He started his career as a newspaper columnist. He also is termed as a cartoonist, caricaturist, voice-over artist, script writer but he rose to enormous fame with his song writing skills as a lyricist. He is Guru Thakur. This multi faceted personality was a writer, for the popular television serial Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre. He has also scripted a popular marathi drama Bhaiyya Haat Paay Pasari. Marathi film Natrang became a sort of landmark film in the industry gaining loads of popularity. with Ajay-Atul’s music, Guru Thakur’s lyrics set a new trend, as he was also responsible for the movie’s screenplay too. One of the few personalities who have tasted success in entire marathi entertainment medium and winner of more than a dozen of awards, was talking exclusively to MarathiMovieWorld.
MMW: You are undoubtedly one of the leading lyricists of marathi films. Where do you think, the song writing is heading ?
GT : It feels good, when your work is appreciated and that induces you to work harder. Sadly enough, the senior writers have stopped writing, which makes this job still more difficult.
MMW: But a lot of new writers are thronging the field. Who do you think is good in the new lot ?
GT: It’s a mixed reaction. Quite a few new lyricists are good. They have done a good job and are appreciated. But I think, majority of them lack consistency. After initial spark, they seem to fizzle out. May be, they succumb to catering to the demand of young generation, who presumably are not inclined towards pure, unadulterated marathi. One should not bog down to the temptations. There should be more effort to sustain quality. And importantly, anything written with passion is invariably appreciated by even young generation.
MMW: Are you averse to non-marathi singers ?
GT : No. I have no issues and all of them have proved their talent. In fact, in my upcoming movie Shalee, there’s only one song and that too is sung by Roop Kumar Rathod.
MMW: But don’t they have problems with pronunciations? Because late Kishore Kumar used to be scared of pronouncing certain marathi words .
GT: Well, sometimes it’s difficult for them.
MMW: In that case, do you attend all recordings ?
GT: Earlier I was not very particular about attending recordings, but couple of incidents of non-suitable words, used at the last moment due to time pressure, made me realise that if I am around, and if required, alternate word can be provided by me, on the spot.
MMW: What do you prefer, writing before hand or writing on a tune?
GT: When you are just writing, then there are no boundaries. I can write as per the requirement of the script. And while writing on a tune, you have to fit in the words, as per the ‘meter’. But, I relish both.
MMW: You have done more than 50 films. Any favourite music director?
GT: I have worked with almost every music director and all of them are good and am happy with everybody.
MMW: Your next projects….
GT: About 10-12 films. Upcoming EkTara has thrown a challenge to me. It’s a musical and has 11 songs out of which I have written 9.
MMW: That’s great. Your personality must be giving complex to quite a few heroes in the industry. And we have has seen you on screen too. Any chances of changing the profession?
GT: Actually I am an actor and have done a few assignments. I used to like writing too. The producers, directors imbibed on me that since there is dearth of good writers, I should concentrate on writing, because according to them I was good at it. They say, there are plenty of actors available for a single project, but same can’t be said about Writers. So,I sacrificed my acting career, for writing songs.