'Embarrassment hai...': Javed Akhtar reveals Western impact on Indian music
What's the story
Lyricist Javed Akhtar has expressed concern over the growing discomfort among younger audiences with songs in Indian films. He told Hindustan Times that he believes this shift is due to the influence of Western cinema and music, which has created an "embarrassment" around a tradition that has long been part of Indian storytelling. Akhtar's comments come as 1942: A Love Story, a film for which he wrote the lyrics for a few hits, returns to theaters.
Shifting views
'Nayi generation sawal karti hai...'
Akhtar said, "Ab jo log Western cinema se expose hue hain, unke andar ek embarrassment hai."
"Nayi generation sawal karti hai ki ye gaane ka kya chakkar hai?"
He also defended the inclusion of songs in films, even if they seem unrealistic.
"Film mein gaane hero ga raha hai party mein khade ho kar gaa raha hai, toh badi fake baat hai."
"Fake toh kya hai? Art ne theka liya real hone ka?"
Song significance
Divide in contemporary film music
Akhtar emphasized that a song's value lies in its contribution to the overall experience.
He said, "Wo interesting ho, seductive ho, aur koi achhi value aapko de raha ho, sense of beauty de raha ho, that is also a good value."
He also noted a growing divide in contemporary film music between songs with double meanings and those without any meaning.
Creative roles
'Don't blame the writer, the music director'
Akhtar added, "Don't blame the writer, the music director, they are very talented people."
He pointed out that the relationship between music and storytelling has long existed in Indian artistic traditions.
Instead, he believes the larger issue lies in how songs are conceived and positioned within films.
Film music
'Ab unhone jo kiya hai...'
Akhtar criticized the current use of songs in films, saying they are often background elements with no connection to the foreground.
"Ab unhone jo kiya hai, woh ek bahut hi bada compromise hai," he said.
He believes songs will only be good if they participate in the narrative and represent characters.
Meanwhile, Akhtar is known for writing iconic tracks such as Ek Ladki Ko Dekha and Kuchh Na Kaho for 1942: A Love Story.