Irshad Kamil on ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ and writing songs that belong to everyone
Renowned lyricist Irshad Kamil discusses his creative process and his long-standing collaboration with director Imtiaz Ali. He highlights how his personal connection to Punjabi culture and history influenced his recent work on films like 'Chamkila' and 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'.
Why it matters
Provides insight into the artistic evolution of one of Indian cinema's most influential lyricists and the cultural significance of regional storytelling in modern film.
Irshad Kamil writes about love with a rare demystifying quality. He invokes its irresolvable charm with expressions echoed in the everyday — like in ‘Tum Se Hi’ from Jab We Met or ‘Tum Jo Aaye Zindagi Mein’ from Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai — while also keeping room for a touch of quirk as seen in ‘Isq Risk’ from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and underlining the feeling of innocence in ‘Jug Ghoomeya’ from Sultan . His collaborations with Imtiaz Ali are particularly striking, seeming to come from a deeply personal space and swiftly becoming the voice of Jordan, Ved, Chamkila and Keenu. Irshad, however, opines that all of his songs come from a personal space.
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