SRIRAM RAVISHANKAR
KU-BA-KU ,
LIVING POEMS
In conversation with poet-writer-lyricist Shellee , a creative kaleidoscope .
Shellee ( Shailender Singh Sodhi ) is one of the most honest and endearing poets of our time . Hailing from a literary family , growing up in the free-spirited fields of Ambala , literary interests organically came to Shellee from an early age . After frequenting Mumbai as a ghost writer for many projects , Shellee finally made his mark as a lyricist with Amit Trivedi ’ s Dev D . Fundamentally a poet , Shellee ’ s famed lyrical career is only a tenth of what lies in the depths of his creative trenches .
Besides his best-known works like Udta Punjab , Shahid , Luv Shuv De Chicken Khurana , Phillauri , and the most recent Manmarziyaan , Shellee has lent his words for numerous other movies like Quick Gun Murugan , Trishna , and Jugni amongst others . His zesty piquant lyrics stands out amidst clichés without losing out on its earthy rustic character .
Shellee ’ s unassuming prismatic personality puts anybody crossing him instantly at ease , envious of his writing skills , and vigilant mind . It is hard to escape his infectious passion for words and languages unravel within the first few minutes of interaction . He briefly opens up in this short engaging conversation .
Hindsight
My experiences in theatre were most crucial in my journey . It encouraged me
to read literature , observe , and explore life . Various funny , gloomy , eccentric , and normal characters that I saw in the plays of Vijay Tendulkar , Girish Karnad , Shakespeare , or Moliere influenced my life vastly . I drew so much from their works , that they have now become an inseparable part of my personality .
Unlike the 50 ’ s and 60 ’ s , today ’ s Punjabi music is majorly influenced by brands , making it too pretentious and fake . This doesn ’ t mean we have inadequate subjects to write about or talented people . Creators in general don ’ t have patience to explore newer subjects anymore . There is so much original content out there that can be brought to light , but only with patience and faith . Today , my biggest concern is that people are going further and further away from poetry in every language . We need more poetry , more engaging conversations , and creative dialogues ! Goal oriented actions are only taking away the fun of exploration ! Currently , the culture of writing lyrics to a tune , hook lines , calculated efforts , are all too limiting . Very rarely do I come across composers who let me write first !
The Creative Process
To me , writing is an integral part of my personality . I live with a tune and keep thinking new words , phrases , wordplay , and new ways to approach
subjects . I always insist on a script narration , character description , etc . So , I ’ m fully aware of the situation I ’ m writing for . With each song , one becomes more confident of himself .
Creativity , a habit ?
My creativity doesn ’ t boil to being a mere habit . It ’ s more of a pursuit . Habit is repetitive , nothing new would come out of me . I ’ m a seeker , wanderer , learner , an eternal student . Being in this mindset makes me grateful of my surroundings , existence , elders , mentors , my father who was a scholar and poet himself , Shri . Himmat Singh Sodhi who taught me so much with such subtlety .
Finally , being a lyricist in business vs being a poet
The lyricist in me is a by-product of the poet in me . The day that poet is dead , is the day I can ’ t be a lyricist anymore . I feel without the experiences of poetry whether it is in sounds , landscapes , human characters , or even conversations , being a lyricist wouldn ’ t be possible . Life in itself is so poetic , stimulating , and interesting ! Something even as mundane as boredom has so much say in silence ! Without being observant of such intricacies and recognizing the poetry in them , being a lyricist is impossible .
The Score Magazine
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