Javed Akhtar, “..songs should also be censored”
Veteran poet, script writer and lyricist, Javed Akhtar, made the headlines by raising his voice against lewd lyrics of Bollywood songs. He strongly feels that there should be an official regulatory body to monitor and censor lyrics. Like censor board for movies, an official body should be set up to check the vulgarity quotient of the songs as well.
Javed Akhtar has been awarded with prestigious awards like Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Academy Award for his poetry collection Lava, 13 Filmfare Awards for best script and best lyrics and he has five National Awards in his kitty as well.
“It’ is terrible. Vulgarity, obscenity and perversion are simply not acceptable in the music industry. As a matter of fact, I suggest that the way films are censored, songs should also be censored before the release of the music,” said the 69-year-old veteran. “Usually, songs are released before the film goes to the Censor Board and even if the songs are omitted from the film by the board for vulgar lyrics, they continue to play everywhere. This must stop,” he said.
Javed Akhtar had been offered to write such songs but he was never positive about such offers.“Yes, I have walked out of those ventures every time that has happened. I would never do it because my songs are in the public domain.”
Music industry did not appreciate his reaction to such offers, he once said. He works on his terms and conditions only. He thinks that such songs are kind of in demand now. “When I was fighting the copyright issue, a lot of music companies turned hostile and obviously shunned me. It’s no different this time. However, I will only work on my own terms.”
He believes that the quality of the lyrics plays an important role in the recall value of any song. Because of low quality of obscene lyrics, such songs don’t have any recall value these days. They are catchy indeed.“Today, the focus is more on the tempo of the beats at the cost of the subject of the song, and that’s a bad deal,” he added.
Popular singers from the Bollywood musicville supported Akhtar’s suggestions.
Singer, Mika Singh said- “Whatever Javed sir has said can’t be negated, but such (vulgar) songs are gaining popularity only because there’s a demand for them.”
King of romantic voice Ankit Tiwari, singer-composer, said –
“Music gives you the freedom of speech and expression, but at the same time, you have to be responsible as an artiste.”
But Kailash Kher, singer with a soulful voice said-“
Creating a new body is not the solution. The existing board should bring in a protocol to check vulgar songs.”
The former script writer is currently penning down the lyrics of the songs of his director daughter, Zoya Akhtar’s upcoming film “Dil Dhadakne Do”.
