His was the voice in the beautiful Bawra Mann dekhne chala ek sapna (Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi), and the mind that aptly described Kunal Kapoor as “daadi ke bich mein dimple chhupaata hai woh” in a song from Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. Swanand Kirkire set out to be a director, but fate had other plans for him. Or should we say “people” did!

Excerpts from an interview with the lyricist of films such as Parineeta, Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and the yet-to-be-released Khoya Khoya Chand:

How did you decide to be a lyricist after training to be a filmmaker?

It was something that was never decided by me. People decided it. I had written a couple of songs, and while I was assisting Sudhir Mishra with Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi, he came across what I had penned and made me sing it (Bawra Mann dekhne chala ek sapna). After that, there was no looking back.

The professional chemistry that you share with music director Shantanu Moitra.

We are like-minded people who share the same interests. Both of us don’t treat work as work, it is an enjoyable activity for us. What I like about Shantanu is that he is not obsessed with success. The work that we do together is appreciated by all, and we get approached together by producers and directors, so it has worked out very well for us.

The challenges of writing lyrics for a film like Khoya Khoya Chand that is set in the 50s.

The 50s was characterised by the best that there has been in poetry and a social awareness with respect to lyrics. The biggest problem was to bring about that intelligent-yet-romantic feel to the lyrics in Khoya Khoy Chand. I have done my best. Let’s see how it is received.

Your lyrics are pure in nature. Are you open to working on something different from your usual style... say a raunchy item number or lyrics for a thriller film?

I’m open to working on anything and everything.

Future projects.

There’s Talisman, by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, that I’m working on the screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for.

Any chance of turning to direction someday?

Absolutely. Not in the near future though.

Has not having received a formal training in music ever come in the way of your singing?

No, it never has. My parents are trained classical singers, so I always have had a ear for music.

How do you unwind?

I haven’t relaxed in many years, but I would relax by waking up late, watching movies and reading a book.