"Main iss baat se dukhi nahi hoon ki Veera meri behen nahi hai, Main iss baat se dukhi hoon ki Veera meri behen kyun nahi hai?"
Normally one would expect a grown-up adult to say these words, but these were the lines written for 12 Year Old Ranvi, the lead protagonist of Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera. That's how this writer weaves his magic on screen with his lines.
In this spamdomain Exclusive, we bring to you the quasi-royal ruler of Dialogue writing Mr. Raghuvir Shekhawat. Be it his one liners from Madhubala:EIEJ, the inquisitive questions asked by Veera in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera or the articulate dialogues from DABH and Balika Vadhu, without doubt his dialogues have become a rage. He has a rib-tickling sense of humor,that's bound to leave you in splits but the crisp answers give us an insight of how sharp and crisp Mr. Shekawat is, which is a quality that glows in the dialogues he pens too.
1) How do you approach dialogue writing as a craft?? Was there someone' or something' that inspired you to get into writing?
Oh...looks like someone is eying my job, digging my trade secrets...LOL... Ok...First important rule is...until and unless there are over dramatic elements in the story or the character...never treat dialogue writing as a craft...'cos when u start crafting something...the genuineness and innocence is lost...Write whatever comes to your heart...keep it natural...But ...when the happenings are dramatic...little larger then life characters like in Madhubala...its important to write something which a wife usually doesn't hear her husband mouthing...and there takes birth-"aanhaan and biwi" ...Dialogue writing is of two kinds...One..After hearing which the listeners heart say..."WOW"...and the other where the brain says..."WOW".
Second part of your question...Yes! My father's scolding's inspired me to get into writing...:-) ...No...Nothing in particular...was writing poems since I was in class sixth or so, eventually that turned into a passion and lead me to writing for TV.
2) As a writer when writing for a particular show or better when writing for a particular character what are the factors you keep in mind?
Well...lots actually...who is the producer...how much is he paying me and when is he paying... (Laughs) but jokes apart, majorly two three things have to be kept in mind...One...setting of the show...which part of the country it is shown from-that takes care of the lingo, then about the characters- their educational, financial background, social status, life history...I sometimes try and give certain traits to the characters which make them lovable/memorable/more identifiable.
3) Are a lot of the dialogues you pen down based off of memorable lines you've heard people say around you?
Yups...sometimes...everybody around me is so filmy...right from the milkman to my wife...
4) What sort of compromises do you need to make when writing dialogues?
Compromises...? Well, usually the story/screenplay writer have their own vision regarding a particular scene, which is approved by the channel...Now if I want to write a scene differently, I can't fiddle much with the given parameters...having said that...meri apni masti thodi bahut har scene mein chalti he rehti hai...
5) Where do you get most of your ideas from? Considering that each and every character in the shows you are associated with varies vastly from one another?
I know u r hell bent to make me admit that I m a chor writer' who picks up his ideas from around...lol ...Well sometimes from people around me, but mostly imagination and creation. I don't watch TV so can't pick from other shows and I have a bad memory, so film's lines by the time I reach home how much ever in have "rattofied" (Mugged Up)...I forget
6) Each TV Series is a journey in and of itself. Give us a small insight on your journey with Balika Vadhu, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Madhubala: EIEJ and Veera.
Hmmm...the journey began long back, but since u have specifically asked about these would compromise
Balika Vadhu- Well...when it started...not even we knew it would be such a huge hit. But I loved writing it from the beginning only since it dealt with a very prominent social issue...and writing for Anandi and Jagya was fun (is still...but in different ways)
Diya aur baati hum...funny thing is...I don't know why but I always use to write it Diya baati aur hum (so un-intentionally I was turning it into an extra marital soap instead of a saas bahu soap...) Infact, in certain newspaper it got published with the same name ...The initial characters were entirely different from what u see today.
Madhubala...I was not writing from beginning...Saurabh (MB producer) and I know each other since long...and as I was writing his other show then and was very tied up, he dint take me for MB initially. So whenever we use to meet, I always taunted him big time that he dint take me for MB (the initial TRP's were also not very encouraging...so I got all the more opportunities to needle him) and then I joined..And as they say...rest is geography
Veera is very close to my heart it took a long time to come on air like DABH...but I was always very sure of it that it would be touching the right chords. I always believe one should never let the kid in u die (my case...problematic-only the kid is alive)...That helped writing Veera. Its absolute joy!!!
