When Jayant Kaikini realised that he was destined to live out his life in the world of lyrics, he furnished his domain well with classic literature and
visual symbolism. So, when you listen to the evergreen song Anisuthide Yaako Indu from Mungaru Male (MM), it is evident that he is one lyricist who has mastered the art of expressing love with a flair that is his own
Though he started as a lyrics writer for the 2003 film, Chigurida Kanasu and wrote Aha enidenidenu, it was the song in MM that brought out the lyricist in Jayant. From the trendsetting film, which released in 2006, to Mungaru Male 2 (MM2) this year, the writer of short stories, film scripts and poetry, has completed a decade. But he shows no signs of slowing down on expressing love, beautifying the feeling with the song Sariyaagi Nenapide in MM2.
“People welcomed me wholeheartedly after the song in MM and they have given the same affection for my song in MM2 and I am overwhelmed with the response. It was indeed a challenge because Anisuthide was haunting me when I was writing for MM2. In fact, I have written much better songs after MM, but still people go back to the song. The success of the song in MM2 is a relief and a private celebration for me,” says the lyricist.
According to him, it was Dr Rajkumar and Varadappa who motivated him to write the song for Chigurida Kanasu, a film helmed by T S Nagabharana. “Between MM and MM2, there is a bridge of 300 songs and each song has been an ordeal.
As a lyricist, we have to write to already set tunes and after we are briefed about the context and situations, we rewrite the songs to suit the melody. That is a big challenge to any writer,” he notes.
Specialised in writing love songs, the writer says that it is challenging to find new expressions for love but he enjoys the challenge
“While writing, if I don’t get anything out of it, nobody will get anything out of it. When I think of writing, I start at that very place,” he says and adds that he prefers to handwrite his lyrics rather than use a computer.
Like any writer, Jayant is also heavily influenced by literature and he reveals that he had grown up reading books of over 100 good writers of Kannada.
“Literature is part of our sensibilities. You don’t need to go in search of a sound to write a song. It comes from within, and when I see that because of the songs, our language and culture is retained, the feeling is immense. Cinema comes and goes, but the songs remain. That way, I am glad with my little contribution which is helping to keep our culture alive,” he states.