Poet AM Turaj took to the stage of Sahitya Aaj Tak 2024 and created a gathering. Turaj also hummed some songs. He said that he likes Sanjay Leela Bhansali because he knows the importance of songs in films. He also understands the song. Along with this, Turaj also spoke about his struggle and his journey from Muzaffarnagar to Mumbai. AM Turaj, said the poet, I have been writing for 22 years, but this is the first time I have come to a program on Sahitya Aaj Tak.
Travel from Muzaffarnagar to Mumbai
My trip was very difficult. But now it seems that it was easy. The film industry is a huge platform. There must be difficulties getting here. Because we are prepared for such a large platform. So we only got here after traveling difficult roads.
I started writing in the year 1999. I didn’t think I would go to Mumbai and do anything. I thought about doing little shows. But after studying, I felt that I should go to Mumbai and then I had to fight that battle. I convinced my parents to go to a big city and then I went to Mumbai.
I have set my limits
It’s not like that at all. If something is imposed just because it is there, it does not last long. There are difficulties. To live and eat. And we don’t even know the people. All these problems happen. But these don’t matter. My trip from town to city has been long. But I also made a place for myself in the industry. I could have made more films than I have made, but I set my limits. I wrote for good films and I got here.
How important is it for a writer to have a good musical director?
I always say that the lyrics come second, the melody first. So there are a lot of songs that maybe haven’t reached you, because the musical work on them was a little less.
What is Sanjay sir’s understanding of music?
Ismail Darbar ji had narrated one of my songs to Sanjay ji. In 2005, when he was doing ‘Saawariya’, he called to meet up. I couldn’t work on this film. But after a few years they called me again and I worked. Now I worked with him again in ‘Hiramandi’.
I used to listen to poetry since I was little. I was motivated by the poets I heard. After that, any poetry I did, wrote songs, is 99 percent my own experience. I wanted to say many things to people, so I say them through my poetry. Poetry is my medium to express my thoughts. Everyone listens to poetry, so I say what I want to say to this day.
I prefer writing songs or ghazals for films.
I like writing songs for movies because that’s where I get the most money. When it comes to poetry, it resides in the soul. Money has its place, but what the soul needs is also important. In cinema, music and poetry are as important as the actors. Whenever I have the opportunity, I go to meetings and express my views. Because it has its own unique fun.
You’ve been writing for so long, what is your closest creation?
All the songs I’ve written are precious, because whatever we believe, it’s all precious to us. The best song is my own ‘Aayat’. Rest, I like to sing Arijit Singh’s song ‘Muskurahat’ from ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’.
The only thing I want is to write something for the country before I die. I haven’t yet written what I think I’m made for. So that’s what I want to write.
money, author or status
I like to sit and recite poetry. If you write it sitting in a closed room, it doesn’t matter. But yeah, it feels great when we get love from the audience.
