The man who makes Ash sing
The name Neelesh Misra may not sound familiar. But when his publicity manager, a persistent young woman, tells you he's writing lyrics for Aishwarya Rai's next film Happy Birthday, you don't mind picking up the phone and saying hello. Ash always sells on the Internet.
However Neelesh's area of expertise extends far beyond Ash and indeed Bollywood. He has already authored three books – one on the Nepal massacre, another one on the IC 814 hijack drama and a romantic comedy. Moreover, this man has also written some of the biggest chartbusters in the recent past including Kya mujhe pyaar hai from Woh Lamhe and the title track of Jannat.
Travelling in an auto rickshaw, Neelesh tells one over the phone just what it takes to survive in a scenario where sound and picturisation scores over melody and lyrics.
I have to elbow my way in," he says, "Today there is always a fight between the word and the (musical) note. So there is a need to find a mid way. A good example of this is Kya mujhe pyaar hai. I think I managed to strike a balance quite well."
Having written novels and lyrics alike, Neelesh is also penning screenplays. The young writer has Sanjay Dutt's Alibaug behind him and has started work on his new script already.
I look at myself as a storyteller. The medium ceases to matter. It also becomes important that I don't talk down to my audiences," he says adding, " I don't try to write situation-specific songs."