7) Balika Vadhu and Diya aur Baati Hum deals time to time with Social Causes, Social Evils and awareness. As a Dialogue writer it's your words, the lines you have penned down that strikes a chord with the audience. Do u think from the Character's POV or do these lines reflect Raghuvir Shekhawat's mind frame too?
A combination of both actually...Views are mine...but in the parameters of the characters...Good thing is...I'm from Rajasthan...so know these social evils in and out...I couldn't fight there...so I m trying to fight (safely) from my office.
8) After writing some quirky and quick-witted dialogues for RK... bold, in your face attitude dialogues for Madhu now MBEIEJ will see you penning lines for a Gangster. How challenging is it to write dialogues for 3 distinctly different yet equally strong characters. How do you manage to keep it fresh and appealing to the audience?
Key is...to think like them (not act else I would be first thrown out of my house and then put behind bars) Once u start doing that, the characters start appearing in front of you...rather...I start appearing where the characters are...visualize myself at the place of action...see them...and then write for them...As I have mentioned earlier...some factors have to be kept in mind while penning them...
Fresh...well...thanks for the compliment...doing that is a conscious and difficult effort...ganda hai per dhandha hai yeh...
9) Out of all the characters for whom you have written dialogues, Ranvi and Veera of Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera are the youngest. But being the lead protagonists it's their views and thoughts that transpire across the screen, the ones the viewers connect with. How tough is it to showcase the mentality of a 12 and 5 year old and keep it real?
How old do u think I am? ...I face problems only when I write for adults... LOL
One has to keep his heart clear of impurities, become a little inquisitive...try and understand the basics of nature and humans...and then comes out the lines of Veera and Ranvi...It's a difficult thing to do...with we (At least I...I know rest everybody reading this is not evil) are spoiled with evilness... selfishness... ambitions... lust...greed...that we forget the basics...
Children are innocent to the core...and unlike the general perception...very intelligent and reactive so when I write for them...I don't go down to their level...I have to raise my level of a human being to reach to them, to write for them.
10) As hard as this can be, who is your favorite character from your current works? And why?
Aanhaan...so u want me to do only one show and be kicked out of other three...? Can u pinpoint at ur fingers and say which is ur favorite...?
11) What or who is the life of Madhubala: EIEJ? Is it RK, is It Madhu, It is RK and Madhu or altogether something else?"
I face this Question often. The truth is...everybody is equally important. So fans of either parties...respect each other (And me too Lol!)...and love the show in totality. I for one treat all the actors on the same page while writing...because I love the show more than any actor... as I know for sure...A show makes stars...vice versa is not true.
12) You have been in this industry for the past 18 Years. From all of your works till date, name the one you have been extremely proud of and why?
You are going to get me killed by my producers ... Cant name one, but Family No-1, Balika Vadhu, Diya aur Baati, Veera, Madhubala, Saat Phere, Laado...are some of the shows I am proud of and Film-Ek chalis ki last local is something I can pat my back for.
13) How do story writer, screenplay writer and the dialogue writer liaise between themselves?
Mostly-emails...
14) What about Bollywood? Is Bollywood something that excites you?
Nayee padosan was my first film -2003...Of course it exciting in its own way... Who would not love to see his/her name on a big screen...? But...TV is also very exciting, almost every week we write a film here and get immediate response.
15) A veteran once said "Television is a medium driven by writer's unlike films which is the director's medium." Share your Views on this.
Yups...Totally agree. But even in TV a good director is a must and likewise...in films a good script is a must...Its like a car...whichever road it runs on...the engine and the tires both are essential.
16) Your message to your fans & spamdomain Readers?
Thanx for all the love u have given me (Wifey...I'm talking about my shows) ...I would only like to add...there are lots and lots of factors which decide about a character/track...Its not only our wish that we suddenly decide to do something...Have patience...and trust...We know u love ur stars...but we love the sky more... which, is where the stars are..
spamdomain team would like to thank Mr. Shekhawat, for an amazing Interview.
We hope you all enjoyed reading this interview as much as we did please leave your comments behind.
(As shared with Vijitha Rajan)
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