Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan recently shared amusing anecdotes about the challenges and comical misunderstandings he faced while working with South Indian filmmakers, often due to language barriers and literal interpretations of his lyrics.
Lost in Translation: The “Rab” vs. “Rub” Mix-up
Sameer Anjaan, holding a Guinness World Record for penning over 3,500 songs in his four-decade career, recalled a particularly hilarious incident with the late Telugu producer D. Ramanaidu. Ramanaidu had invited him to a film set, where Sameer heard his song playing: “Rab, rab, rab, rab.”
Upon arriving, Sameer was shocked to find the scene being filmed involved the heroine lying down while dancers were literally “rubbing” her. A bewildered Sameer questioned what was happening, only for Ramanaidu to explain that they were following his lyrics. Sameer quickly clarified that ‘rab’ in Hindi means ‘God,’ not ‘rub.’
He expressed immense relief that the song hadn’t been released with such a glaring misinterpretation, imagining the backlash he would have received.
When Poetic License Met Literal Minds
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Sameer recounted another misunderstanding while writing for K. Murali Mohana Rao’s 1989 film, *Rakhwala*. He wrote the line, “Neend aa rahi hai, na jagao, Jao baba jao so jao.”
The director questioned the inclusion of ‘baba,’ mistaking it for ‘grandfather’ in the song, failing to grasp that ‘baba’ was simply an expression or term of endearment. Sameer often found himself wondering how to explain such nuances.
Another instance involved the line, “Teri aankhon mein bijli chamke” (thunder flashes in your eyes). The director, Murali Mohan, perplexed, asked how he was supposed to film ‘thunder in the eyes,’ taking the poetic imagery far too literally.
The ‘Fall from Sofa’ Audition
Beyond linguistic hurdles, Sameer also faced unique and unusual demands. He recalled being summoned to Hyderabad for a film’s music session. The director’s assistant informed him that the songs would only be selected if they were so good that they made the director literally fall off his sofa.
Sameer remembered a moment when the director indeed fell, leaving him unsure if it was due to the song’s brilliance or its sheer awfulness. Such instances highlighted the distinct and sometimes perplexing creative processes in different film industries.
- Lyricist Sameer Anjaan faced humorous misinterpretations due to language barriers with South Indian filmmakers.
- His lyrics like ‘rab’ (God) were literally translated to ‘rub,’ leading to comical on-set scenes.
- Poetic expressions like ‘baba’ and ‘thunder in the eyes’ were often taken too literally by directors.
- Sameer also encountered unusual selection criteria, such as a director needing to physically fall from a sofa to approve a song.
Despite these challenges, Sameer Anjaan continued his prolific career, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema with his words, proving his adaptability across diverse creative landscapes.
