Where’s the fun in cussing?

Young and successful music director Anirudh’s spirited teaser, ‘Ain’t nobody f***ing with my music’ has elicited mixed responses on Facebook. The video, that was released on the social networking site, had stirred up a hornet’s nest.  It has been the red hot  topic of discussion among his ardent fans and city music lovers. Do songs with offensive lyrics make a mark? Do they have recall value? Lyricists, music directors and singers speak out on a subject that affects them and their audiences.

The lyrics are the soul of the song

Music director D. Imman, who is riding high on two back-to-back musical hits, avers that singles and audio teasers can be brought out in a simple, captivating manner, catering to all sections of listeners. He says, “Though this trend surfaced in the West, it need not be wacky to go down well with music lovers here. The ideation behind a song or a teaser is always based on individual improvisations, and one should respect it. However, there are many things which should be kept in mind. The soul of a song is in the lyrics and the theme it deals with. Once the hype dies down, songs with such weird and annoying lyrics aren’t going to sustain their initial craze. They’ll only bring brickbats.”

Imman grants that there are people whom these songs target, whose response is suitably appreciative. “But the trend may have serious repercussions as there are high chances of newbies entering the industry with several misleading notions about songs and listeners,” he points out. “Also, one should be cautious while coming up with lyrics for highly anticipated songs or those on which high hopes are pinned.”

It’s all about the audience

However, celebrated playback singer S. Mahathi puts the onus on audiences; she thinks that it is their responsibility to differentiate between right and wrong. “It’s true that ‘trendy’ songs are on the rise,” she says. “But the tinsel world revolves around profits and success. Hence, those associated with it are expected to come up with creative, quirky ideas that invite the attention of people. Listeners are intelligent enough and have the liberty to accept or reject songs outright. So, there is no point in making a hue and cry over songs that contain objectionable lyrics turning out to be huge hits.”

The singer who hails from a musical family, was quick to react when asked if she would croon a song which she felt was repulsive. “No. I believe there is a fine line, and there should be a limit. I’m not game for songs which would make children utter awful words and obscene lyrics. It will create a negative effect on them for sure,” she declares.

Not a healthy trend

Sharing a similar sentiment is singer V. V. Prassanna, who thinks that cheap lyrics are not a healthy trend. “I personally don’t like to be a part of a music which has offensive lyrics. I believe that as an artiste we must be responsible and must not do anything as we wish to. Also, I wish to read, listen or watch anything which is positive, and good. In fact I have rejected quite a few songs which was offered to me as it had very offensive lyrics. If the story demands then you can include it, but just to grab attention or for publicity, is not healthy,” he reiterates.

Madhan Karky, noted lyricist, says that using offensive words is not his cup of tea. “Internationally, there are specific norms for such kind of lyrics and the audience has the capacity to filter songs which is offensive. But namma Tamil Nadu still is not used to such kind of songs, and they still feel uncomfortable when they listen to it. Some enthusiastic youngsters have even approached me before to pen lyrics for a song which has offensive Tamil words in it. But I refused as I don’t prefer it. I agree that there is a specific set of group who loves offensive and bold lyrics, so it may impress them, but not to a wider audience,” he points out.

Lyricist-cum-poet Kutti Revathi is clear that she is averse to writing such lyrics. The Maryan lyricist also observes that most filmmakers often tend to underestimate the mindset of the audience. “Rarely do they think that cinema is a medium that can create a huge impact on people. This is why one looks up to A. R. Rahman and his approach and ethics. One can’t take listeners for granted in the name of creative ideas. Moreover, there is no point in saying that such songs are lauded by youngsters. One should refrain from indulging in writing such weird songs for the sake of popularity.”

Turning a blind eye

Honey Singh, Anirudh’s favourite collaborator, has been embroiled in controversies of his own in the recent past. But this rapper, who is also a part of ‘Ain’t nobody f***ing with my music’, chooses to deal with it nonchalantly. Honey believes  that it is a jealous fit on part of his haters, to whom he has no explanations to give. “It is so stupid that when someone with no backing and no famous surnames come and make it big, rather than encouraging them, there are people who are ready to drag them down with false accusations. But I turn a blind eye to all that and focus all my energy in my work. My success is the answer to all of them,” he said, in a recent interview to this newspaper. “The kind of songs I sing have been existing in Bollywood music since a long time. In fact, the reason my music is so popular amongst the millions of youth is because I sing in their own language, in their own slang, and about their lives,” Honey justifies. So what about the few hundreds who disagree? “Jisko jo bhi hai  karna wo kar lo,” Honey answers, quoting a line from his own song.  

(As told to Papri Das)

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