What made Anand Bakshi an exceptional lyricist of the film industry was his abiding devotion to his craft, making sure that his lyrics belonged to the characters who lip sync the songs on screen. ‘If found (him) visible in the song instead, he considered himself a failed film lyricist’. True to his conviction, Bakshi sought a heart wrenching melody (Aaj dil pe koi jor chalta nahi from film Milan) dropped from the film as he could not believe that the characters could sing those literary verses. Carefully chosen words and their arrangement deliver specific meanings, feelings, and emotions that slip from on-screen renditions into countless living audiences who hold them as ageless soundtracks in their minds.
A key aspect of enjoying songs comes from the words, and with an understanding for rhythm and a flair for music Anand Bakshi could unlock the power of words into memorable lyrics for innumerable cinematic situations. Though he couldn’t complete his schooling, the creative genius could imprint life’s lessons on some 3,500 songs in his nearly five-decade career as a lyricist. Unlike a poet for whom even sky has no limits, a lyricist has to limit his thoughts and expressions within the confines of the script to contribute in creating a musical interlude that takes the narrative forward while remaining a standalone piece for the listener. Reason enough that playback songs transcend demographic limits, linguistic barriers, and class boundaries.
Rakesh Bakshi banks upon his father’s diary entries, anecdotal reflections from his illustrious colleagues, and fragments of episodic memories in recreating the persona of an inimitable lyricist whose words and metaphors continue to remain a vital part of the daily existence for millions of his fans and listeners. It is an intimate peek into the life of a soldier whose humble beginning could not deter him from pursuing a passion for conveying his lived experiences through simple verses that the listener could easily relate to. A section featuring Anand Bakshi’s favourite forty songs is a veritable treat, providing rare insights on how those verses came into being.
Nagme, Kisse, Baatein, Yaadein is an accomplished biography, grounded in the reality that film songs deliver an emotional and textural surplus that stays much longer than its cinematic experience. It also reveals that a film song is a cunning device that injects an artistic mode of expression into the story, communicating through lyrics what cannot be said through words. ‘Good songs exist in good stories,’ Anand Bakshi would say, ‘it is a matter of getting them out from the situations.’ Despite his limited vocabulary, the lyricist in him could make simple words sound profound - Kutch to log kahenge (Film: Amar Prem) connects at a much deeper level.
Revisiting the past must have been melancholic for author Rakesh Bakshi but it serves an implicit purpose of connecting with the present generation who may have been lost on the rich tradition of lyrics writing and its irretrievable impact. It has been two decades since Anand Bakshi departed but not a day passes without many of his memorable songs getting played on the radio. As much a celebration of his talent, the book is a tribute to his indomitable spirit of living up to his passion. By refusing to give up on his dreams and ambitions, Anand Bakshi left an inspiring message for those who have dreams and ambitions to chase. ‘Your dream is a chance. If you take it, it’s risky. If you do not take it, it is dangerous.’
Like his lyrics, his life too communicates ‘the feeling that there is always more to tell than can be said’.
by Rakesh Anand Bakshi
Extent: 198, Price: Rs. 599.
First published in the Hindustan Times on Dec 4, 2021.
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