Creativity is a curse – Prasoon Joshi

Dafatan, masakalli and now mukhtsar (Mukhtasar mulaqat hai from Teri Meri Kahaani)… unheard of little used words make a home in Prasoon Joshi’s lyrics and through them in our hearts. Ask him the secret and he shrugs and smiles. “To be honest, I came up with mukhtasar when I was in bed with bad back. Director Kunal Kohli and Wajid (of the Sajid-Wajid duo) came to visit me while I was convalescing at home. Wajid hummed the tune and Kunal asked me to give him a mukhda. Now, mukhtasar means brief, perhaps unconsciously, I wanted them to leave me in peace so I came up with Mukhtasar mulaqat hai…”

Prasoon’s amused by the fact that youngsters take to his songs in a big way without knowing the meaning of the words. “Masakalli is a made up word. I got maximum calls from people about that. The good thing is that people are curious about language and want to learn.” I assume that half the music composers he works with too wouldn’t know what he’s talking about.

He’s worked with Sajid-Wajid for Teri Meri Kahaani and somehow one can’t envision him gelling with the earthy composers. Prasoon says we shouldn’t bracket people in a hurry. “That’s like saying I can’t write the lyrics for Dabangg. I’m a professional and can work with anyone provided they respect me as a professional.”

The lyricist is also in the news for writing the lyrics of Aamir Khan’s TV show, Satyamev Jayate. The words ‘Mujhko khud ko hi hai tatolnaa, agar hai kami to bolnaa…’ touch a core and are quite introspective in nature. Prasoon says Aamir never wanted a marching song. “He wanted people to start questioning the wrongs that they see but become blind to. To see their own flaws because introspection is the path to redemption.”

We move from brand Aamir to brand SRK. Prasoon became friends with Aamir after doing several ads with him. He’s friends with Shah Rukh Khan too, as they have also done several campaigns together. But somehow, that friendship hasn’t resulted in them doing a film together. Prasoon blames it all on ‘campism’. “The people around SRK feel that I belong to Aamir’s camp and that has kept us from working together on a film project.”

Eyebrows were raised when it was known that Prasoon wasn’t writing the lyrics for Aamir Khan’s Talaash. Prasoon dismisses this saying it’s an Excel Entertainment film and not an Aamir Khan production. “It’s produced by Farhan Akhtar. Beta to baap ke saath hi kaam karega. Farhan’s first choice would obviously be his father, Javed saab (Akhtar). I can’t dispute that.” Prasoon has sort of got his own back by adding the lines Tu yeh bhi bhool jayega, ke Javed naam hai tera in the Humse pyar kar le tu song from Teri Meri Kahaani.

For the record, Prasoon has written the dialogue and lyrics for the Farhan starrer Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the upcoming biopic on the legendary sprinter. “Milkha Singh has lived life for real. Mine and Rakyesh’s struggles are nothing compared to his. His dignity, his grace despite so many setbacks needs to be emulated. He inspires you every time you meet him.”

Milkha Singh reportedly went through dark depression and took to alcohol. Prasoon says he can’t divulge what’s in the film as they want to maintain the curiosity. He is happy with the way the film has shaped up and with Farhan’s portrayal. “Farhan has physically and mentally transformed himself into Milkha Singh. You get goose bumps watching him.”

His six-year-old daughter Aishaanya enters the room with the family dog, Button. His face lights up on seeing her. “She had a small cut on the forehead the other day and I kind of treated it as a medical emergency. Creativity is a curse because you feel for everything at a higher level of awareness. I’m blessed that being a successful man keeps me out of money hassles. You can’t expect artistes to starve and produce masterpieces for your pleasure.”

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