During an event in Lucknow, lyricist Manoj Muntashir was questioned about the controversial dialogues featured in Adipurush earlier this year.
Last Updated: 07.38 PM, Dec 03, 2023
When Adipurush was released earlier this year, it sparked an instant controversy over its dialogues. Those were penned by Manoj Muntashir, and many dialogues were changed immediately after they were criticised on the Internet. However, the lyricist had earlier defended his work, but now, at an event, he took the opportunity to ask for public forgiveness and not judge his abilities and 25 years of work based on one instance.
Manoj Muntashir's apology and appeal in Lucknow
At Bhartendu Natya Academy, Muntashir stated that to demand restitution for that error, he could think of no better location than Lucknow, the capital of the state where Ram was born and also the soil that inspires his works. The lyricist humbly admits that, despite their good intentions, they became carried away and failed to anticipate the people's negative reactions.
In his defence, he said that the screenplay severely limited his creative freedom as a writer. He continued by saying that within two days of the release, they made sure that they corrected their mistakes while defending the film's director and producer. They rewrote and edited the offensive dialogues, resulting in the change of ten thousand prints.
The diminishing role of lyrics and composition
As the conversation progressed, the focus shifted to the source of the problem: the diminishing role of high-quality lyrics and composition in film and the fact that songs no longer possess the profound emotional resonance that formerly held listeners' attention.
Muntashir acknowledged that his songwriting had lost its spark. He mentioned that a select group of writers continue the legacy of Anand Bakshi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Kaifi Azmi.
That is why it took him more than ten years to secure the necessary space to compose his debut film score. He would never do anything to disgrace Lucknow, a city that has produced many famous authors, poets, and artists. Muntashir declared that his goal in writing was to make his land feel proud.