Priya Saraiya: Now, music composed for singers, not films

Priya Saraiya

When tasked with writing the lyrics of a romantic track for Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Priya Saraiya found herself facing an odd challenge. While lyricists employ poetry to beautifully express the goings-on on screen, Saraiya was told to "not reveal too much" with her words.

"Despite being a romantic track, we couldn't reveal too much information. To achieve that, I had to create multiple drafts before the team settled on one," says Saraiya. Her husband Jigar Saraiya and collaborator Sachin Sanghvi take credit as composers of the Ayushmann Khurrana starrer.

"I've written three songs in the film, and sung two of them. Kalle kalle is a break-up track that depicts what a girl goes through after parting ways [with her lover]." Saraiya shares the mic with Mika Singh in Attraction, in which, she says, she "experimented with the tone". Finally, Maafi sees her as lyricist and singer. "I don't know whose voice is being employed for the male section."

Having made her film debut as lyricist with Faltu (2011), Saraiya points to a prominent shift in working methods in the industry today. Apart from the fact that they are no longer afforded the luxury of time, she laments that the attention has shifted from the film's demands to the singer who is rendering the song. "Even before a song is written and composed, we are told who the singer is. In the past, the focus was on the melody and poetry. Now sound-production has become prominent. Lyricism is also given less importance. Songs that are even grammatically incorrect have takers now."

Meanwhile, Saraiya has also joined hands with Sheykhar Ravjiani for Rang, a track that is "about a girl who is envious of her partner". All praise for Ravjiani for giving wings to his creativity with his first solo indie song, she says the "contemporary but desi" offering is created in the Braj Bhasha. "We haven't heard [a song in]this language in a long time. It is melody-driven. Although simple, it is intricate. I have learnt a lot from him. For instance, a seemingly simple element that he comes up with doesn't seem so easy when you have to sing, or write to it. We made a lot of songs in the lockdown. I hope he keeps releasing them soon, because he needs to show this aspect of his [skill-set]."

Also Read: Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui title song: Ayushmann, Vaani will make you groove