Posted:
Sameer - Romancing words for 25 years
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Source: MovieTalkies.com
Image Source: MovieTalkies.com
The most prolific and popular lyricist of Hindi films completes 25 years of writing during which he has created a record of writing more than 5000 songs for 510 Hindi films, 33 Bhojpuri films, 1 Marathi film and 33 major music albums. His biography, "A Way With Words" will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan on October 28.
25 years ago a young man called Sameer was introduced to me by his father, Anjaan, a poet and a lyricist who had made it in Hindi films after 20 long years of a very grim struggle. The father had always lived up to his name, Anjaan (The Unknown). He kept away from the limelight even after he was accepted as one of the most successful lyricist. Sameer who was aware of his father's struggle was not one to be discouraged or dissuaded by what his father had gone through to follow in his father's footsteps. He too wanted to write songs for Hindi films. His father tried his best to find him any other job. He was a M.Com from Benaras Hindu University and could have taken up any comfortable job but he was determined to make it as a lyricist in Hindi films.
His father refused to recommend him to filmmakers and music directors because he wanted him to face the realities of life. Sameer lived in shanties and 'bastis' in the remote suburbs of Bombay. He traveled by buses and trains and walked long distances to meet men who could give him work. He went hungry for days. He was rejected, humiliated and even refused entry at places by peons, middlemen and assistants. Some who were kind enough to read what he felt was great poetry through the sheets of paper he poured his thoughts and feelings on into dustbins and out of their windows. They saw no hope for him but Sameer decided to stay on, struggle, survive and overcome…
Now exactly 25 years later Sameer is one of the most successful lyricist of all times. The volume and value of his work has made Sameer the name of one of the most successful stories in the industry today where fortunes fluctuate with everyday, with the changing tides and times. His success is a subject of discussion and talk in all places associated with films and in every home where Hindi films is a way of life. Sameer is also a name to be envied and criticized by the more enlightened, the intelligentsia, the poets who write sitting in their ivory towers. The critics who take their jobs to criticize very seriously and do it just criticize.
The most prolific and popular lyricist of Hindi films completes 25 years of writing during which he has created a record of writing more than 5000 songs for 510 Hindi films, 33 Bhojpuri films, 1 Marathi film and 33 major music albums. His biography, "A Way With Words" will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan on October 28.
25 years ago a young man called Sameer was introduced to me by his father, Anjaan, a poet and a lyricist who had made it in Hindi films after 20 long years of a very grim struggle. The father had always lived up to his name, Anjaan (The Unknown). He kept away from the limelight even after he was accepted as one of the most successful lyricist. Sameer who was aware of his father's struggle was not one to be discouraged or dissuaded by what his father had gone through to follow in his father's footsteps. He too wanted to write songs for Hindi films. His father tried his best to find him any other job. He was a M.Com from Benaras Hindu University and could have taken up any comfortable job but he was determined to make it as a lyricist in Hindi films.
His father refused to recommend him to filmmakers and music directors because he wanted him to face the realities of life. Sameer lived in shanties and 'bastis' in the remote suburbs of Bombay. He traveled by buses and trains and walked long distances to meet men who could give him work. He went hungry for days. He was rejected, humiliated and even refused entry at places by peons, middlemen and assistants. Some who were kind enough to read what he felt was great poetry through the sheets of paper he poured his thoughts and feelings on into dustbins and out of their windows. They saw no hope for him but Sameer decided to stay on, struggle, survive and overcome…
Now exactly 25 years later Sameer is one of the most successful lyricist of all times. The volume and value of his work has made Sameer the name of one of the most successful stories in the industry today where fortunes fluctuate with everyday, with the changing tides and times. His success is a subject of discussion and talk in all places associated with films and in every home where Hindi films is a way of life. Sameer is also a name to be envied and criticized by the more enlightened, the intelligentsia, the poets who write sitting in their ivory towers. The critics who take their jobs to criticize very seriously and do it just criticize.
Sameer has no pretensions about being recognized by the handful of people who are not in touch with the common man and his everyday feelings. He believes in writing for the common man of the country in his language, a language that reaches the common man's heart and makes him understand and get enlightened about things about which he knows very little. His belief in what he has been doing has made him the voice of the masses making him the most prolific, popular and successful lyricist. He may not be a Sahir Ludhianvi, a Gulzar or a Javed Akhtar but he is happy being the Sameer he is, the man who gives the people what they want and need best. "I too can write poetry aimed at a particular class of people, the people who already know so much or claim to know so much. But I am happy writing for the people who have shown how much they care for what I write because I write about them.
