EXCLUSIVE | Netflix's 'Heeramandi' songwriter AM Turaz breaks silence on the show's criticism: 'There's nothing wrong in...'

Popular songwriter AM Turaz, who has collaborated with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Padmaavat, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Netflix’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, spoke exclusively to Firstpost about working with the filmmaker, the criticism that has come the show’s way, and adapting to the changing times and tastes of the audiences.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

How has your collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali evolved over the years?

I did my first film with him in 2010 which was Guzaarish, and till then, I have been a part of all the films that he has directed; and my association with him has developed fantastically. He understands and accepts my poetry and respects me a lot. He focuses on poetry as much as he focuses on his films, and that’s the one quality other filmmakers lack.

Some people felt the show was removed from the grim realities of courtesans and steeped too much into grandeur. What is your take on that?

Kuch To Log Kahenge, Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna. It is very much possible that the homes of courtesans back in the independent era were not as grand as it has been shown in the series, but that’s not the question. The point here is that an Indian show is reaching out to an international audience, to as many as 192 countries. Our culture, our poetry, our cinema is traveling abroad and Sanjay has given his best by working really hard. Everyone is talking about Heeramandi globally and there’s nothing wrong in showcasing anything with grandeur. And we have tried to add sweep to the show not only in terms of sets but also music and lyrics. It’s about the respect of our cinema.

How is Bhansali’s style of working as a director as well as a music composer?

There are 8-10 people sitting during the making of the songs, music is being played out, we eat, laugh, talk about melodies. He feels the compositions and makes us feel too. We understand every single song. His style is completely different and it’s fun working with him. He’s involved as a music composer and also as a director since he dons two hats.

We don’t have too much of aching music in today’s times, it’s all like fast food that fades away too soon. How are you adapting to changing times or do you believe a good work always stands the test of time?

We have the culture of rap, and I’m not against it since there’s a huge audience for that as well. It’s impossible for a poet or a songwriter to write something for the whole world. We have our own set of audience and we work exactly for them, our audience is different, audiences for rap is different. I’m not bothered about the changing times nor I think about it. We have a population of over 140 crore so it’s wrong to even imagine everyone listens to your songs or watches your films. Even if 1 crore people watch your film, you can do a business of 400 crore. We cannot gauge a wider market than this. I would like to tell all the artists to trust your work and the people you’re working with. Your work should reflect your culture and the nuances of Indian fragrance. Films are a reflection of society and we should change with changing times. Change happens organically, not forcefully.