After hearing those mesmerizing title songs of the Marathi serials ‘Kalat Nakalat’, ‘Anubandh’, ‘Kulvadhu’ and ‘Majhiya Priyala Preet Kalena’, one always thought of the lyricist for writing those meaningful words. Obviously, Ashwini Shende who penned those lyrics, gets the credit for making these songs so popular. Some people even downloaded them as caller tunes on their cell phones. Ashwini, however attributes the credit to her parents Chandrashekhar & Medha Shende, who encouraged her towards reading and music during her school days.
Having studied from Borivali’s Suvidyalaya and Parle’s Sathe College, Ashwini does not forget her teachers, who according to her paid more attention on her artistic talent rather than the percentage of marks scored in the exams. Being passionate about reading, Ashwini could compile her own set of words for incorporating them into meaningful lyrics suited to different situations. For the past three years she has bagged the Best lyricist award from Zee Marathi, making a hat-trick. Marathi Movie World had a chit chat with Ashwini to know more about her field of interest.
Ashwini Shende
Q: Why did you choose this profession and whether this is your full time profession ?
A: Writing is not only my profession but my passion. Without writing ,be it a song, dialogues or any other matter; I just cannot sit quiet. More important is what I am writing rather than for which production house I am writing. Before entering this profession, I used to write poems. In fact, for 3-4 years I worked as a Journalist for ‘Indian Express’ and ‘Loksatta’. When I wrote the dialogues and lyrics for TV serial ‘Kalat Nakalat’ my passion for such writing turned into a profession.
Q: Many of your songs penned for films and TV serials have become very popular. How do you feel about it ?
A: Feeling nice about it. Actually, what I visualize, I try to put it in simple words. The more
simpler are the words, better the chances of the song becoming popular. I avoid using the typical Marathi language used during olden days. When I get the feedback from people that it is because of the simple language, they could understand the song well, I consider it as an achievement.
Q: Which was the first song penned by you ?
A: My first song was for Vaishali Samant’s album on devotional songs but I wrote my first song ‘Abhaas ha..’ for the film ‘Yanda kartavya Aahe’.
Q: How do you look at this Marathi Film Industry? Is there enough scope for a lyricist like you ?
A: Marathi film industry is progressing these days with good quality films being produced. Even music has its own place here. As a lyricist, I have gained a lot from this industry. Besides writing, I never thought of doing anything else here. What Mr. Gulzar has achieved in film industry, I would like to be something close to that, if not to that level. And I am sure Marathi film industry would offer me that scope.
Q: What is your personal opinion on ‘there cannot be a film without songs’ ?
A: Poems, songs are the medium of expressing your emotions through words. I don’t think that to make a film popular, you need to have songs in it. If you look at the sad song in ‘Iraada Pakka’ and Khel Mandala in ‘Natarang’, you will notice that the story moves ahead through these songs. The wordings in it has the power to turn the audience emotional. I would love to write such lyrics. I am of the opinion that there should be songs in a film only with the demand of the situation. Take for example a film like ‘Shwaas’, which turned out to be a very good film, without songs.
Q: Is there any interference, after your song is finalized?
A: Once the song goes to the Music director, our authority ends. Now, if some of the words do not fit into the beats, the changes are required and those changes could be of a word or one line also. But, every song has its own identity and it should reach the audience is only our concern.
Q: Tell us something about a memorable moment in your life.
A: When I sit for writing and then complete the same, every moment spent during that period is memorable for me. Even if I have done title songs for 10 serials, the one for 11th serial is given the same importance, as if it was my first song. The force with which I deliver it, it should reach with the same force to the audience.
Q: Till now, for how many films and Tv serials you have written the lyrics?
A: May be title songs for 30-35 serials and 15-20 songs for films.
Q: What are your future projects?
A: I am writing songs for films ‘Partner’ and ‘Manya the Wonder Boy’, which are important project for me. Besides that I am busy writing title songs for few more serials. Some albums are there in the pipeline. I am also writing songs for Chandrakant Kulkarni’s drama ‘Ashi hi 20-30′ which is something new for me.