bada part nahi jitna part uska azadi mein tha, woh aaj tak dikhayi nahi gayi hai,” said Turaz.
Lyricist AM Turaz on Getting Recognition in Bollywood
At a time when the actors are turning out successes and there is an unparalleled demand for content, lyricists are battling for recognition and possibilities. They haven’t been acknowledged till recently. Speaking on the same, AM Turaz said, “Gaane mein do bade creators hote hai – Ek composer aur ek lyricist aur fir aap uss gane ko actor par picturise karte hai. Aur fir woh gaana us hi ka banke reh jaata hai, aisa nahi hona chaiye. Ek film jo hoti director ya writer ki hoti hai, do main logo ki hoti, halaki 300-400 logo ki hoti hai toh unko bhi unka haq milna chaiye, lekin jo main hai, jo create karte hai cheez ko toh baadh mein kya hota hai woh film bhi actors ki hoti hai (There are two big creators in the songs – a composer and a lyricist and then you picturise the songs on the actor. And then that song becomes theirs, it is not supposed to be like that. A film is made by a director or a writer, the two main people, even while the film belongs to 300-400 people and all must get their credit, the creators are the main ones. The film which is picturised on actor also becomes theirs).”
He added, “Yeh do logo ko film aur gaane mein humesha ek respect milni chaiye. Different tarah ki jo inke art aur creation ko boost kar sake, badha sake kyuki tabhi ek face aata hai jiski bann jati hai tabhi unke liye saare cheezein ache se kaam kar sakte hai toh unko woh exposure, woh respect, woh paisa inn do logo ko milna chaiye kyuki yeh inn actor ke liye apna face dete hai inki bhi izzat aur badhe (These two people always deserve respect in films and songs. Respect in a way to boost their art and creation, to make things fall in place and get that exposure, respect and money).”
Meanwhile, the Netflix series, Heeramandi is based on the Indian independence movement. The period drama depicted the conflict that existed between the British Raj officers and the courtesans in Lahore’s Heeramandi red-light district. Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman are among the other actors who feature in it.
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