The very fact that I am here for the last 25 years and am still going strong by the grace of God is proof of what my poetry is all about." Sameer is still so very humble after seeing the kind of success very few lyricists anywhere when it comes to being accepted, popular and so very successful.
Sameer has broken all records when it comes to sheer numbers. Staggering, unbelievable, incredible and incredulous are the adjectives that spring to mind when I think of the work he has done. In the 25 years he has been around, he has written more than 5000 songs for more than 510 films in Hindi (6 films with his songs have been shelved) 22 films in Bhojpuri, 1 even in Marathi and all the songs of 33 major music albums. He has worked as a team with 70 music directors of three generations and almost all the singers, male and female during the same time. He can write a song within minutes. He can write a song on the way from his house to the recording studio, one while a song is being recorded and one on his way back home with the same concentration, the same care and choice of words. He can write the most pedestrian, the most poetic and even the most philosophical songs. He can write songs for all generations, for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Sameer like his father has lived most of his 25 years away from all publicity, all the glare and the gimmicks but has now realized that the changing times demand a change in his way of thinking and working his way up. He has finally decided to let the world know what he is who he is, what he has achieved and what he plans to achieve. Things are falling in place without his asking for them. He is celebrating his 25 years in a a grand way.
The celebrations starts off with the release of his biography, 'A Way With Words' written by Derek Bose and to be published in English and Hindi. The biography takes a look at all that has happened in his life during the year from the days in Odar, a little village in Benaras to the place where he is today. The book will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan, for whom both Sameer's father and Sameer have written some of his most popular songs. In fact, his father always said his fortunes changed only after he wrote songs for Bachchan.
The book will be released at the Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle east in the prescense of a galaxy of celebrities on Oct 28 which happens to be the 75th birthday of his father, Anjaan. The release will be followed by the release of a twin album of 50 best songs of Sameer, brought out for the occasion by T-Series. Sameer's own website will also be launched the same evening. 25 leading singers will sing the best songs of Anjaan and Sameer to celebrate the occasion. The event will be organized by Sahara, who will later telecast it on its channel. It will be followed by a get to gether at the Sun-n Sand hotel.
Sameer sees this even as the beginning of a new innigs in his life. He has offers coming in by the hour literally, but he is being very choosy as he goes on a new jurney in a quest to find new romance and new meaning and feelings in words.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Source: MovieTalkies.com
Image Source: MovieTalkies.com
Cont...
The most prolific and popular lyricist of Hindi films completes 25 years of writing during which he has created a record of writing more than 5000 songs for 510 Hindi films, 33 Bhojpuri films, 1 Marathi film and 33 major music albums. His biography, "A Way With Words" will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan on October 28.
25 years ago a young man called Sameer was introduced to me by his father, Anjaan, a poet and a lyricist who had made it in Hindi films after 20 long years of a very grim struggle. The father had always lived up to his name, Anjaan (The Unknown). He kept away from the limelight even after he was accepted as one of the most successful lyricist. Sameer who was aware of his father's struggle was not one to be discouraged or dissuaded by what his father had gone through to follow in his father's footsteps. He too wanted to write songs for Hindi films. His father tried his best to find him any other job. He was a M.Com from Benaras Hindu University and could have taken up any comfortable job but he was determined to make it as a lyricist in Hindi films.
His father refused to recommend him to filmmakers and music directors because he wanted him to face the realities of life. Sameer lived in shanties and 'bastis' in the remote suburbs of Bombay. He traveled by buses and trains and walked long distances to meet men who could give him work. He went hungry for days. He was rejected, humiliated and even refused entry at places by peons, middlemen and assistants. Some who were kind enough to read what he felt was great poetry through the sheets of paper he poured his thoughts and feelings on into dustbins and out of their windows. They saw no hope for him but Sameer decided to stay on, struggle, survive and overcome…
Now exactly 25 years later Sameer is one of the most successful lyricist of all times. The volume and value of his work has made Sameer the name of one of the most successful stories in the industry today where fortunes fluctuate with everyday, with the changing tides and times. His success is a subject of discussion and talk in all places associated with films and in every home where Hindi films is a way of life. Sameer is also a name to be envied and criticized by the more enlightened, the intelligentsia, the poets who write sitting in their ivory towers. The critics who take their jobs to criticize very seriously and do it just criticize.
The most prolific and popular lyricist of Hindi films completes 25 years of writing during which he has created a record of writing more than 5000 songs for 510 Hindi films, 33 Bhojpuri films, 1 Marathi film and 33 major music albums. His biography, "A Way With Words" will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan on October 28.
