Sameer recalls Karan Johar’s 6½-hour Kuch Kuch Hota Hai narration amid music critique

Sameer recalls Karan Johar’s 6½-hour Kuch Kuch Hota Hai narration amid music critique

Lyricist Sameer is publicly questioning the state of Bollywood music, telling Komal Nahta that there’s a breakdown of meaning and emotion in songs today. He says, “Nowadays, there’s no meaning or thehrav in songs. This is because gaane ka matlab ab kahin bacha nahin hai.” He adds, “There’s no emotion or depth left in society. Cinema ultimately shows a reflection of society. Whatever it sees around, it is presented on celluloid.” He also criticizes the advent of OTT, saying the digital platforms are “selling sex and violence” and asks, “Kab tak log yeh sab dekhenge?”

In the same conversation, Sameer recounts a defining moment from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: “Karan Johar gave me a narration for 6 ½ hours. He explained in such detail – what will be the colour of Kajol’s saree, Shah Rukh Khan’s suit, etc.”

He adds that filmmakers have sidelined music, describing it as a fill-in-the-blanks exercise: “yahaan kuch nahin hai toh gaana aise hi daal do.” He notes that when he was writing Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Johar had given a long narration.

The lyricist also points to broader industry shifts: “Nowadays, films have 12 music directors and 18 song writers. Phir kaise accha kaam hoga? There’s no coordination on what one has written and what the other has written.” He stresses that the problem isn’t the lyricists’ talent, but the lack of creative freedom.

The remarks are drawn from a Bollywood Hungama feature. You can read the original report.

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