On A Song

Lyricist and writer Manoj Muntashir shares his dreams and desires with Devesh Sharma

- Devesh Sharma

Manaoj Muntashir has been in the news recently for having written the Hindi dialogue and songs for SS Rajamouli’s epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. He hastily informs me that he had recreated the dialogue and the songs of Baahubali: The Beginning as well. He insists on the word ‘recreated’ and not ‘translated’. “I didn’t want to attempt a Telephone dhun mein hasne wali, if you understand what I mean,” says he shaking his head. “I was clear about writing original stuff. Hence, on both occasions I told Rajamouli sir to explain the situation to me rather than give me the original script. He’d explain the scenes and I’d give him the dialogue and songs.”

The challenge was syncing the Hindi with the Telugu dub. He made sure the lip sync didn’t look out of place. He’s happy that friends from the South, who know both Hindi and Telugu, commented that he’d done a good job. Like everyone associated with the film, Muntashir doesn’t have words to describe the Baahubali phenomenon.

He’s glad that his name in the credits is up there for posterity. “Salim-Javed have been such huge inspirations. Their names featured in the credit roll of every blockbuster in the ’70s. They’re part of film history. And now, thanks to Baahubali, so am I,” he gushes.

MM Kreem, with whom he had worked in Baby (2015), was instrumental in getting him Baahubali.