‘We should give the people better lyrics’

A prize assignment is his song in Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One,which reunites him with director Anubhav Sinha and music directors Vishal-Shekhar with whom he has done Dus,Tathastu and Cash. He is also doing Ajai Sinha’s Khap on honour killings and Indra Kumar’s Love Hua,besides Percept Picture Company’s Kabutar,composed by Vishal-Shekhar.

Though yet to make the A-list,Panchhi is content with where he has reached. “I did Roopkumar Rathod’s albums Mitwaa and Mohabbat Ho Gayee and Jagjit Singhji sang my popular ghazal from Stop,Dil tarastaa hai. I am the sub-editor of the literary page of Pehli Khabar,and also write ghazals.”

Panchhi sees an improvement in lyrical standards of late. “I am happy that we have not heard words like dilbar and sanam for a long while,though I admit that words like moula and maahiya are now being overused. I also do not relish the fake form of Sufism — screaming one’s lungs out — or of underestimating the audience. I think that we should give the people better lyrics. Business interests are important,and a certain compromise is inevitable for all of us,but look at the hit Jism song that went Ek khalaa hai seene mein. When the song is good,the audience makes an effort to know what a new word means. As for me,I try to infuse depth even in my “item” songs,” he states decisively,rattling off lyrics from Deedaar ve,the hit “item” number in Dus,to prove his point,and adding,“And good directors appreciate this.”