Vitamin 'M' inspires Veturi

P Vasudeva Rao

In a candid interview with P Vasudeva Rao, legendary lyricist Veturi Sundara Ramamurthy says commercialisation has become the order of the day in Telugu film industry today

హమ్మంది నాదం... (hummandi Naadam...), నెమలికి నేర్పిన నాట్యమిది...(Nemaliki Nerpina Natyamidi...), యే కులము నీదంటె... (Ye Kulamu Needante...), యమునా తీరం...(Yamuna Theeram...), Do these tracks sound familiar to you? Yes. Because they are soothing and pleasing. Be it in small town shops, markets, private or public transport buses, railway stations or for that matter any public place, one cannot miss these or other heart-lugging songs coming from FM radio or AIR Vividh Bharati service at one time or the other. The grey-haired, sauve and affable song writer who penned thousands of such songs with a deadly combination of fine literature and music and tunes to go with has shared some of his memorable moments with this correspondent.

A lyricist must have a fairly good command over language and literature to produce a fine song that reflects the mood and fits into the storyline. fine lyrics and music provide a deadly combination. In a lighter vein, the ace songster says that the only thing that inspires him these days is money. Gone are the days of ace directors who know every aspect of film making, he reminces.

"I write songs for my livelihood. Some call it literary service. I am writing these songs for the stories of other directors. I feel satisfied when I write lyrics in tune with the mood and director's vision," says వేటూరి సుందర రామమూర్తి (Veturi Sundara Ramamurthy), one of the best known lyricists of Telugu film field.

The song writer believes that a song will be remembered for long if it has good lyrics and music. Close understanding among film director, lyricist and music director ensures a good song.

Has any director asked Veturi to write good songs in recent times? He smiles away. "Directors in the past used to be versatile with sound knowledge of every aspect of film making," he says. "We don't have many directors of that calibre. There are no good stories to inspire a lyricist to show his best," he says. "The only thing that inspires me these days is money. Thought process? Nothing. Song writing these days is just a reflex action, I write a song based on the tune and situation," says the grey-haired man candidly.

Almost a household name, Veturi's songs have an everlasting charm that enthralled millions of people. His compositions have a quality that appealed to all sections of people over a number of years.

సాగర సంగమం (Sagara Sangamam), సప్తపది (Saptapadi), గీతాంజలి (Geetanjali), అన్నమయ్య (Annamayya) films made Veturi a legend of a kind. His recent songs like యమునా తీరం... (Yamuna Theeram...) and యెదలో గానం...(Yedalo Gaanam...) in ఆనంద్ (Anand) and the recent గోదావరి (Godavari) came like a breather to Telugu audience who are revelling in its beautiful lyrics.

Veturi expresses concern over the treatment being meted out to Telugu language. "We Telugus feel shy to speak in Telugu unlike Tamilians who not only speak their mother-tongue but at the same time feel that Hindi is invading Tamil,"

"We don't find the beauty and depth in current lyrics," he bemoans remembering the old songs and movies. Unhealthy trends have successfully reduced the quality of films. Yetha Raja, tatha Praja. Audience are also not bothered about the story, dances that look like overaged hero and 'two-piece' heroine wrestling and dialogues and humour that remind one of having severe upset stomach with loose bowels. And songs! Ear-shattering and mind-boggling.

"There was a film అర్హున్‌ (Arjun) on goddess Madhura Meenakshi. But it was not shaped the way it has to be and was modified in tune with times. The only thing I am happy about is I have recently written lyrics for Godavari and writing for another film శ్రీవెంగమాంబ (Srivengamamba) which is about Telugu culture, tradition and values," concludes the lyricist.

Courtesy: NewIndPress