who weaves magic into every lyric he pens. In a recent episode of *Small Towns Big Stories* hosted by Pankaj Dubey, a platform agnostic storyteller, Kamil shared insights into his journey, creative process, and the essence of his work.
Irshad Kamil’s work is a fusion of influences, stemming from his background in Hindi literature and the timeless verses of Punjabi poets like Baba Farid, Kabir, and Gurdial Singh. “I try to embed literature into everything I write,” he shares, referencing these literary giants. Growing up in Malerkotla, a small town with a unique blend of Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, Kamil’s linguistic environment was as diverse as his influences. This cultural cocktail gave his writing a distinct flavour, serving as inspiration for all of his lyrical compositions.
Irshad Kamil’s writing process is unorthodox, almost childlike in its spontaneity. He says, “My work is like that of a small child, it just appears and sits on the sheet,”. His approach is immersive—he becomes the characters he’s writing for. Whether it’s Ved from *Tamasha* or Jordan from *Rockstar*, he steps into their shoes, imagining their emotions and situations, and then composing the lyrics.
For Kamil, staying true to the words is essential. “You have to express the words in the composition,” he insists. One example is his collaboration with A.R. Rahman for the songs of the film *Chamkila*, where Rahman refused to let Kamil go until he delivered the lyrics. Another is *Tum Se Hi* from *Jab We Met*, where Kamil was so floored by the composition that he disappeared for three days before delivering the final version of the song.
The lyricist also shared the story behind his name. He wanted a longer name and found Irshad inadequate. So he searched the dictionary for inspiration and his mother chose ‘Kamil’ as it means ‘complete’, thus he became Irshad Kamil. Despite his success, Kamil remains grounded. He still sees himself as the unconfident guy from the small town, which makes him relatable to today’s youth.
Kamil’s creative aspirations go beyond lyrics. He wants to explore other forms of writing and is even interested in filmmaking. His work is not just about writing songs; it’s about bringing the straightforwardness of small-town life into the hustle of big cities.
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