Talking Songs: Javed Akhtar in Conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir and Sixty Selected Songs

Javed Akhtar is Conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir

This book is centred around an engaging and lively conversation on the Hindi/Urdu film song between the renowned poet and lyricist, Javed Akhtar and documentary film director and author Nasreen Munni Kabir.

One of the first on the subject, the book also includes a selection of sixty songs written by Javed Akhtar for the many hugely successful films to which he has contributed. Theses songs are a reminder of the excellence of his work and for those unfamiliar with Hindi/Urdu, English translation are also provided.

It is an established fact that the Indian film song enjoys an enormous impact, and has always been a vital part of the national culture. For the reader, it is a rare privilege to discover the thinking that went behind a song that can be heard in a billion homes. This book will interest and appeal to Hindi film and music buffs both within India and outside.

Javed Akhtar is a nationally renowned poet, lyricist, and celebrated screenplay writer. He has co-written the classic films of the 1970/80s including Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, Trishul, and Shakti. Javed Akhtar has won the coveted Filmfare Award thirteen times - six of these awards were for Best Lyrics and seven for Best Screenplay. Akhtar has also won several other awards for his song-writing including five National Awards for Best Lyricist starting in 1996 (for the film Saaz), 1997 (Border), 1998 (Godmother), 2002 (Lagaan), and 2003 (Refugee). Javed Akhtar's first collection of Urdu poetry, Tarkash, was published in 1995 and has been translated into several languages. He is also involved with many social groups working for secularism, women's empowerment, and social justice.

About the Author:

Nasreen Munni Kabir lives and works in London as an independent producer/director and programmes the 20-part annual Indian film season for Channel 4 Television, UK. She has made over 50 documentaries on the Hindi cinema from In Search of Guru Dutt in 1989, to her latest two-part production, The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan (2004/05). Nasreen Munni Kabir has written several books on Hindi cinema, including Guru Dutt: A Life in Cinema and Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar. She is currently serving a second term as a governor on the board of the British Film Institute.

Experts Review:

Shah Rukh Khan
'Javed Akhtar has contributed to India cinema more than many who claim to do so. He has also contributed hugely to my success because of the songs that he's written for me, and the thoughts that we've shared. I miss not having worked with an actor like Sanjeev Kumar or Balraj Sahni or Madhubala. I miss not being around when Raj Kapoor or K. Asif or Guru Dutt walked in the studio. But I must say that I am blessed to have worked with Javed Akhtar.'

A.R. Rahman
'As a lyricist, I believe Javed Akhtar uses the song perfectly in the narrative. He has a vast vocabulary and yet a discreet use of words. He is a fantastic conversationalist and hugely adept at expressing himself. When recording a song, he'll know immediately which words are working and which words need changing. Take for example, his song Chanda re Chanda, it's so simple and yet so sweet.'

Asha Bhonsle
'We have had many great lyricists in the past like Sahir, Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh Sultanpuri and I never thought that in recent times we'd have a great lyricist like Javed Akhtar.'