25 years ago a young man called Sameer was introduced to me by his father, Anjaan, a poet and a lyricist who had made it in Hindi films after 20 long years of a very grim struggle. The father had always lived up to his name, Anjaan (The Unknown). He kept away from the limelight even after he was accepted as one of the most successful lyricist. Sameer who was aware of his father's struggle was not one to be discouraged or dissuaded by what his father had gone through to follow in his father's footsteps. He too wanted to write songs for Hindi films. His father tried his best to find him any other job. He was a M.Com from Benaras Hindu University and could have taken up any comfortable job but he was determined to make it as a lyricist in Hindi films.
His father refused to recommend him to filmmakers and music directors because he wanted him to face the realities of life. Sameer lived in shanties and 'bastis' in the remote suburbs of Bombay. He traveled by buses and trains and walked long distances to meet men who could give him work. He went hungry for days. He was rejected, humiliated and even refused entry at places by peons, middlemen and assistants. Some who were kind enough to read what he felt was great poetry through the sheets of paper he poured his thoughts and feelings on into dustbins and out of their windows. They saw no hope for him but Sameer decided to stay on, struggle, survive and overcome…
Now exactly 25 years later Sameer is one of the most successful lyricist of all times. The volume and value of his work has made Sameer the name of one of the most successful stories in the industry today where fortunes fluctuate with everyday, with the changing tides and times. His success is a subject of discussion and talk in all places associated with films and in every home where Hindi films is a way of life. Sameer is also a name to be envied and criticized by the more enlightened, the intelligentsia, the poets who write sitting in their ivory towers. The critics who take their jobs to criticize very seriously and do it just criticize.
Sameer has no pretensions about being recognized by the handful of people who are not in touch with the common man and his everyday feelings. He believes in writing for the common man of the country in his language, a language that reaches the common man's heart and makes him understand and get enlightened about things about which he knows very little. His belief in what he has been doing has made him the voice of the masses making him the most prolific, popular and successful lyricist. He may not be a Sahir Ludhianvi, a Gulzar or a Javed Akhtar but he is happy being the Sameer he is, the man who gives the people what they want and need best. "I too can write poetry aimed at a particular class of people, the people who already know so much or claim to know so much. But I am happy writing for the people who have shown how much they care for what I write because I write about them.
The very fact that I am here for the last 25 years and am still going strong by the grace of God is proof of what my poetry is all about." Sameer is still so very humble after seeing the kind of success very few lyricists anywhere when it comes to being accepted, popular and so very successful.
Sameer has broken all records when it comes to sheer numbers. Staggering, unbelievable, incredible and incredulous are the adjectives that spring to mind when I think of the work he has done. In the 25 years he has been around, he has written more than 5000 songs for more than 510 films in Hindi (6 films with his songs have been shelved) 22 films in Bhojpuri, 1 even in Marathi and all the songs of 33 major music albums. He has worked as a team with 70 music directors of three generations and almost all the singers, male and female during the same time. He can write a song within minutes. He can write a song on the way from his house to the recording studio, one while a song is being recorded and one on his way back home with the same concentration, the same care and choice of words. He can write the most pedestrian, the most poetic and even the most philosophical songs. He can write songs for all generations, for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Sameer like his father has lived most of his 25 years away from all publicity, all the glare and the gimmicks but has now realized that the changing times demand a change in his way of thinking and working his way up. He has finally decided to let the world know what he is who he is, what he has achieved and what he plans to achieve. Things are falling in place without his asking for them. He is celebrating his 25 years in a a grand way.
The celebrations starts off with the release of his biography, 'A Way With Words' written by Derek Bose and to be published in English and Hindi. The biography takes a look at all that has happened in his life during the year from the days in Odar, a little village in Benaras to the place where he is today. The book will be released by Dr Amitabh Bachchan, for whom both Sameer's father and Sameer have written some of his most popular songs. In fact, his father always said his fortunes changed only after he wrote songs for Bachchan.
The book will be released at the Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle east in the prescense of a galaxy of celebrities on Oct 28 which happens to be the 75th birthday of his father, Anjaan. The release will be followed by the release of a twin album of 50 best songs of Sameer, brought out for the occasion by T-Series. Sameer's own website will also be launched the same evening. 25 leading singers will sing the best songs of Anjaan and Sameer to celebrate the occasion. The event will be organized by Sahara, who will later telecast it on its channel. It will be followed by a get to gether at the Sun-n Sand hotel.
Sameer sees this even as the beginning of a new innigs in his life. He has offers coming in by the hour literally, but he is being very choosy as he goes on a new jurney in a quest to find new romance and new meaning and feelings in words.
