For audiences in India and Pakistan, Javed Akhtar requires no introduction. His films alone have gained him universal recognition, and his lyrics, which have been sung by some of India’s most famous vocalists, are known to everyone. Although in his verse he frequently refers to his own shortcomings and ineffectualness, his life has been one of outstanding success. Perhaps the reason for the great popularity of Javed Akhtar’s verse is that on the surface it appears disarmingly simple and direct, but frequently it has something profound and significant to communicate. It is thoughtful without being pretentious. Javed Akhtar is always capable of putting into words the thoughts and ideas which all of us have but which we are seldom capable of expressing with such irony, without the attendant cynicism. The poems contain the poet’s reminiscences of his childhood, and bemoan the loss of its innocence with the passage of time. The poems are also about love—its complications, pains and even its joys. But even the simple love poems usually contain a much deeper message; it is upto the reader to explore the various levels of meaning for him or herself. There are also a number of lengthy philosophical poems where the poet asks simple questions to which the response remains a mystery.
There are no reviews yet.