Two-day poetry festival
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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
"I must be 'bavra'," says musician Swanand Kirkire in Bengaluru
Whether you've danced on tabletops to 'Aal Izz Well' as a college student, sought solace in 'Bavra Mann' on a lonely ride through a new city, or sighed dreamily at the flirtatious romance of 'Piyu Bole', one thing is certain that these songs penned and sung by Swanand Kirkire have touched our hearts and playlists. 'If it connects with you in a very honest space, it connects with everyone – that's been my experience,' says Kirkire, reflecting on what it takes to make hits that connect generations. The lyricist, who was in the city for a session at the Bengaluru Poetry Festival, adds, 'You cannot think of generations when you are writing songs. You are the people, and people are you. When you do something just to please others, you fail.' Born in Indore, Kirkire's first brush with writing did not come from poetry or lyrics but through plays. 'I'm not one of those artistes who started writing since childhood – it is an acquired thing for me. When you are doing plays and you want a song but you don't have anybody to write it for you – you just do it yourself,' he says. It was when Kirkire moved to Mumbai to work as an assistant director, still not considering a songwriting career, that his first big break, 'Bavra Mann', came about. A transcendental melody that captures the feeling of restless yearning and chasing dreams, the song from 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' (2003) was deeply personal to Kirkire. He still cannot explain its longstanding resonance, saying, 'It's a mystery to me. I don't know how or why it came to me. It happened on a lonely night in Bombay – I was going in an auto rickshaw and laughing at myself, thinking 'what am I doing?' I've come with a dream to a big city with nothing in hand, I must be 'bavra' (crazy). But the rest of the song, I don't know how it happened. Poetry comes from your subconscious mind.'
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru Poetry Festival explores beauty of verse
Poets, lyricists, filmmakers, musicians, and literateurs of all kinds came together to celebrate the beauty of verse at the Bengaluru Poetry Festival (BPF) at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha across two days. The 9th edition drew an impressive crowd that attended panels on writing poetry, lyrics and more, alongside a Children's Poetry Festival. The event also celebrated poetry in the form of lyrics through performances and conversations featuring singer-songwriters like Ramya Nambessan, Bruce Lee Mani, among others. Singer Justh, who rose to fame with the viral single Chor, performed the song alongside his latest, Unse Jaake Kehdo, that had the audience, teeming with youngsters, clapping and singing along. 'Every place has a different texture – the expectations of a performance at a college or a concert are very different. People are here to appreciate poetry and the written word, which hold great importance for me,' he shared. The year's festival saw five international poets in attendance, some of whom were in conversation with poet Jeet Thayil at the 'You Are the World' session. 'The highlight were the poets from Singapore, the US and UAE, who shared superb poetry and talked about their poetics and visions,' said Bengaluru poet Mani Rao. Alongside these were panels on poetry in Kannada and other regional languages, giving the festival a local flavour. 'A festival like this helps people become more aware of the poetry swirling in their midst,' added Rao. Attending the festival for the first time, 22-year-old Varshith Vattikutti, an aspiring filmmaker, explains what draws creative youngsters to the festival, saying, 'Getting perspectives from people who have been writing lyrics and screenplays in the industry for so long has been very insightful. I enjoy hearing them talk about everything, from mundane things to how they approach their writing.' Avani Singh, a college student, adds, 'Even just to see that there are people in the field who are making a living out of being creative – as writers, musicians, and filmmakers – was so important to me.'
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
THIS ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' star charged just Rs 11 as fees; director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra reveals why
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra 's 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', one of the most celebrated biopics made in Bollywood, completed its 12th anniversary this year. The 2013 film, which chronicled the inspiring life of Indian sprinter Milkha Singh , featured Farhan Akhtar in a career-defining role. Made on a budget of Rs 41 crore, the film went on to even win an impressive 55 awards at both national and international award shows. While Akhtar's performance and dedication to his role bowled over fans and critics alike, it was another gesture by one of the film's cast members that won appreciation. At a time when actors are in the news for charging whopping fees exceeding Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore, back in 2013, one star on Mehra's cast did the unthinkable and charged a fee of just Rs 11. Rs 11 Paycheque This star was none other than the lead actress, Sonam Kapoor . The actress, who appeared in a brief but pivotal role as Biro, a character who alters Milkha's emotional journey, charged a nominal fee, surprising even the director. In an earlier interview with Bombay Times, director Mehra revealed the circumstances that led to this remuneration. He said, 'I approached Sonam and told her clearly that she would be in the film for about 15 minutes. I wasn't sure if her character would appear in the trailer or the poster,' he recalled. 'She listened and said, 'The film must be made, and I'll charge you a bomb.' Later, her contract arrived — and the fee was just Rs 11 as shagun. She brought great dignity to the part.' Film's Enduring Relevance Looking back on the film's enduring relevance, he reflected on its historical and emotional resonance. 'Some stories don't fade out; they mature with time. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is one of them. It's timeless, not topical,' he said. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag also starred Divya Dutta, Pawan Malhotra , and Yograj Singh in key roles.
